History walk retraces attempted invasion of Jersey in 1779
A guided walk to mark nearly 250 years since the "first Battle of Jersey" will take place later.Société Jersiaise said the walk, led by historian Ian Ronayne, would begin at St. Ouen's parish church car park at 14:00 BST.The battle took place on 1 May 1779 when a French invasion force attempted to land in St Ouen's Bay, but they were "thwarted" on the shoreline by local forces, said the society.Mr Ronayne said the 1779 battle was "less well-known" in comparison to the 1781 battle, but both "involve equally fascinating characters and could have also resulted in Jersey falling into French hands had circumstances been different".
"It's a remarkable story that I believe we should be more aware of," Mr Ronayne said.Société Jersiaise said the five-mile walk would include a visit to Grantez headland and La Mielle de Morville nature reserve.
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But for those who eagerly awaited their arrival in Tasmania, there was a particular promise: Shetland women, they were told, were a cut above all the rest, they were 'moral, industrious and …infinitely superior to the usual run of female emigrant…' Lady Jane Franklin by Thomas Bock, 1838 (Image: Public domain) As it happened, the bold emigration scheme would not quite succeed as planned – far from delivering 500, the number of young Shetland women who made the demanding sea journey to new lives in Australia barely reached 50. And despite its high-profile figurehead, a backdrop of desperation and poverty set against the incredible leap of faith of those who dared make the arduous journey to the ends of earth, the Shetland female emigration scheme would go on to be largely forgotten. 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At the same time, demand was soaring from colonies such as Australia for fit and healthy men and women to help build the country and who wanted to make new lives for themselves. Shetland women were particularly suited – at least, it seems, to Lady Jane Franklin, a founder of the British Ladies' Female Emigrant Society and who had personal experience of life Down Under. She arrived in Lerwick having spent several years by her husband's side in his role as Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land (the colonial name of Tasmania). With the race on to map a Northwest passage, Sir John was appointed to lead what would be the doomed Franklin Expedition, with 24 officers and 110 men on board the ill-fated HMS Terror and HMS Erabus bound for the Arctic. With both vessels missing - later horror stories would emerge of the ships becoming ice-bound, supplies running out and crews resorting to cannibalism - Lady Jane embarked on a determined search, leading her to Shetland and its seafarers. On the same boat to Shetland was John Dunmore Lang, a Church of Scotland minister who had become well-known in his adopted Australia and who, as it happened, was in the midst of a tour of Scotland aimed at attracting new blood to the colony. The unmarried and widowed young women in Shetland appeared to both of them as ideal candidates for emigration. It seems they were knocking at an open door: Lady Jane was soon receiving attention from young Shetland women eager to find out if they might be suitable candidates for emigration. As well as poverty and famine, a key problem for Shetland women, found Veronique, was a gaping gender imbalance: the hazardous nature of the islands' men's work – often sailors or fishermen – meant the number of single women and young widows far exceeded the men. Cradle mountain, Tasmania (Image: Public domain - With confidence growing that there was no shortage of Shetland women willing to make the bold move, a philanthropic fund was launched to attract donations from around the country to pay for their passage to Tasmania. A Lerwick committee selected 21 for the first voyage to Tasmania on board the Joseph Soames, leaving from London in mid-August 1850. All but just two – knitter Anne and another woman, Elizabeth Smith, 20, who gave her job as housemaid – were listed as farm servants. They ranged from just 18 years old to the oldest, Henderson Jamieson, aged 31. Some appear to have been related: Helen and Jane Ninianson, aged 21 and 26, Elizabeth and Catherine Smith, 21 and 22, and Catherine and Elizabeth Tait, 28 and 22 seem almost certain to have been sisters. The journey south was long and hard but horror tales of dreadful conditions, violence and even on board rape meant that unlike many other emigrants, the Shetland women were given support of a matron and access to learning materials on board to make the journey more bearable. Their ship arrived at Port Adelaide on 23 November, with all 21 engaged to work with families with 24 hours of their arrival. According to one record, they arrived 'in the highest terms of their fitness, as far as could be ascertained, for the life they are to lead, of their pleasing and gentle manners, their good temper, their gratitude for the attention shown them, and their anxiety to employ themselves usefully.' While the ship's captain, Robert Craigie praised them as 'moral, very industrious, cleanly in their habits, accustomed to work in the fields, and when not so engaged to manufacture hosiery. 'They are religious, simple in their tastes, they speak English, and the appearance of most of them is pleasing. 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'The extent of the gender imbalance in Shetland and Orkney - the highest in the UK - (meant) emigrating to the other end of the world was a choice, and an act of immense courage.'
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK households told to prune 4 plants immediately but only after common sign
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