Some time lines for your research John, not sure if the info is any use? not too much detail on Boer POW's to be fair.
Malta Garrisons.
5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Feb 1900 The 5th Battalion arrived from England. It had a strength of 560 men. The men were quartered at Polverista Barracks Vittoriosa
May The 5th Northumberland Fusiliers together with the 3rd Battalion Royal West Kent took part in combined manoeuvres with the Royal Navy in landing troops and 12 pounder guns at Mellieha Bay. Two mules were attached to each gun to aid the ordinary gun crew and the poles for the mules were made afloat as it was found that the ordinary fittings were inadequate. The landings were made in the face of a gale which destroyed the landing stages.
27 June 1901 The 5th/Northumberland Fusiliers consisting of 10 companies, 21 officers, 49 sergeants, 15 buglers, 370 rank and file embarked for Southampton on the transport Dilwara. The men disembarked on 7 July.
3rd Loyal North Lancs
Jan 1900 The 3rd/Loyal North Lancashire Regiment arrived from England.
The battalion had 917 men at Fort Manoel. The 3rd Royal North Lancashire Regiment (Main Guard Valletta)
1 Jan 1901 Strength: 1027 men.
Apr The 3rd/Loyal North Lancashire Regiment left for South Africa.
3rd/Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire)
Mar 1901 The 3rd Battalion arrived from England.
24 Feb 1902 The main body of the 3rd/Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) consisting of HQ Coy and 8 companies, 26 officers, 6 officers’ wives and 4 children, 2 officer's female servants, 1 warrant officer, 39 sergeants, 13 buglers, 701 rank and file, 9 soldier's wives and 22 children, embarked for Southampton on the Sicilia. The men disembarked on 7 March 1902.
25 Feb 1902 A detachment of the 3rd/Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) consisting of 4 companies, 7 officers, 25 sergeants, 4 buglers, 231 rank and file, 10 soldier's wives and 22 children, embarked for Southampton on the Sicilia. The men disembarked on 7 March 1902.
1900 3rd/Royal West Kent Regiment
Jan 1900 The 3rd Battalion arrived from England. It had 1014 men.
May 1900 The 3rd Battalion Royal West Kent together with the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers took part in combined manoeuvres with the Royal Navy in landing troops and 12 pounder guns at Mellieha Bay. Two mules were attached to each gun to aid the ordinary gun crew and the poles for the mules were made afloat as it was found that the ordinary fittings were inadequate. The landings were made in the face of a gale which destroyed the landing stages.
1 July 1088 men were located at Verdala Barracks.
31 May 1901 The main body of the 3rd/Royal West Kent consisting of 10 companies, 13 officers, 1 officer's wife and 2 children, 1 male and 1 female officer's servants, 51 sergeants, 17 buglers, 704 rank and file, 16 soldier's wives and 27 children, embarked for Southampton on the transport Formosa. The men disembarked on 9 June.
2 June 1901 The detachment of the 3rd/Royal West Kent consisting of 2 companies, 5 officers, 1 officer's wife, 11 sergeants, 2 buglers, 177 rank and file, 10 soldier's wives and 14 children, embarked for Southampton on the transport Dilwara. The men disembarked on 10 June.
During the South African War, the 3rd Battalion was embodied, and after serving at Chatham was the first Militia Battalion to embark for service abroad, and as it was not then the intention of sending militia or volunteers to the seat of war, the 3rd Battalion was stationed at Malta in January 1900, where it remained until June 1901. Whilst at Malta, the battalion sent a detachment of mounted infantry to the war, consisting of 20 men, one of whom was killed, one died of disease and two wounded.
1901 3rd/King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
June 1901 The 3rd/King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) arrived from England.
23 Mar 1902 The 3rd/King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) consisting of HQ Coy and 6 companies, 10 officers, 1 officer's wife and 3 children, 1 warrant officer, 29 sergeants, 6 buglers, 425 rank and file, 4 soldier's wives and 11 children, embarked for Liverpool on board the Menes. The men disembarked on 2 April.
The 5th/The Royal Munster Fusiliers
Feb 1901 The 5th/Royal Munster Fusiliers arrived from England.
29 Sep The 5th/Royal Munster Fusiliers, consisting of HQ Coy and 8 companies, 18 officers, 4 officers’ wives and 7 children, 1 warrant officer, 47 sergeants, 13 buglers, 415 rank and file, 16 soldier's wives and 30 children, embarked for Queenstown on the transport Assaye. The men disembarked on 8 October.
The 3rd Seaforth Highlanders (formerly the Highland Rifle Militia)
was embodied in late 1899 and embarked in February for service in Egypt alongside the 1st battalion.
The 1st/Seaforth Highlanders was at Lower St Elmo Barracks. It embarked for Egypt, where it arrived on 10 January 1898. On their departure, 26 sick men were left behind in the hospitals at Malta.
IMO I think St Helena was the main POW camp for Boer prisoners. It was only 2199 nautical miles from South Africa as opposed to 7072 nautical miles to Malta. British regiments who served on St Helena were entitled to a QSA without clasp if I'm not mistaken? I have enclosed a link which is quite informative regarding St Helena.
sainthelenaisland.info> boerprisoners
regards
Dave
