Brothers in arms

Recently, a member of the public submitted the story of his family’s First World War service to Durham at War. There were four Malia brothers who fought in the war, James, John, Joseph, and Thomas. They all served with the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), except for Thomas who served with the Royal Engineers. The oldest brother, James, had previously served with the DLI during the Boer War. However, John and Joseph are the focus of this blog post. Both were killed during the war, and their names were incorrect on their memorials.

John was serving with 15th Battalion, one of the two DLI battalions in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. John went missing and was declared killed in action. His body was never found, so his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial. However, his papers went through as Melia with an 'e', and this is the name that appeared on the memorial. Until recently. His great-nephew pulled together the evidence he needed, and submitted it to the Commonwealth War Graves commission. In 2005, the change was made.

John Malia's name corrected on the Thiepval Memorial, with thanks to the Malia Family and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Joseph’s surname differed even more. He had been living with his aunt since the age of 14, and signed up under her surname of Clark. When James discovered this, he told Joseph that his surname was Malia and he should change it. However, Joseph was killed in action in June 1917, before he had done this. James wrote letters to the army asking that the name be changed. In 1921, they were told that he would still be recorded as Joseph Clark, but with the alias of Malia.

Once again, the great-nephew got together all the evidence for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and in February of this year, Joseph’s headstone was replaced with one now reading ‘JP Malia served as 11769 Private J Clark’.

Joseph's original headstone, showing the name Clark, with thanks to the Malia Family

Joseph's new headstone showing both Malia and Clark, with thanks to the Malia Family

You can read more about the Malia brothers on Durham at War: http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/13462/