1st Regiment (Malta)

1st Regiment
L-Ewwel Reġiment
Active1974 – present
Country Malta
BranchArmed Forces of Malta
TypeRegiment
RoleHQ Company - Combat Service Support
A Company – Airport Security
B Company – Public Duties
C (SD) Company -Special Forces
D Company - Artillery
Garrison/HQLyster Barracks, Ħal Far
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Vella
Notable
commanders
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Parnis[1]

The 1st Regiment (Maltese: L-Ewwel Reġiment tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta) is a light infantry battalion of the Armed Forces of Malta. The Regimental Headquarters is at Lyster Barracks in Ħal Far.[2] Lyster Barracks was a former Royal Navy and Royal Air Force barracks[3][4] and originally named after Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Lumley St George Lyster. Admiral Lyster commanded the Fleet Air Arm force that protected the Operation Pedestal convoy force to Malta during World War 2. The current barracks site includes some of the original British military architecture and four of the accommodation blocks are named after famous Royal Navy aircraft carriers, some of whom were frequent visitors to Malta; i.e. Glorious, Courageous, Eagle and Hermes.[5]

The 1st Regiment is task organised into a Headquarters Company, three Infantry Companies and an Air Defence and Support Company. It is the AFM's main land manoeuvre unit. Its tasks are based on public duties, security, crisis management operations and peacekeeping missions.[6]

  1. ^ "Former AFM 1st Regiment Commander dies aged 89".
  2. ^ "1 Regiment". afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  3. ^ "The Malta Garrison 1944". www.maltaramc.com. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Hal-Far Airfield". www.aviationinmalta.com. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. ^ "The AFM's Defence Estate. A Legacy of British Military Architecture" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Armed Forces of Malta".