King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Second World War

8th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, in Malta
collection of Private Edward Rathbone

HMS Manchester on board which the 8th Battalion King's Own had attempted to sail from Gibraltar to Malta in July 1941.  The Manchester was torpedoed by Italian aircraft and had to return to Gibraltar.  Seven men from the battalion were killed.  A number of the ships crew were also killed and injured.
Accession Number KO2741/001

HMS Arethusa was the ship on board which some of the 8th Battalion finally arrived in Malta on 2nd August 1941.
Accession Number KO2741/002

Bombed shipping in Valletta Harbour, Malta, August 1942
Accession Number KO2741/003

Bombed shipping in Valletta Harbour, Malta, August 1942
Accession Number KO2741/004

The merchant ship 'Brisbane Star' which had been torpedoed in the bow, but still managed to continue her journey to Valletta Harbour, Malta, with urgently needed supplies.
Accession Number KO2741/005

Valletta Harbour Malta, under attack, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/017

Burning German aircraft shot down over Malta, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/006

Burning German aircraft shot down over Malta, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/007

Burning German Junker 88 aircraft shot down over Ta-Kali RAF fighter station, Malta, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/008

RAF Sunderland Flying boat on fire in Kalafrana Bay, Malta, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/012

RAF Halifax Bomber at Luqua (Luca) Airfield, Malta, 1942
Accession Number KO2741/014

RAF Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber at Luqua Airfield, Malta, 1942.  This was the RAF's main land based torpedo bomber and those based on Malta attacked Axis shipping between Italy and North Africa.
Accession Number KO2741/015

RAF Bristol Beaufighter at Luqua Airfield, Malta, 1942.  This was a long range fighter based upon the Beaufort torpedo-bomber.
Accession Number KO2741/016

The gibbet at the RAF station Ta-Kali, Malta along with the warning.
Accession Number KO2741/023

The Carrier Platoon of the 8th Battalion, King's Own, Malta, in 1941.  The original photograph was printed in reverse.  Pte Edward Rathbone is third from the left in the back row.
Accession Number KO2741/121

Carrier 'Messines' at Gomerina, Malta, 1942.  Note the stone wall camouflage.  Each carrier appears to have been named after a regimental battle honour.
Accession Number KO 2741/024

A carrier of the 8th Battalion, Gomerina, Malta, 1942.
Accession Number KO2741/025

Private Edward Rathbone, stood left, in the carrier 'Gibraltar' at Gomerina, Malta, 1942.
Accession Number KO2741/026

A carrier of the 8th Battalion at Gomerina, Malta, 1942.
Accession Number KO 2741/028

Five soldiers of the 8th Battalion at Luqua Aerodrome, Malta, when the carrier platoon was attached to the Royal Air Force in 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/028

Five soldiers of the 8th Battalion at Luqua Aerodrome, Malta, when the carrier platoon was attached to the Royal Air Force in 1943.
Accession Number KO274/029

Three soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Malta 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/030

'Jock' a soldier of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Malta 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/031

Private Edward Rathbone (left) and another soldier of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1942/43.
Accession Number KO2741/032

Private Edward Rathbone (with pipe) and other soldiers of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1942/3.
Accession Number KO2741/033

Four soldiers of the 8th King's Own and some goats at Mtarfa, Malta, February 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/034

'A few of the lads' of the 8th King's Own, Malta, August 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/035

Private Edward Rathbone (rear) and an unknown lance corporal of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1942/43
Accession Number KO2741/036

Private Edward Rathbone is front left.  8th King's Own in Malta, March 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/037

Four soldiers of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1943
Accession Number KO2741/038

Four soldiers of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1943
Accession Number KO2741/039

Four soldiers of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/040

Four soldiers of the 8th King's Own, Malta, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/041

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own in Malta, Private Edward Rathbone is in the rear centre.
Accession Number KO2741/042

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own in Malta, Private Edward Rathbone is front right.
Accession Number KO2741/043

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/044

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/045

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/046

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/047

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/048

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/049

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/050

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/051

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/052

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/053

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/054

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943. Carrier Platoon Team
Accession Number KO2741/055

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/056

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.  Carrier Team
Accession Number KO2741/057

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/058

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/059

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/060

Soldiers of the 8th King's Own at the recreation camp at Tas Silg, near Marsaxlokk, Malta, Summer, 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/061