2012 Events
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Battle of Jersey Commemoration
Saturday 7th January 2012
Royal Square
Not having time to enjoy coffee at Grouville Militiamen and their followers drove to De La Salle College car park and were met by St Helier Honorary Police who transported them to the Town Hall for the next event of the day. Walkers were already arriving from St. Martin's Church, together with contingents from the Jersey Field Squadron Royal Engineers and cadets from the recently formed Royal Jersey Militia Army Cadet force, the latter force being led by our own 1781 Militiaman Dominic Egré. Hon.Col. David Dorgan led the troops and walkers from the Town Hall through King Street and Pierson Place into the Royal Square. All troops lined up and the 1781 Jersey Militia fired their muskets in salute to those who fought in Royal Square on 6th January 1781. St. Helier Connétable, Simon Crowcroft addressed the public, introducing Martin Walton who gave a short talk on the Battle of Jersey. Connétable Crowcroft urged the public to take part in a cameo of the John Singleton Copley painting of the Battle of Jersey and afterwards the 1781 Militia then fired two more volleys before leading the march back to the Town Hall for a very enjoyable lunch.
St Helier Deputy, Rod Bryans, has published his own very good photographs of the event at: http://parishpics.blogspot.com/2012/01/battle-of-jersey-commemoration-2012.html
Photographs on row above: Hon. Col. Dave Dorgan with CTV reporter Leah Ferguson; local historian Alf Pipon and St Lawrence Connetable Deirdre Mezbourian; Frank Falle; local historian Ian Ronayne;
Mrs Key, the Very Revd. Robert Key, Dean of Jersey and St Helier Connetable, Simon Crowcroft.
Grouville Church
This year the weather was kind. It was mild and dry. It was good to see more of the public attending than usual and we hope this is a continuing trend. Grouville Connétable Dan Murphy was on hand to represent the parish and welcome visitors and the Revd. Mike Lange-Smith kindly took the service again on the 231st anniversary to commemorate those who fell at La Rocque when the French attempted to invade the Island. His wife, Wendy, and her helpers organised coffee to be served afterwards in the Church for those who attended. Gunner, Terry Underwood, addressed the crowd telling of the events in 1781 which led to the deaths of those commemorated in the Churchyard. Thanks to all the media for promotion and coverage of the event. BBC Radio Jersey handled publicity well as it was difficult to encourage walkers to go to St Martin's Church at 9 am and then switch to encouragement for attendance at Grouville Church at 10.50am. Channel Television also were kind enough to publicise the events of the day on their flagship programme Channel Report in previous days and their reporter/cameraman Eric Blakeley MBE skilfully filmed the events for the day's news.