Fort Rinella

09/10/2026

LATEST ADDITION: 12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) CZAPKA

This cap, taking the form of a square-top shako, was referred to as a 'Czapka'. The term derives from the Polish word for cap. In the British military of the Victorian era, the Czapka was synonymous with Lancer regiments, such as this example worn by the 12th (Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers.

Before the advent of mechanised warfare, horses and cavalry made up the fast, mobile forces of any army. In the British army, dragoons (mounted infantrymen) were used across battlefields, armed with muskets and pistols. After the Napoleonic Wars, lances were revived and issued to cavalry, deemed effective in combat of the age.

This was certainly the case for the 12th Royal Lancers. The regiment served in India, Afghanistan, and South Africa. Lances remained in use until the First World War, in which some of the last-ever lancer cavalry charges were carried out. In the 1920s, both lances and horses were replaced by armoured cars.

This artefact now forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella. The museum and site are open Monday to Saturday, forming part of a museum network managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

02/09/2026

LATEST ADDITION: ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE SANDHURST HELMET

This home service helmet was worn by cadets at the prestigious military college at Sandhurst. Originally established in 1801 at High Wycombe and Great Marlow, it addressed the need to train officers for infantry and cavalry regiments. Major-General John Le Marchant (father of the future Governor of Malta John Gaspard Le Marchant) acquired funding from Parliament to open his proposed college. In 1812, it relocate to Sandhurst where it is still found today. Since then, thousands of British Army officers would receive their education at this institution.

The helmet plate bears Queen Victoria's cipher and crown, surmounted by the motto "Nec Aspera Terrent" ("Difficulties do not Frighten"). This unique example now forms part of Fort Rinella's 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit, open Monday to Saturday. The site and museum are managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

28/08/2026

A REVOLUTIONARY FI***RM: THE ADAMS REVOLVER

This historical fi***rm was the first successful double action revolver ever produced. The design the cylinder to rotate while also cocking dropping the hammer, all in one trigger pull.

Its history goes back to the Great Exhibition in 1851. The new revolver produced by Deane & Adams outshone the mass-produced examples exhibited by their principal competitor, C**t. Adams' revolver could be operated entirely with one hand alone, and chambered a larger cartridge. It was also faster and of higher quality than its counterparts.

Despite this, the British military still preferred C**t's models as they were battle-tested and proven. Adams' double-action revolver also suffered a heavy trigger pull that made it hard to shoot accurately at range. However, servicemen in the Crimea who had taken Adams revolvers into battle reported on its effectiveness and reliability in close-quarters fighting .

One officer, Lieutenant Frederick E. B. Beaumont, came back from the Crimea and in 1855 patented an improved version of Adams' revolver. Deane & Adams took up the new design. At the same time, C**t's pistols were increasingly felt to be underpowered and slow to operate by comparison, and Adams' revolver surged in popularity through the commercial market. Soon enough the new Beaumont-Adams revolvers were ordered by the War Department around 1856.

It was not the end of the story. Robert Adams himself left the Deane family firm due to disagreements and started his own company, the London Armoury Co., with his cousin James Kerr. Another split occurred, and Adams left his newfound company by 1859. He kept the rights to his revolver, producing it at other fi***rm manufacturers under license.

The revolver remained in use by military and police forces, succeeded by three marks of breech loading Adams' revolvers with brass cartridges patented by Robert's brother. The Adams revolver line was eventually replaced by the Enfield Mk I in the 1880s, ending its streak of success as the British Army's signature pistol.

Both the original, early Adams Revolver and John Adam's improved version are on display at Fort Rinella. The John Adams revolver in particular was the commercial model produced from late 1860s onwards. It forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, a site and museum operated by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

21/08/2026

SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN: EXHIBIT AT FORT RINELLA

In the Victorian era (1837-1901), Malta became a stepping stone for British expansion, allowing it to retain influence in the Mediterranean and beyond. In this period, the island saw thousands of servicemen land on its shores, departing for distant lands or remaining for garrison duties.

This era also saw great changes in uniforms, equipment, and technology. Large conflicts were fought, notably in the Crimea, India, and Southern Africa. For the Victorian soldier, conditions were often harsh, contrasting with the romanticized image of bright red soldiers marching in unison. At Fort Rinella, the splendour of 19th century parade dress and the drudgery of warfare at the time are both displayed. Fort Rinella is dedicated to Malta's Victorian military heritage and the Soldiers of the Queen across the empire.

Curious to learn more? Visit the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibition at Fort Rinella, the only museum in Malta dedicated to Victorian military history, managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

18/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION: S***F BOX

In the 18th century, the upper classes of England became obsessed with s***f: sniffing to***co. Hundreds of establishments sold the coveted product, and many books were published on the subject. S***f was made with cured to***co from different varieties. It was ground into a powder and blended with oils and spices (sometimes up to a hundred different ingredients), according to each producer's recipe. It was then left to mature before being sieved and sold as a very fine aromatic powder inhaled through the nose.

S***f was often consumed socially. Therefore, the quality of one's s***f and the manner in which it was consumed dictated one's social standing. It was disrespectful to inhale loudly, snort, or sneeze. One could also pay a tutor for s***f etiquette.

Of importance was also one's s***f box, showing one's taste and financial means much like any other personal property. Some were exceptionally ornate. This example, now forming part of Fort Rinella's collection, features a painting of a man taking s***f, based on an artwork from the 1820s.

By the late 18th and early 19th century, s***f was produced industrially, making it commercially available to most classes of society. However, entering the Victorian era it gradually went out of fashion, replaced by smoking. Queen Victoria herself disliked s***f and to***co and banned their consumption at Royal Residences. However, officers in the British army held on to s***f as a tradition until they too garnered a preference for ci******es and ci**rs.

The 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit is open Monday to Saturday at For Rinella, a site managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

10/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION: LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT HELMET

This artefact is a Victorian era home-service helmet worn by an officer of the Lincolnshire Regiment. The helmet was introduced in 1878, replacing the shako. As the name implies, it was not used on deployments abroad. Unlike the khaki and white foreign service helmets, it is covered in dark midnight-blue cloth. It was worn with Full Dress and Field Service Dress until 1914.

The Lincolnshire Regiment was formed back in 1685 and served across the globe. Among its battles, it fought in the American War of Independence, the Peninsular War, and the Boer War. The regiment also served in the Ionian Islands and was even stationed in Malta.

This example now forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, a site and museum managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

04/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION — VICTORIAN BELL-TOP SHAKO

One of the most impressive military headpieces from the 19th century was certainly the bell-top shako. Its name derived from its flared, top-heavy shape.

This example was worn by an officer of the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, circa 1830/40. On the front plate itself one finds the regiment's battle honours for Salamanca (1812), Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Nive (1813), Orthes (1814), and Toulouse (1814).

This highly prized, unique, and rare artefact is the latest addition to the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella. The site and museum is open Monday to Saturday, forming part of a museum network managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

29/07/2026

ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY BUSBY

The busby is one of the most recognisable items of dress associated with the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). It was formed in 1793 as the mounted branch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The busby was adopted later in the 1830s, bringing the RHA's headdress into line with hussar fashion, which was itself derived from the Hungarian hussar cap.

The busby's construction typically comprised of a fur body, a coloured cloth 'bag' draped from the crown, and a plume at the front. A cord, known as a busby line, ran from the cap to the wearer's shoulder.

An original example of a RHA Busby is on display at the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, open Monday to Saturday. The site and museum is managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

22/07/2026

VICTORIAN SHAKO
This shako was worn by the British Army in the 1860s, one of several patterns used across the century. 'Shako' comes from the Hungarian word csákó, meaning peaked cap. In the 1800s, it gained popularity with various military forces in Europe.

Also known as a 'quilted shako', it belonged to an officer of the 2nd (Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot. It was one of the oldest infantry regiments in the British Army, dating back to the 17th century.

In the 18th century, every British infantry regiment was assigned a number based on its age. The older the regiment, the lower (and more prestigious) the number. This was called its 'precedence', and it was proudly displayed on the front of the shako. The 2nd (Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot was the second-oldest infantry regiment in the British Army, beaten only by the 1st Regiment of Foot, the Royal Scots.

This Shako is now on display at Fort Rinella, managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, open Monday to Saturday.

18/07/2026