GALLERY: In the footsteps of the French

On Saturday, the 65-strong group walked the route taken by French soldiers before the Battle of Jersey – the first time in the re-enactment event’s history that this had been done.

Led by historian and former soldier Frank Falle, they walked from La Rocque Harbour to the Royal Square, where they helped to form the traditional Battle of Jersey tableau, recreating the scene of Major Peirson’s death depicted in the famous painting by John Singleton Copley.

Mr Falle gave a talk about the invasion from the point of view of Baron de Rullecourt, the leader of the French force, at 9 am before the group set off on the four-mile walk.

They arrived at the Royal Square at around midday.

Mr Falle said that retracing the footsteps of the French soldiers was a novel way of doing things and was something they had not tried before.

‘It is the first time we have done it, but it will be happening again,’ he said.

‘We run on a five-year programme walking from the locations where each of the five Jersey regiments were based.

‘Every sixth year we will trace the steps of Baron de Rullecourt.’

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –