The 223rd anniversary of one of the more important days in the Island’s history will be marked by a recreation of the defeat of the invading French army under Baron de Rullecourt by the combined British and local forces under the command of Major Francis Peirson on 6 January 1781.It will be followed by the creation of a tableau of the famous painting The Death of Major Peirson, a copy of which hangs in the Royal Court.The Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, believes that the anniversary deserves much fuller commemoration than it has received in recent years.
‘We rightly place a lot of significance on Liberation Day on 9 May,’ he said.
‘However, the Island could well have been occupied by the French in 1781 if Baron de Rullecourt’s invasion had not been repulsed.’This is an exciting opportunity for us to give this important date in our Island calendar the prominence it deserves.’
