ADDOLORATA CEMETERY
Paola
Malta
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 35.87065, Longitude: 14.50006
Location Information
This Cemetery lies south on the outskirts of the village of Paola and is about 5 kilometres away by road from Valletta.
The Cemetery is easily located by following the road signs to the airport. Once in the vicinity of Paola the Cemetery is clearly visible. In the cemetery, the main plot is located by the top gate.
Cemetery address: Vjal Santa Lucija, Paola.
Visiting Information
The cemetery is open daily from 7.00am to 5.00pm.
NOTE: The earth is shallow on Malta and during both wars, many joint or collective burials were made as graves had to be cut into the underlying rock. During the Second World War, such work was particularly hazardous because of air raids. Most of these graves are marked by recumbent markers on which several inscriptions could be carved, and for the sake of uniformity, the same type of marker was used for single graves.
Historical Information
From the spring of 1915, the hospitals and convalescent depots established on the islands of Malta and Gozo dealt with over 135,000 sick and wounded, chiefly from the campaigns in Gallipoli and Salonika, although increased submarine activity in the Mediterranean meant that fewer hospital ships were sent to the island from May 1917.
During the Second World War, Malta's position in the Mediterranean was of enormous Allied strategic importance. Heavily fortified, the island was never invaded, but was subjected to continual bombardment and blockade between Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 and the Axis defeat at El Alamein in November 1942. At the height of Axis attempts to break Malta's resistance in April 1942, the island and her people were awarded the George Cross by King George VI.
Malta's defence relied upon a combined operation in which the contributions made by the three branches of the armed forces and Merchant Navy were equally crucial. Although heavily pressed in defence, offensive raids launched from the island by air and sea had a crippling effect on the Axis lines of communication with North Africa, and played a vital part in the eventual Allied success there.
Addolorata Cemetery contains 250 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 18 from the Second World War. Many of the graves will be found in two plots, one in Compartment A, Section EA, Division E and the other in Compartment D Section V Division E; the rest of the graves are scattered. The Commission also cares for 45 war graves of other nationalities within the cemetery.
Total Burials: 315.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 207, Australia 28, New Zealand 10, Austria 5, Germany 5, Canada 2, India 2. Total 259.
World War One Unidentified Casualty: 1.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 18.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Geerhard Joos
Image © Geerhard Joos
CONSIDINE Patrick Francis (Frank) - Lieutenant 4th Royal Scots - Severely wounded 28th June at the battle of Cully Ravine Gallipoli - He died at Malta 11th July 1915 (12 July 1915 - CWGC) at the age of 22. Buried in Addolorata Cemetery Plot E. EA. A. 6651. He was the son of William and Kate Considine (nee Mellon), of 2, Alvanley Terrace, Edinburgh.
Brother of CONSIDINE John William - Major 2nd Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers - Killed in Action on 25 September 1915 Age 30. Buried at Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos Plot VII. E. 15. Son of William and Kate Considine, of Edinburgh; husband of Kathleen Considine, of 20, Royal Terrace West, Kingstown, Ireland.
Image © Geerhard Joos
EDMUNDS Frank - Private 17115 2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment - Wounded in Gallipoli - He died at Malta 26 October 1915 at the age of 18. Buried in Addolorata Cemetery Plot E. EA. A. 674. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Edmunds, of Aston le Walls, Byfield, Northants.
Brother of EDMUNDS Albert John - Gunner 56943 Royal Garrison Artillery 190th Siege Bty. - Died in Belgium 29 July 1918 Age 28. Buried at Hagle Dump Cemetery Plot II. B. 6. (Belgium). Son of Frederick and Mary Edmunds, of Aston-le-Walls, Byfield; husband of Mildred Sarah Tanner (formerly Edmunds), of Eydon, Byfield, Northants.
2273 Private
Herbert Entwistle
1/5th East Lancashire Regiment
Died 10th October 1915, aged 39.
Plot E. EA. A. 602.
Son of John and Ann Entwistle; husband of Mary Ann Entwistle, of 7, Hyde St., Burnley.
Herbert Entwistle
1/5th East Lancashire Regiment
Died 10th October 1915, aged 39.
Plot E. EA. A. 602.
Son of John and Ann Entwistle; husband of Mary Ann Entwistle, of 7, Hyde St., Burnley.
724 Private
Buchanan W. Freebairn
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
23rd October 1915, aged 21.
Plot E. EA. A. 673.
Son of Dr. R. Jardine Freebairn and Sarah Boyle Freebairn, of Ferryland, Newfoundland. Born at Placentia, Newfoundland.
Buchanan W. Freebairn
1st Bn. Newfoundland Regiment
23rd October 1915, aged 21.
Plot E. EA. A. 673.
Son of Dr. R. Jardine Freebairn and Sarah Boyle Freebairn, of Ferryland, Newfoundland. Born at Placentia, Newfoundland.
555 Private
Patrick Holden
1st Bn.Newfoundland Regiment
29th January 1916, aged 19.
Plot E. EA. A. 685.
Son of Joseph and Mary Alice Holden, of South Side, St. John'S, Newfoundland.
Patrick Holden
1st Bn.Newfoundland Regiment
29th January 1916, aged 19.
Plot E. EA. A. 685.
Son of Joseph and Mary Alice Holden, of South Side, St. John'S, Newfoundland.
