In pictures: Governor Congreve’s burial at sea, 1927
Several professional photographers recorded the event.
The kindly Governor of colonial Malta, General Sir Walter Congreve, approaching his end, gave instructions to be buried at sea, in the channel between Filfla island and the Mnajdra coastline. Marine funerals, though not unknown, still remained extraordinary events, especially those of heads of state.
Congreve (1862-1927) shot through a soaring military career: in the Second Boer War in South Africa, where he was wounded and awarded the highest distinction for gallantry in the face of the enemy – the Victoria Cross; and in World War I, during the Somme offensive in 1917, with the rank of general, when a shell exploded next to him and his left arm had to be amputated.
Mounted servicemen escort the governor’s remains. Postcard by Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar.The locals, who sometimes characterise persons by their physical disabilities, nicknamed him ta’ idu ganċ. His swearing-in ceremony as Governor of Malta took place in June 1924.
Throughout his governorship, ill-health dogged Congreve. He suffered from chronic asthma and the aftermaths of his grievous wartime wounds. He spent time at Mtarfa Military Hospital and passed away on February 28, 1927. His solemn funeral on March 4 combined pageantry with the sombre and the scenographic, as only the British can. The Maltese government cancelled all carnival festivities.
Laid in state at the Anglican cathedral, 20,000 mourners paid their last respects. In the cortège, a gun carriage moved his coffin slowly through thronged streets. The mourners included the prime minster, Sir Ugo Mifsud, and Mgr E. Dandria, the minister for education.
Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar’s postcard of the higher clergy in Congreve’s funeral cortège.HMS Chrysanthemum ferried the remains from Grand Harbour to the Filfla channel.
As expected, professional photographers made a meal of the occasion and many postcards flooded the market. These enable us to reconstruct the ceremonies almost phase by phase.
The gun-carriage hearse that carried Congreve’s coffin.
Congreve’s remains being consigned to the sea from HMS Chrysanthemum.
Mourners accompanying the coffin passing next to the Opera House.
An official car in Congreve’s funeral cortège. Photo: Richard Ellis
A Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar postcard of mourners at the Congreve funeral passing through Strada Reale.
HMS Chrysanthemum carrying Congreve’s remains leaving Grand Harbour to a gun salute from Upper Barrakka.
High military officers taking part in Congreve’s funerary cortège.
Hearse carrying Governor Congreve’s coffin.
Governor Congreve’s funeral cortège from Mtarfa Hospital to Valletta. Richard Ellis postcard.