On This Day – the French attack Jersey!

And no, not *New* Jersey!

Here in the UK it can be easy to think that the battles of the #RevWar were only visible in North America. Now not only does this neglect the wider global engagements, and indeed the lengthy siege of Gibraltar, but 245 years ago a small French expedition attempted to open another front in the Channel Islands. Unfortunately for the French, it is estimated that around a third of the landing force was killed in perilous coastal waters, and the limited force that was able to eventually launch their assault was soon bottled up and forced to surrender. The whole affair was over within a day. As a result, this event was largely forgotten – but the death of Major Peirson, the acting commander of the British forces in St Helier, was immortalised by John Singleton Copley.

Although le Gatinois were not there, the Battle of Jersey was the closest that the American Revolution ever came to the British Isles, and one of the last ever landings of hostile forces on British soil. As the only UK-based group representing the French army in this period, we are incredibly committed to preserving its memory. Who knows, we may even be able to commemorate its 250th anniversary in Jersey itself…