1st Regiment | |
---|---|
L-Ewwel Reġiment | |
Active | 1974 – present |
Country | Malta |
Branch | Armed Forces of Malta |
Type | Regiment |
Role | HQ Company - Combat Service Support A Company – Airport Security B Company – Public Duties C (SD) Company -Special Forces D Company - Artillery |
Garrison/HQ | Lyster 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]