First British soldier to be executed

The first British soldier to be executed in Malta was Private James O'Conner.

Private O'Conner arrived in Malta on December 9, 1799, from Messina on board HMS Culloden, with the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot. Its force consisted of 478 officers and men and 20 women and 15 children.

On landing the following day the regiment was billeted first at Birkirkara, then was moved to Zejtun to cover the battery at San Roque with advance posts on the outskirts of Zabbar.

It was to have been from this area where, just over a year later, Private O'Conner committed his fatal offence when he attempted to desert to the French.

Articles of war showed quite clearly that any soldier attempting to desert was to suffer the extreme penalty, and that was death.

Brought before a general court martial, the first known British general court martial held in Malta, the verdict was given and the sentence of death pronounced.

The verdict of the court martial for confirmation was sent by Brig-General Thomas Graham to General Henry Fox, the C-in-C of British Troops at Minorca, who confirmed the sentence.

In a letter dated June 1, 1800, Brig-General Graham reported to the C-in-C that the execution of Private O'Conner was carried out on May 29, 1800.

The location of Private O'Conner's place of execution is unknown and his grave was never identified after the capture of Valletta from the French on September 5, 1800.