Army , Navy and British Legion Malta.

[mike_vee]

A couple of year ago I got hold of an RBL Malta Branch badge , I have just got hold of a membership card from the original short lived (12th February 1922 - 1st May 1929) British Legion Branch that has thrown up some interesting information/questions.

Army
The first chairman of the branch was Capt. Thomas Sydney Chalmers, formerly of the 5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers . He was originally a private from West Yorkshire Regiment who was promoted to Second Lieutenant (on probation) Lancashire Fusiliers on 21st January, 1916.

He was commissioned from the ranks and invalided out in 1919 on account of tuberculosis, contracted whilst on active service in WWI.

Q - Does anyone have access to his service record/medal card ?

Navy
On the back of the card there is a pencil drawing of D89 (HMS Witch) , which was commissioned in March 1924 and served with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean until 1931 when she recommissioned for service on the China Station with the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. In 1934 the ship was back in the Mediterranean based at Valetta, Malta.

http://vandwdestroyerassociation.org...tch/index.html

Note:- I don't know if the drawing is from the 1924-1929 (when the branch officially closed) or from the later 1934 period when it was based in Malta ?

British Legion
Although the first Branch of the British Legion in Malta was deemed closed on the 1st May 1929, only to officially reopen on the 22nd January 1950 , I wonder if it "unoffically" carried on during the next 21 years ?

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[Fatherofthree]

Mike, here you go.

Chalmers:
30850_A000304-02153.jpg

41629_611411_5565-00182.jpg

Regards.

Brian

[mike_vee]

Thank You Brian !

The additional information adds to the history of the branch.

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