Today an official dispatch from General Montgomery dated 11th August announced the arrival and disembarkation of the Field Force dubbed Falcon Field Force after the Flagship of the naval escort. The disembarkation point is Marsaxlokk bay which is a good harbour.

Our troops are reported to have been speedily disembarked following some altercation with local troops. Leaving a Brigade to hold the landings the good General intends to advance towards Mdina only 10 miles inland. The Field Force has been reinforced by volunteers from the fleet forming a battalion sized unit of sturdy Matlocks along with, following the Admirals refusal to unship any heavy artillery, a battery equipped with Gardner guns.

It is widely reported that the Emir has mobilised the local Maltese forces however tension between him and the local Caliphate representative and commander of the Valletta garrison are strained. It is therefore unclear how much assistance they will provide the local forces gathering to protect their Emir. Few however expect the strong Caliphate forces avalible on the island to simply stand aside and allow General Montgomery to administer the punishment that Emir of depravity so justly deserves.

It can only be hoped that the troops arrive soon enough to prevent the dastardly Emir from besmirching the good name of the Lady Cynthia and by reflection the Britannic Empire as a whole.

The Falcon Field Force under General Montgomery left camp in the early hours of yesterday morning, 13th August 1879. Their objective the villa of the emir of Malta and the rescue of Lady Cynthia. The force of three brigades marched for two hours before arriving near the villa. Reports that the Emir had collected a large force of local troops to defend his luxuriant property with its prisoner of that flower of English womanhood proved correct. Initially there appeared to be no Regular troops from the caliphate garrison from Valletta, though few expected them to remain aloof from the Emirs plight.

The initial stages of the engagement saw the 1st and 2nd brigades advancing on the enemy, with the 3rd in reserve. True to form the masses of Caliphate Regulars appeared along with a large number of cavalry, an arm which General Montgomery singularly lacked. The jolly Jack-Tars of the Naval Brigade attacked a large force of Maltese militia holding a wood protecting the approaches to the villa driving them away. At the same time the Bonny 10th Liverpool Highlanders advanced on a corn field protecting the other flank of the Villa driving back a force of Caliphate regulars. Thus the initial contract favoured the brave lads of the Empire in thirer attempt to rescue the fail maiden.

About this time the Caliphate cavalry struck the extreme left of our line which rested on a corn field and in a ferrous battle the masses of cavalry overran the naval gardner guns and the Lancashire Fusiliers who had to withdraw under pressure of the swirling masses of horsemen. The 2nd Brigade now under the firm hand of General Montgomery having lost its gallant Brigadier steadied and prepared to face another charge from the wheeling mass of cavalry.

The decision was taken to commit the 3rd Brigade firstly to clear the village on the right and then assault the villa itself. Barely had this choice been made when the massed cavalry again changed the remnants of the 2nd Brigade. The attack had been delayed it later transpired as the Caliphate Cavalry commander had fallen in the first clash. This vital respite enabled the naval Brigade supported by the 1st Berkshires to repel the whirling mass of cavalry causing great loses amongst the enemy.

The day was drawing to an end as the 2nd advanced following the retreating horsemen. The final reserves of the Caliphate now collected to make a final attempt to hold the villa. The Britannic 1st Brigade was largely a spent force as the 2nd Liverpool and 1st Hereford foot had been in battle all day supporting the Highlanders and suffering greatly as a consequence. They had however formed a firm base for the 3rd to launch its assault on the villa as the sun sank towards the horizon.

The Naval brigade who were threatening the Caliphate right flank were again assailed by the remnant of the caliphate horse. The final accolade however fell to the regiment of the 3rd East Lancs lead by LtCol. Butus Lurkio. It was his battalion which stormed the palace putting flight to the Regulars holding it walls. While the Emir unfortunately made his ignominious escape from justice that fair English Rose Lady Cynthia Hamilton-Smyth was found her virtue intact within the sumptuous place interior

That evening as our courageous lads rested after their strenuous labours on behalf of the Empire the General ordered a day to rest and restock before heading back to the coast. He also sent official dispatches back announcing the news of Lady Cynthia’s rescue and graciously allowed this modest report of the daring do of our gallant forces to be included.