Which King's Own Regiment?

I am writing this letter while watching on Smash TV the parade and displays performed by the Malta Police Force on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of its founding, held earlier this month. Unfortunately, I was at work at the time so I have to make do with a well-covered documentary on television. A well deserved "congratulations" to Commissioner John Rizzo, the officers and men and all involved, as the spectacle was quite an event.

However, allow me to make one observation on what was stated by the female commentator quite early during the event. While referring to the Police Band, she made some reference to a number of former Maltese regiments from which our military heritage is derived. One of the regiments was referred to as the King's Own Regiment, which in reality should have been The King's Own Malta Regiment.

Originally raised and styled as the Royal Malta Regiment of Militia on May 1, 1889, renamed The King's Own Royal Malta Regiment of Militia on June 1, 1903 and disbanded on April 14, 1921, it was reformed and officially titled 1st Btn The King's Own Malta Regiment in 1931, strengthened during the war years with the addition of a 2nd, 3rd and 10th battalions. The regiment was reorganised as the Malta Territorial Force in September 1951, as part of the Malta Land Force on October 1, 1970 and disbanded on April 1, 1972.

The King's Own Regiment was a British regiment whose proper title was The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), and which on October 1, 1959 had amalgamated with The Border Regiment at Barnard Castle, North Yorkshire to become the 1st Btn King's Own Royal Border Regiment. The 8th Btn The King's Own Regiment (Lancaster) was last stationed in Malta between 1941 and 1943 and had contributed to the defence of the islands during World War II.