Major John Victor Aspinall (MiD)
2nd Battalion, King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia (KOMRM)
Date of Birth: 1868 (unconfirmed)
Date of Death: 28th of May 1938
Buried: Aix Le Bain
Mentioned in Despatches 2x, Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
John Victor Aspinall was a Captain in the 1st Batallion of the King's Own Malta Regiment Of Militia in 1897, seniority date, the 26th of May 1897. He was also an Honorary Major.
Regimental Barracks Imtarfa, Malta 1896 - http://www.maltaramc.com/regmltgar/1rymaltmilitia.html
Royal Malta Regiment of Militia Sept 1896 showing Spr P Caruana S M Miners RE (Winter dress) , Pte Ciantar (Marching Order) Sgt Buhagiar (Walking out dress), Sgt Maj W Morrison (Review Order) Lt Col H Vella CO, Maj R P Samut, Cpl G. B. Vella S M Miners RE (Summer Dress), LCpl Brockdorff RMRM Cadet Coy (Drill Order) (from Chesney A. G.) http://www.maltaramc.com/regmltgar/1rymaltmilitia.html
1910 Hart's Army list - Captain J.V. Aspinall
In September 1915, 864 men left Malta for Gallipoli under the command of Major John Victor Aspinall and Lieutenant Muscat.
The initial call for men to serve as stevedores in Gallipoli was made on the 2nd of September 1915. Over 1,000 volunteers presented themselves in less than a week, and 864 were chosen, and they were left in the command of Major J.V. Aspinall and Lieutenant Muscat, of the King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia (KOMRM).
Major John Vincent Aspinall, left, Malta
Their average wage was of half a crown a day, besides rations, and a separate allowance of sixpence in favour of their wife, and a penny for every child. The men enlisted for a period of three months and many saw this as an opportunity to earn a substantial sum of money in a short period of time.
Before the enlisted men left Malta they were told they were to be located behind the troops. They sailed from Malta directly to the Greek island of Mudros, and during their trip, there was a rumour that they were going to serve in the war zone.
A view of shipping gathered in Mudros Bay - IWM © Art.IWM ART 4255
When they arrived in Mudros, some 234 men, under the command of Captain Stivala, volunteered to serve in Gallipoli and sailed on September 27. It appears that they were in companies under the direction of a Maltese officer. The medal rolls indicate that a total of 1,088 men received the bronze war medal and the victory medal for service in Gallipoli.
A Royal Irish Fusilier attempts to draw the fire of a Turkish sniper to reveal the enemy position, Gallipoli, 1915 - IWM © IWM (Q 13447)
The majority of the first contingent served from the 1st of September 1915 until the 17th of February 1916. Captain Alfred J. Gatt, Royal Malta Artillery, was awarded the Military Cross for his service with the Maltese Labour Corps at Gallipoli, and six other officers were mentioned in despatches.
Major John Vincent Aspinall
On November 13, 1915, Lord Kitchener inspected the Maltese Labour Corps at Gallipoli during his tour of Gallipoli. He praised them for their work and showed gratitude for the important service they were rendering. In early December 1915, it was decided to evacuate the troops and men from Gallipoli, and among the first to leave were the Maltese and Egyptian labour corps on the 11th of December.
The last of the Maltese labour corps who had served at Mudros and at Gallipoli returned to Malta on the 17th of February 1916 where they were met by the Governor, Field Marshal Paul Methuen, who thanked them for their service.
Major John Vincent Aspinall's War Record
John married Gandolin Maria Webster, no marriage record found. Gandolin died at Teignmouth on the 21st of February 1944.
Gandolin Maria Aspinall
Lieutenant Colonel J.V. Aspinall, Valetta Malta, died 28th May 1938, interred Aix Le Bain. Also, his widow, Gandolin Maria, died 21st Feb 1944. Plot AA77, Teignmouth Old Cemetery
John died on the 28th of May 1938 at Aix-Les-Bains, France.
Photographs of Major John Vincent Aspinal and his wife, Gandolin Maria Aspinall were courtesy of Steve Madden, Major John Vincent Aspinall's great, great, great-nephew. Also, Major John Vincent Aspinall's War Record.
