History of the Maltese in Gibraltar

A Maltese community has existed in Gibraltar since shortly after its capture by an Anglo-Dutch fleet in 1704. Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus were the three stepping stones whereby Great Britain controlled the Mediterranean and the vital route to the Suez Canal and thence to India. Following the capture of Gibraltar, most of the existing population elected to leave, leaving behind a small population of around seventy (mainly neutral Genoese people). Immigration from neighboring Spanish towns soon followed, giving Gibraltar a very cosmopolitan population. Years of coexistence and intermarriage on the Rock soon led to a coalescence of Maltese, Italian and Andalusian culture, preserving the Mediterranean and Catholic uniqueness of Gibraltar despite the centuries of British rule.
Colonialism.
Gibraltar prospered by the arrival of 19th century trade with North Africa and the presence of the Royal Navy. This prosperity attracted immigrants from neighbouring Mediterranean lands and in 1885 there were about 1,000 Maltese people living in Gibraltar. Early in the 20th century the British undertook vast naval works and improvements to the existing fortifications of Gibraltar to make the rock practically impregnable. The naval base in Gibraltar was to prove its strategic value in the two world wars. It was only to be expected that, given the common cultural bond between Malta and Gibraltar, some Maltese would be lured by the prospect of lucrative employment there.
Maltese in Gibraltar.
By 1912 the total number of Maltese living in Gibraltar was not above 700. Many worked in the dockyard and others operated businesses which were usually ancillary to the dockyard. However, the economy of Gibraltar was not capable of absorbing a large number of immigrants from Malta and by 1912 the number of Maltese was already in decline as they returned to the Maltese Islands. Eventually those who stayed in Gibraltar became very much involved in the economic and social life in Gibraltar, most of them also being staunch supporters of links with the UK. The situation in Malta was very different, where, despite an earlier attempt at integration with the UK, rising nationalist sentiment led to independence in 1964 and the establishment of a republic a decade later.


Alois and Josephine Kreiner

Alois Kreiner (1891-1961) and his wife Josephine Kreiner (1901-1974) hid the Czech Jew Ludwig Posiles from the Nazis during World War II. The couple owned a vinery where Posiles was working during the day. At night he stayed in the attic of Alois' and Josephine's apartment.
Kreiner told his customer that Posiles was a relative of his. Usually they believed Ludwig Posiles was an "Aryan". Still there was a high risk of the Gestapo setting its sights on them. The couple shared everything they had with Ludwig and even paid him for his work. Often they sent food to his brothers Walter and Hans who were hiding in other apartments. Ludwig Posiles stayed with them till the end of the war.


Sir Graham Hamond, 2nd Baronet

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Graham Eden Hamond, 2nd Baronet, (30 December 1779 – 20 December 1862) was a Royal Navy officer. After seeing action as a junior officer at the Glorious First of June and then at the Battle of Toulon, he commanded the fifth-rate HMS "Blanche" at the Battle of Copenhagen during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Hamond became commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Plantagenet" and captured the French ships "Le Courier de Terre Neuve" and "L'Atalante" in an action during the Napoleonic Wars. He took command of the fifth-rate HMS "Lively" and took part in the action of 5 October 1804, when three Spanish frigates laden with treasure were captured, and was then given command of the third-rate HMS "Victorious" and took part in the attack on Flushing during the disastrous Walcheren Campaign.
After a period of leave from the Navy, Hamond became commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Wellesley" and conveyed the diplomat Lord Stuart de Rothesay to Brazil to negotiate a commercial treaty with the Emperor Pedro I. Hamond went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South American Station.
Early career.
Born the only son of Captain Sir Andrew Hamond and Anne Hamond (née Graeme), Hamond joined the Royal Navy in September 1785. He was recorded, as a captain's servant, on the books of the third-rate HMS "Irresistible", his father's flagship in his role as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore and, having been promoted to midshipman in 1790, actually served in the third-rate HMS "Vanguard", the third-rate HMS "Bedford" and then the second-rate HMS "Duke". In January 1793 he transferred to the fifth-rate HMS "Phaeton" and assisted in the capture of "Le Général Dumourier" and her prize "St. Iago" in an action during the French Revolutionary Wars and received his portion of a large amount of prize money. He then joined the first-rate HMS "Queen Charlotte", flagship of Earl Howe in his role as Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron, and saw action at the Glorious First of June in June 1794. He served in the fifth-rate HMS "Aquilon" and the third-rate HMS "Zealous" before transferring to the first-rate HMS "Britannia", flagship of Sir William Hotham in his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, in June 1795 and seeing action at the Battle of Toulon in July 1795.
Promoted to lieutenant on 19 October 1796, Hamond served in the fifth-rate HMS "Aigle" in the Mediterranean Squadron in Autumn 1796 and in the fifth-rate HMS "Niger" in Spring 1797. Promoted to commander on 20 October 1798, he became commanding officer of the sloop HMS "Echo" and was employed in the blockade of Le Havre and on different occasions took charge of convoys. Promoted to captain on 30 November 1798, he became commanding officer of the sixth-rate HMS "Champion" and captured the French privateer "Anacreon" in June 1799. Hamond described "Anacreon" as "almost a new vessel, sails remarkably fast, is copper-bottomed, and seems fit for His Majesty's Service." He then took part in the Siege of French-held Malta in Spring 1800 before becoming commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Lion" later that year. He went on to be commanding officer of the fifth-rate HMS "Blanche" and took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in April 1801.
Hamond became commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Plantagenet" in February 1803 and captured the French ships "Le Courier de Terre Neuve" and "L'Atalante" in an action later that year during the Napoleonic Wars. He took command of the fifth-rate HMS "Lively" in July 1804 and took part in the action of 5 October 1804 when three Spanish frigates laden with treasure were captured. HMS "Lively" captured two other treasure ships, the "San Miguel" and the "Santa Gertruyda" off Cape St. Vincent and Cape St Maria respectively in December 1804. He went on to engage in a duel with the Spanish ship "Glorioso" in May 1805 and then to transport British troops to Naples in November 1805. He was then given command of the third-rate HMS "Victorious" on the Home Station in December 1808 and took part in the attack on Flushing during the disastrous Walcheren Campaign in Summer 1809. He went on to be commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Rivoli" in the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1813. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 4 June 1815 and a Deputy Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight on 27 October 1821.
After a period of leave from the Navy, Hamond became commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Wellesley" in March 1824 and then conveyed the diplomat Lord Stuart de Rothesay to Brazil to negotiate a commercial treaty with the Emperor Pedro I.
Senior command.
Promoted to rear admiral on 27 May 1825, Hamond travelled in the third-rate HMS "Spartiate" on his new mission to deliver the treaty of separation between Brazil and Portugal to King John VI of Portugal. He inherited his father's baronetcy in September 1828. He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 13 September 1831 and became Commander-in-Chief, South American Station, with his flag in the third-rate HMS "Spartiate", in September 1834. Promoted to vice admiral on 10 January 1837 and to full admiral on 22 January 1847 he was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 5 July 1855. He was appointed Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom on 22 November 1860 and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom on 5 June 1862 before being promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 10 November 1862.
Hamond died at his home at Norton Lodge near Yarmouth, Isle of Wight on 20 December 1862.
Family.
In December 1806 Hamond married Elizabeth Kimber; they had three daughters and two sons.