Malta Military Records

History
"The British Navy gained a foothold in the Mediterranean when Gibraltar was captured and subsequently confirmed by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. At the end of the 18th century the island of Minorca was taken by force, and so Port Mahon a first class deep sea harbour was added. However, Minorca was returned to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, and whilst under the same Treaty the island of Malta was to be handed back to rule by the Knights, the actions by Napoleon led to Britain resuming war against him in May 1803. Malta therefore remained in British hands and was the home of the Mediterranean Fleet until June 1967 when the last Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet departed. A small number of Royal Navy ships continued to use Malta until the final withdrawal on 31st March 1979." Source: Indexes of men in the Mediterranean Fleet 1881