On December 19, 1861, a British court-martial held at the Command Headquarters at Auberge de Castille, Valetta, pased a sentence on Gunner John Edwards for attempted murder. (1) The incident ocurred in the barracks square of Fort St. Elmo (2), where Gunner Edwards of 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery, was stationed. For an unknown reason, Edwards fired his carbine at Captain Edward Keate, adjutant of the brigade, as he was crossing the yard.

Although fired from a distance of only 100 metres, the bullet missed and struck a spot some five metres above the captain's head. Edwards was apprehended while in the process of reloading. The Quartermaster was luckier as he had crossed the yard a short time previously but the accused was heard saying "I will not shoot this poor fellow, as he has a wife and children", or words to this effect.

Not much is known about Gunner Edwards, apart from his age (about 30). Before joining the regiment it was believed he had served in the Royal Marines. At the time of the incident, he was on "light duty" after having been discharged from hospital not long before.

The court-martial sentenced the prisoner to death by firing squad. The execution was to take place on the parade ground at Fort Ricasoli the next day at 7 o'clock in the presence of the garrison troops and the prisoners at Corradino Prisons. Fort Ricasoli was the scene of the Froburg Regiment's mutiny in 1807 (4), where those killed included Gunner Johnston, RA, who had stood to the end defending the Santa Barbara (5) or powder magazine.

During his trial, Edwards was asked to give a reason for his action or to speak in his own defence, but he was always reluctant to speak. Nor did he express any regret for his act. Even while he was imprisoned, Edwards kept very silent and curtly answered 'yes' or 'no' to any questions.

For three days before his execution, he refused to eat and had to be force-fed. His last wish was to write to his sister. In his letter, he confirmed to her that his mother's premonitions that he would meet a felon's end were about to be fulfilled.

Early that Friday morning, the troops stationed in Valletta, Floriana and the Pembroke Camp had crossed by lighter to Fort Ricasoli. From the Cottonera came the 2nd Brigade, comprising the 22nd (2nd Bn. Cheshire) Regiment and 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Regiment, who marched from their respective barracks. The assembled troops, under the command of Major-General Blucher Wood, CB, took their appointed positions as directed by garrison orders for the execution. The battalions formed columns on three sides of the suare, with their bands to the rear. The North side towards the sea was left open.

On the right stood the 1st Brigade, consisting of the 3rd Buffs, 1st Bn 22nd Regt. and the 4th Bn Rifle Brigade. At the centre stood the 2nd Brigade commanded by Major-General Bates, comprising 15th (2nd Bn East Yorkshire) Regiment, the 22nd and 23rd Regiments. On the left was the 3rd Brigade, of which Colonel Maclean commanded the Royal Artillery and Royal Malta Fencible Artillery, which had been styled an artillery corps from an infantry on January 25 of that year. On the extreme left were the Royal Engineers under Colonel Laffan (6), the Corps Commanding Officer. The military prisoners from the civil and military prisons (7) were spread in front of the troops. The Colours of each regiment and the drums of the Artillery and the 15th Regiment were covered with black cloth.

A few minutes before 8 o'clock, Edwards walked steadily, in front of the paraded troops, to the funeral march being played by the band. His arms were pinioned to his side. Although looking rather pale, his facial expression was one of firmness. He was wearing the Undress of a Gunner, the shell-jacket open and his white shirt exposed.

The prisoner was assisted by the Rev. Henry Hare, Chaplain to the Forces, who accompanied him to the end. The procession was led by the Provost Marshal, followed by the band of the 15th Regt playing a dead march, an armed escort, the coffin borne by fellow gunners of the Royal Artillery, the prisoner assisted by the chaplain and another escort.

They passed from left to right at slow march, halting at the centre of the square. The coffin was placed just behind the prisoner and then the band and escort retreated. The proceedings of the court-martial were read to the prisoner by Colonel Hallewell, Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

After reading the Psalms, Rev. Hare rose, shook hands with Edwards and retired. Colonel Hallewell also shook hands with him and then covered the prisoner's eyes. The firing party consisted of 12 artillerymen whose carbines had earlier been loaded six with ball and six with blank cartridges. They marched to about 10 paces in front of the prisoner who was facing them.

The order was given and the firing party raised their carbines and discharged them. Death was instantaneous but as was the custom, the Provost Marshal discharged his pistol at the body. Each regiment then marched in 'slow time' past the body, the bands playing a funeral dirge. The body was placed in the coffin and carried away for burial.

Although not confirmed, Gunner Edwards was interred in an unmarked grave at Bighi Cemetery. The cemetery was heavily damaged by Axis bombs during World War Two and cleared in the 1970's.

Did Gunner Edwards deserve to die for his crime? It is hard to understand how a trained soldier had missed his target in such a small yard as the St Elmo quadrangle. Did he really intend to kill Catain Keate or was he trying to find a way out of the army? And how sound in mind was he at the time, when such grievous crimes were punishable by death? Whatever his intentions were, the military were set to make an example of him and to deter others from committing such crimes.

No record of the court-martial was traced at the Royal Artillery Institute in Woolwich but Captain Keate is recorded as having served in Malta (8) at the time of the incident.

Notes

1. The Malta Times and United Services Gazette, December 19, 1861.
2. The Malta Times and United Services Gazette, December 26, 1861.
3. Edward Keate was 18 years 8 months old when commissioned in the Royal Artillery as Gentleman Cadet 2315 May . .29, 1848. He retired on pension as a Colonel on November 1, 1882.
4. Major A.G. Chesny, Historical Records of the Maltese Corps of the British Army, 1897. Denis Darmanin 'The Mutiny at . .Fort Ricasoli" The Malta Independent, January 12 and 19, 1997 and "The Froberg's Regiment revolt in Fort Ricasoli", . .in the Bulletin of the Military Historical Society, Vol. XXXX, Feb. 1990.
5. J.M. Wismayer, The Fleet of the Order of St. John. p. 65 refers to the name for powder rooms or artillery magazines as . .used in the time of the Order. This is because St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen.
6. Colonel Laffan was also a cartographer and his name appears on a number of survey sheets and maps of Malta.
7. From about 1837, military prisoners were kept in a section of civil prisons in Paola. These were moved to the new . . . .Naval or Corradino Prison when this was handed over to the military.
8. General W.H. Askwith, List of Officers of the Royal Artillery from 1716 to 1899, 1900, p. 63A. Captain Keate is . . . ..recorded as having served in Malta from August 1852 to January 1854 and again from July 1861 to June 1862, and in . .the Crimea from February 1854 to June 1856 for which he was awarded the Crimea medal and clasp. He was ADC to . .the Governor of Trinidad from January 1857 to January 1859 and held other such posts even after retirement.

The complete article can be found in 'The Sunday Times' 28th March 1999. The article appears by permission of Denis Darmanin.