October 1892
From the local newspapers.
October 1836: Duncan Allez of the Anglo-Spanish Legion
A letter from the Star, October 31, 1836, describing a skirmish at Emetza. The Adjutant-General of this Legion at this time was Gaspard Le Marchant, son of Major General John Gaspard Le Marchant, and it is presumably he who had his horse killed under him, as the letter describes. The Priaulx Library recently acquired an Order Book of this regiment which covers the period during which the Legion was at San Sebastian, a town on the north coast of Spain; Le Marchant signs all the orders. The Anglo-Spanish Legion was a voluntary force put together by the British army at the request of the Spanish to help them in a civil war which arose because of a contested succession to the Spanish throne. The Orders in our book are dated 4 Jun 1836, until 30 March 1837 and are all issued from San Sebastian.
Prince Edward Island, January 1807
From the Gazette de Guernesey, 24 January, 1807.
The Swift cutter, April 24 1800
From the London Chronicle, 1800. A Polperro smuggler nearly escapes at Guernsey.
September 1806
Alderney Races, among other things, featuring Mackenzie's brown mare, called Snowball!
Oliver Dobree and Catherine Stephens, 1693
Or was he a Dupré—and a Jerseyman?
September 1649: the Prince of Wales descends on Jersey
From Edith Carey's Channel Islands, 1904. Her book may be dated but it remains a great read, full of information, and with lovely watercolour illustrations.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 22 June 1897
From the Gazette de Guernesey, 26 July 1897. The islands celebrated this jubilee with gusto, the main carnival being at St Peter Port, which was decorated throughout with triumphal arches and lights. Each parish also had its own celebration, held on different days so that the country people could visit Town for the main event. Only Sark and Alderney held their parties on the same day, much to the silent chagrin of the children of Sark, who missed the magnificent fireworks!
New Channel Islands yard, July 1947
A long-felt want in the Channel Islands waters is to be met by the establishment of a boat-building yard at St Sampson's, Guernsey. Basil C de Guérin in Ship and Boat Builder, July 1947, from de Guérin Scrapbook H.
Shipwreck of the Fanny, January 1828
Wrecked at Jersey on New Year's Day, 1828; with Guernsey interest. The shock of this catastrophe traumatised the islanders, who were unable to help in any way despite the vessel lying just outside the harbour; the suffering of the passengers and crew was visible to those waiting for them on the quays, and eventually led to the introduction of a Jersey lifeboat. From the Star, 8 January 1828. As more bodies were washed up, the public and courts in Jersey began to turn on the vessel's Captain.
January 1828
From the Star newspaper.
Christmas Time, Or the Passage from Southampton to Guernsey, 1814
From Le Miroir Politique, January 15th, 1814. The packet for Guernsey is held up by the weather; a familiar tale! You may have to spend Christmas at Southampton; how do you fill your time as you wait for the wind to die down? You can gossip, or take a walk for the day to nearby Netley Abbey; you can eat and drink, but the passengers for Guernsey will insist on confusing the waiting staff by speaking Guernsey French: 'Of all the gibberish, linguos, tongues unknown, Methinks there’s none that beats our Guernsey own.' Interestingly, the poet has written the Guernsey French to reflect its pronunciation. The visit to the Abbey and the quays of Southampton are exactly as described by William Money in his account of a visit to Guernsey many years earlier.