In search of heroes…and funds

The neo gothic chapel and main fountain at Ta’ Braxia cemetery in Pietà need to be restored and both Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Friends of the Ta’ Braxia Association continue searching for funds to carry out the job.

The chapel was designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson and completed in 1894 with funds provided by Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon (Lord Stanmore), in memory of his wife Lady Rachel Emily Hamilton whose grave is incorporated in the exterior rear wall of the chapel.

The fountain was designed by Luigi Emmanuele Galizia, the architect of the cemetery and later of the Addolorata Cemetery.

Charles Gatt, executive director of the Friends of Ta’ Braxia Association said both monuments were in a dire state of repair and required urgent work, especially the chapel due to fractures in its masonry, deterioration of its roof tiles, its unique timber wooden eaves and consoles. The Galizia fountain is badly eroded, two thirds submerged, held together with wires and on the point of collapse, he said.

The association has asked the government to increase the number of graves at Ta’ Braxia, noting there is a long waiting list of applicants, and to allot funds from their sale to the restoration and upkeep of these national monuments.

Friends of Ta’ Braxia Association is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and, to mark the occasion, Alexander Welsh has released a new guide book outlining the history of the Ta’ Braxia cemetery, its chapel and fountain and of the prominent people buried there. It was set up in 2001 as an independent arm of the heritage DLĦ to research the cemetery and care for its historic monuments in collaboration with the Department of Health that is responsible for burials.

Volunteers Dr Welsh, Mr Gatt and Major Anthony Camilleri, who look after the multi denominational cemetery at Ta’ Braxia, report there is an increasing number of Maltese and foreign visitors annually who arrive at both Ta’ Braxia and the Msida Bastion Historic Garden in search of the final burial place of relatives or of prominent personages who died in Malta. A group of 300 Russian visitors who were on a cruise liner visiting Malta recently, went to Ta’ Braxia and laid a wreath on the grave of General Constantin Voyensky de Brèzè.

Members of the International Victoria Cross Society also visited the Msida Bastion Historic Garden in search of the resting place of Charles McCorrie (also McCurrie), one of the three holders of the Victoria Cross who died in Malta. According to records held by the Victoria Cross Society, Private Mc Corrie, of the 57th West Middlesex Regiment, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, is believed to be buried at the Msida Bastion Historic Garden although his grave has not been formally identified.

He was about 25 years old during the siege of Sebastopol in the Crimea, when, on June 23, 1855, he caught and threw back a live shell, which had been fired at his post by the enemy. He was subsequently given the Victoria Cross for Gallantry and died in Malta in 1857.

Those who could have any records relating to the death and burial of Private McCorrie, or McCurrie, are being urged to contact Dr Welsh on info@dinlarthelwa.org.

The other recipients of the Victoria Cross who died and are buried in Malta were General Walter Norris Congreve, of the Rifle Brigade, and Captain Andrew Moynihan.

Gen. Congreve, Governor of Malta between 1924 and 1927, was buried at sea between Malta and Filfla in 1927 and his memorial stands on the cliff edge at Ħaġar Qim.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross medal for bravery during the 2nd Boer War in 1899.

Capt. Moynihan, of the 90th Regiment Cameronians Scottish Rifles, was awarded the medal for bravery during the Crimean War in 1855.

He also served as musketry instructor for the island and died in Malta at the age of 36 after drinking unsterilised goat’s milk. He is buried at the Ta’ Braxia cemetery.

The Friends of Ta’ Braxia Association can be contacted via info@dinlarthelwa.org.