King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.

Private Edward Rathbone

Private Edward Rathbone served with the 8th and 1st Battalions of the King's Own Royal Regiment during the Second World War.  This service took him to Malta, Palestine and Italy between 1941 and 1945.

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

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

British Wellington Bomber burning at Luqua (Luqa) Aerodrome, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/009

Marsa 3.7 Gun Battery being bombed, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/010

Buildings at Luqua under bombing attack, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/011

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

Bomb damage to Valletta Market, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/013

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

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

Valletta harbour, Malta, during an attack, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/017

Kingsway, Malta, 1941 prior to bombing
Accession Number: KO2741/018

Kingsway, Malta, 1942 showing bomb damage
Accession Number: KO2741/019

Opera House, after bomb damage, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/020

Opera House, before bomb damage, Malta
Accession Number: KO2741/021

Kingsway, Malta, 1942 showing Bomb Damage
Accession Number: KO2741/022

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

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 2741/027

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

Malta pre-war. Maltese Cab, horse drawn.
Accession Number: KO2741/062

Malta pre-war. Maltese milk seller with a goat
Accession Number: KO2741/063

Malta pre-war. Maltese passenger’s boat
Accession Number: KO2741/064

Malta pre-war. Maltese lace worker.
Accession Number: KO2741/065

Malta pre-war. Marsamuscetto Ferry Landing Place, Valletta, Malta.
Accession Number: KO2741/066

A professional wrestler before the war the unknown soldier is seen lifting three other soldiers, including Private Edward Rathbone on the right.  Known only as 'Sylvest' he is seen here practising for a 'strong man' act which was given in a concert in Palestine, probably Christmas 1943 or early 1944.
Accession Number KO2741/067

'Sylvest' the strong man of the 8th Battalion, Palestine, 1943/4.
Accession Number KO2741/068

Five soldiers of the 8th King's Own, described on the rear as 'Four Scots pals and a Welsh mate, Palestine, Christmas, 1943'.   
Accession Number KO2741/069

'All the boys of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Palestine, Christmas 1943.'
Accession Number KO2741/070

Soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Palestine, Christmas 1943.  Private Edward Rathbone is seen with the plant pot on his head.
Accession Number KO2741/071

Soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Palestine, Christmas 1943.
Accession Number KO2741/072

'Sylvest' being held back by others of the Carrier Platoon of the 8th King's Own, Palestine, 1943/4.  Private Edward Rathbone is third from left in the front row.
Accession Number KO2741/073

Soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Nathanya Rest Camp, Palestine, February 1944.  Private Edward Rathbone is second from the right.
Accession Number KO2741/074

Soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Nathanya Rest Camp, Palestine, February 1944.  Private Edward Rathbone is stood at the rear.
Accession Number KO2741/075

Soldiers of the Carrier Platoon, 8th King's Own, Nathanya Rest Camp, Palestine, February  1944.  Private Edward Rathbone is stood on the right.
Accession Number KO2741/076

Private Edward Rathbone and a child.  The caption on the rear of the photograph reads 'I hope to be making many more poses like this when I get home.  How do I look?  All my love Ted.'
Accession Number KO2741/077

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Dizengoff Square
Accession Number: KO2741/078

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Rothschild Boulevard
Accession Number: KO2741/079

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Great Synagogue
Accession Number: KO2741/080

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Allenbury Road
Accession Number: KO2741/081

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Opera Mugrabi
Accession Number: KO2741/082

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Town Mayors House
Accession Number: KO2741/083

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Habinah Theatre
Accession Number: KO2741/084

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Dizengoff Street
Accession Number: KO2741/085

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Ben Jehuda Road
Accession Number: KO2741/086

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
London Square
Accession Number: KO2741/087

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
The Beach
Accession Number: KO2741/088

Tel Aviv, Christmas, 1943
Herbert Samuel Square
Accession Number: KO2741/089

Jerusalem 1943
General View
Accession Number: KO2741/090

Jerusalem 1943
Mount of Olives
Accession Number: KO2741/091

Jerusalem 1943
Mosque of Omar
Accession Number: KO2741/092

Jerusalem 1943
Seven Sisters
Accession Number: KO2741/093

Jerusalem 1943
Wailing Wall
Accession Number: KO2741/094

Jerusalem 1943
Via Dolasora
Accession Number: KO2741/095

Rachel’s Tomb, Bethlehem, 1943
Accession Number: KO2741/096

Bethlehem
Shepherds Fields ‘Had Carol Service Here on Christmas Eve’
Christmas 1943.
Accession Number: KO2741/097

Bethlehem from the South, 1943
Accession Number: KO2741/098

Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, 1943
Accession Number: KO2741/099

Bethlehem, The Nave, Church of the Nativity, 1943
Accession Number: KO2741/100

Bethlehem/Jerusalem, Mother of Pearl workers, 1943
Accession Number: KO2741/101

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
The Manger
Accession Number: KO2741/102

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
Church of the Nativity
Accession Number: KO2741/103

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
A street in Bethlehem
Accession Number: KO2741/104

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
The Christmas Bell
Accession Number: KO2741/105

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
Grotto of Nativity
Accession Number: KO2741/106

Bethlehem Christmas 1943
Judean Home
Accession Number: KO2741/107

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
General View of town
Accession Number: KO2741/108

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
Street scene
Accession Number: KO2741/109

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
Street Scene with buses
Accession Number: KO2741/110

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
Building
Accession Number: KO2741/111

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
View of houses/flats
Accession Number: KO2741/112

Haifa, Palestine, 1943-4
View of town and bay
Accession Number: KO2741/113

Bren Gun Carrier 'Mary' with some members of the Carrier Platoon, 1st Battalion, King's Own, Arezzo, Italy, September 1944.
Centre rear is Private Edward Rathbone, and it is believed that left and centre of the kneeling group is Privates Dan Kinvig and Bernard Karren, both from the Isle of Man.
The 10th Indian Division badge can be seen on the front of the carrier above the number '67'  To the right of that appears to be a badge of the Isle of Man.
Accession Number KO2741/114

Carrier Platoon, 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, Arezzo, Italy, September 1944.
Private Edward Rathbone is 13th from the left in the middle standing row.  Private Robert Huddleston, from Windermere, is fourth from the left on the back row.
Accession Number: KO2741/115

Members of the Carrier Platoon, 1st King's Own, in Rome, 1944.
Left to right, rear row, Privates 'Wac' Walters and Bert Corlett.
Left to right, middle row, Privates Billy Varey, Ernie Morris and Oliver Kelly.
Left to right, front row, Privates Bernard Karren, Bob Gee and Don McKellar.
Accession Number: KO2741/116

Private Edward Rathbone, Italy, 1944/5.  'Ted' served with the 8th Battalion King's Own in Malta and remained with the battalion when it was re-designated in Palestine in 1944 to the 1st Battalion of the King's Own.  The 1st King's Own then served in Italy in 1944 and 1945.
His collection of photographs were acquired by the museum by purchase at auction in August 2008.
Accession Number KO2741/117

Private 'Jock' Liddle, 1st King's Own, Rome, 1944.
Accession Number: KO2741/118

Private 'Wac' Walter, 1st King's Own, Rome, 1944.
Accession Number: KO2741/119

Four unknown soldiers of the 1st Battalion King's Own in Rome in 1944.
Accession Number: KO2741/120

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

Four soldiers of the 8th King’s Own in a tent, Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/122

Two soldiers of the 8th King’s Own in Malta, 1942
Accession Number: KO2741/123

Italian Prisoners of War in Libya 1941
Long stream of walking prisoners being watched over by a British tank.
Accession Number: KO2741/124

This soldier is only described as 'Joe, My Mate Killed, Italy, 1944'.  The photograph appears to have been taken whilst he was in Malta.
Accession Number: KO2741/125

‘Ted, Birmingham War Weapons Week, 1940’
Display stand at Birmingham War Weapons Week, including a King’s Own Lance Corporal with signalling equipment and a King’s Own private soldier with motorcycle.
Assume that the private is Private Edward Rathbone.
Same image as KO0653/02 No. 1 Infantry Pioneer Training Centre, KORR (gift of Adjutant of the unit).
Accession Number: KO2741/126

Newspaper cutting ‘Lower Peoverites War Experiences’ details of Private Edward (Ted) Rathbone of Sandpit Farm, Allostock, now serving in a famous regiment in the Middle East, after having spent more than two years in Malta, during the worst of the blitz period......
Lower Peover is in Cheshire, just south of Knutsford.
Accession Number: KO2741/127

The Government of Malta One Shilling Bank Note number A/1 046720
Accession Number: KO2741/128

Allied Military Currency Issued in Italy, 10 Lire note A70865187A
Accession Number: KO2741/129

Allied Military Currency Issued in Italy, 10 Lire note A46938070A
Accession Number: KO2741/130

50 Lire Bank Note, circa 1943, Italy. Number I21 005403.
Autographed by members of the Bren Gun Carrier Platoon
Names transcribed on to separate piece of paper
Accession Number: KO2741/131

Names transcribed on to separate piece of paper from bank note.

50 Lire Bank Note, circa 1943, Italy. Number I21 005403.
Autographed by members of the Bren Gun Carrier Platoon
Accession Number: KO2741/132

List of names of members of the Carrier Platoon, 8th and 1st King’s Own. Probably relating to a group photograph, possibly of the 1st King’s Own in Italy, 1944/4.
Accession Number: KO2741/133

Group of 13 soldiers of the 8th King’s Own in Malta, outside tent, possibly at rest camp. Summer 1943.
‘Is everybody happy, sure looks like it’
Accession Number: KO2741/134

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.