A TOMB bearing the remains of a naval commander from Wimborne has been uncovered in a cemetery in Malta.

Lieutenant John Evans died in 1843 while commanding HM Steam Packet Polyphemus.

Now the warden of the Msida Bastion Historic Garden in Floriana, Malta, is trying to trace any of his descendants.

Paolo Ferrelli told the Daily Echo how the tomb was discovered during some recent works in the yard of the garden, which is part of the National Trust of Malta.

He said Mr Evans died on February 20 1843 after being “struck by apoplexy” at his residence in Strada San Giovanni in Valletta. He was taken to the Bighi Naval Hospital but died within 24 hours.

It was recorded that he hailed from Wimborne Minster, Dorsetshire.

Mr Ferrelli said: “The tomb still contains the remains of John Evans’s body. It was unexpected because the grave was full of carved stones and debris. The skeleton is still in perfect condition and in the original position laid down in the grave.

“Pieces of the coffin are still visible, scattered around and under the bones. Unfortunately the skull is missing.”

He said the cemetery was opened in 1806 and is the oldest, British, non-Catholic cemetery on the island. It closed in 1857.

Mr Ferrelli said it was common to loot abandoned cemeteries in the 19th century to steal human bones for satanic purposes.

He added: “The cemetery itself was vandalised many times, hit by a bomb during the Second World War and vandalised again when the British left Malta in 1974. It was left unguarded for almost 100 years.”

A service was held recently and the remains of Mr Evans were buried again.

Mr Ferrelli said he has attempted to trace family members by sending letters to senior figures in Wimborne but has so far not had any luck.

The cemetery contains the remains of 900 people, almost all British. Most were from the Royal Navy or the British Army or were their relatives.

It was built in a period of Neoclassical architecture and the bulk of the tombs are copies and replicas of Roman, Greek and even Egyptian monuments.

Anyone with links to Mr Evans is urged to contact Mr Ferrelli by email at wardengor@gmail.com