Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

Four: Sergeant P. Calleja, King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia

1914-15 Star (3110 Sjt., K.O. Malta M.); British War and Victory Medals (3110 A.W.O. Cl. 2, K.O. Malta M.); Militia L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (3110 Sjt., 1/K.O. Malta R. of M.), very fine and better and rare (4) £350-400

Of around 140 G.V.R. type Militia L.S. & G.C. Medals issued, 50 were awarded to the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia - Calleja’s award was approved in Army Order 60 of February 1916.

Born in the Parish of Pubblio, Floriana on Malta, Pubblio Calleja originally attested for the Royal Malta Regiment at Valetta in July 1897, aged 19 years. Posted to the 1st Battalion in the following year, he enjoyed a spate of rapid promotion, attaining the rank of Sergeant by June 1905. In the following year he was re-engaged in the King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia, as a result of which he was mobilised in August 1914. He subsequently witnessed active service in Gallipoli from 26 September to 5 December 1915, and in the Salonika operations from 21 September 1916 until the end of the War, his service record further stating that he attained the rank of Temporary Company Sergeant- Major ‘whilst doing duty with the Maltese Labour Battalion’. Calleja reverted to the rank of Sergeant at the end of the War and was discharged in March 1920.