Jemima Nicholas was the heroine of The Battle of Fishguard, which appears to have been the “last invasion of mainland Britain”.
What happened?
It was an invasion by Revolutionary France, that only lasted three days, 22nd to 24th February 1797.
Basically, 1,400 troops landed at Fishguard. It was made up of 600 French regular soldiers and 800 irregulars, being republicans, deserters, convicts and Royalist prisoners, an undisciplined group. The result was that almost as soon as they landed on British soil, they deserted, began looting local villages and hamlets, then discipline totally collapsed, they discovered the locals’ supply of wine! (A Portuguese ship had been wrecked on the coast several weeks previously.)
Jemima Nicholas
This was Jemima Nicholas moment. She tricked the French into surrendering. She did this by getting all the local women to put on cloaks and wear high black steeple-crowned hats, the aim being to make them look like soldiers. She then marched them up and down a hill. It worked; the French commander thought his soldiers were outnumbered. It is also claimed that she single handily captured twelve French soldiers using a pitchfork, locking them inside St. Mary’s church.
The result was that after a few brief clashes with our hastily assembled forces and, of course, Jemima’s motley band, the invading French commander, Colonel William Tate, imagining that he was facing overwhelming numbers, surrendered unconditionally on the 24th February.
The result
For this reason Jemima is included in the list of 100+ Welsh women who have made a significant contribution to Welsh life.
“The Last Invasion Tapestry” that was commissioned by the Fishguard Arts Society for the 200th anniversary of the invasion tells her story. It is a 100- foot- long tapestry, to be found its own gallery in the library at Fishguard Town Hall.
Those pesky French have tried to invade Britain several times.
The History Portfolio has created a fabulous children’s musical about one such attempt, TRAFALGAR Nelson’s Finest Hour it has a great script and 12 catchy songs your children will just love performing.
It has been written so that no child has to learn more than five line unles they can read them. To hear two songs and read two pages of script go to https://www.history-portal.com/product/trafalgar/
Isn’t history fun?
10 questions to discuss:
- When and where did the Battle of Fishguard take place?
- Who led the French invasion force, and what motivated them to attack Britain?
- Describe the composition of the French troops that landed in Fishguard. Why were they considered “undisciplined”?
- How did Jemima Nicholas contribute to the defeat of the French invaders? Explain the strategy she employed with the local women.
- Is there any evidence to support the claim that Jemima captured twelve French soldiers with a pitchfork?
- What factors, apart from Jemima’s actions, led to the French surrender?
- What historical significance does the Battle of Fishguard hold, and why is it considered the “last invasion of mainland Britain”?
- The text mentions “The Last Invasion Tapestry.” Describe its purpose and location.
- Beyond this specific battle, does Jemima Nicholas represent a wider concept of heroism or community resistance?
- Has the threat of invasion influenced British history and identity in any lasting ways?
These questions encourage critical thinking beyond just summarizing the information. They delve into the motivations, strategies, and historical context of the event, while also prompting broader reflection on heroism, community resistance, and the lasting impact of historical events.
To learn more of the Heroine of Fishguard:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemima_Nicholas
https://www.100welshwomen.wales/100-women/jemima-nicholas/
https://www.coastalcottages.co.uk/inspiration/heritage/jemima-nicholas-a-fishguard-heroine/
© Tony Dalton