.jpg) |
Edward Le Quesne (1882-1957) was elected a Deputy for St Helier No 2 district in 1925 and held the seat until he stood successfully for the new office of Senator in 1948. This is an extract from a journal he wrote entitled “50 Years of Memories”, written sometime around 1949
Pandemonium
Two incidents that have always remained in my mind occurred during holidays I had in Jersey whilst at College or at work in England. The first was the relief of Mafeking [1900]. At that time the feeling of friendship that now exists between England and France was, to say the least, non-existent. In fact, practically all the continental nations hated us, for what even many Britons considered an act of aggression.
The news of the relief came on the 24th of May, the Queen’s Birthday, and the Grand Review was held on St. Aubin’s sands in the morning. In the evening pandemonium broke out. The town gradually filled with demonstrators, including many militiamen still in uniform; processions formed, and a move made to the French Lane, the inhabitants of which at that time were principally French or of French descent.
These people had, during the course of the South African War openly expressed their sympathy for the Boers, and in, some instances, shown their feelings by openly rejoicing at the news of any British reverse. Entering the French Lane a Mdme. Cousinard emptied a bucket of slops over the leaders of the procession, and this from a shop now forming the premises of Messrs. G. D. Laurens.
That started the “ Concert ”, and infuriated the crowd. Within minutes the Windows of the shops in the “ Lane ” were smashed, and, determined to seek revenge for the insults to not only the British Army but to the beloved Queen Victoria tht haad occurred during the War, the crowd sought out further French properties, and the Pomme D’Or Hotel and the Palais de Cristal Hotel in King Street were subjected to the same fate as those in the Lane. The Devonshire Regiment Militia, then in garrison at Fort Regent, were called out by the Lieut.-Governor and posted outside many of the houses of the French resident: but it was soon apparent where their sympathies lay, and it was long after midnight before a semblance of order returned.
Unfortunately, the cost of the destruction had to be met by the Parish of St. Helier, and amounted to what in those days, was a considerable sum. It was quite a few years after before good relations existed between the Jersey natives and the French residents
The Death of Victoria
The second incident was the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. In 1897 she had celebrated the sixtieth year of her reign and few to-day can understand the reverence and esteem in which she was held by every section of the community.
The last years of her life were saddened by the South African War and her sympathy for both the fighting troops, and for their relatives enhanced the respect in which she was held. In Jersey I witnessed many a man and many a woman in tears on hearing of the death of their beloved Queen, and immediately all business establishments closed down and blinds were drawn in private: houses. Women quickly brought but their mourning dresses and most men wore a black armlet for many days.
I returned to London the day after the receipt of the news of her death, and in the company of several other Jerseymen, witnessed the funeral procession as it passed down The Mall.
I have witnessed many great processions since that day, but none that have made such an impression on my mind for its solemnity and for the evident grief of the spectators. A great Queen had gone, and with it, it may be said, gone also was the time when Great Britain stood supreme as the dominant World Power.
The second incident was the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. In 1897 she had celebrated the sixtieth year of her reign and few to-day can understand the reverence and esteem in which she was held by every section of the community.
The last years of her life were saddened by the South African War and her sympathy for both the fighting troops, and for their relatives enhanced the respect in which she was held. In Jersey I witnessed many a man and many a woman in tears on hearing of the death of their beloved Queen, and immediately all business establishments closed down and blinds were drawn in private: houses. Women quickly brought but their mourning dresses and most men wore a black armlet for many days.
I returned to London the day after the receipt of the news of her death, and in the company of several other Jerseymen, witnessed the funeral procession as it passed down The Mall.
I have witnessed many great processions since that day, but none that have made such an impression on my mind for its solemnity and for the evident grief of the spectators. A great Queen had gone, and with it, it may be said, gone also was the time when Great Britain stood supreme as the dominant World Power.
Holiday Fun
On holidays sports were generally held in the afternoon on the People’s Park, and among the attractions I remember was the Greasy Pole. At the top of a strong pole some twenty feet high was tied a leg of ham or mutton. The smooth pole, well greased, had to be climbed to reach the prize and the condition of the clothes of the competitors can better be imagined than described.
Other attractions were the Punch and Judy Show and Aunt Sally. The latter consisted of a board with a hole at the top large enough for a man to pass through his head. For a penny spectators were provided with half a dozen rotten apples or potatoes, with which, from a distance of fifteen to twenty feet, they attempted to hit the head protruding from the hole. The man possessing the head naturally attempted to duck in time to prevent the missile hitting the mark. When it did hit, the crowd, not the target, enjoyed the fun.
Notes:
The siege of Mafeking was a 217-day siege battle for the town of Mafeking (now called Mahikeng) in South Africa during the Second Boer War from October 1899 to May 1900. The siege received considerable attention as Lord Edward Cecil, the son of the British prime minister, was in the besieged town, as also was Lady Sarah Wilson, a daughter of the Duke of Marlborough and aunt of Winston Churchill.
The siege turned the British commander, Colonel Robert Baden-Powell (often, and below, referred to as "B-P"), into a national hero. The Relief of Mafeking (the lifting of the siege), while of little military significance, was a morale boost for the struggling British.
On holidays sports were generally held in the afternoon on the People’s Park, and among the attractions I remember was the Greasy Pole. At the top of a strong pole some twenty feet high was tied a leg of ham or mutton. The smooth pole, well greased, had to be climbed to reach the prize and the condition of the clothes of the competitors can better be imagined than described.
Other attractions were the Punch and Judy Show and Aunt Sally. The latter consisted of a board with a hole at the top large enough for a man to pass through his head. For a penny spectators were provided with half a dozen rotten apples or potatoes, with which, from a distance of fifteen to twenty feet, they attempted to hit the head protruding from the hole. The man possessing the head naturally attempted to duck in time to prevent the missile hitting the mark. When it did hit, the crowd, not the target, enjoyed the fun.
Notes:
The siege of Mafeking was a 217-day siege battle for the town of Mafeking (now called Mahikeng) in South Africa during the Second Boer War from October 1899 to May 1900. The siege received considerable attention as Lord Edward Cecil, the son of the British prime minister, was in the besieged town, as also was Lady Sarah Wilson, a daughter of the Duke of Marlborough and aunt of Winston Churchill.
The siege turned the British commander, Colonel Robert Baden-Powell (often, and below, referred to as "B-P"), into a national hero. The Relief of Mafeking (the lifting of the siege), while of little military significance, was a morale boost for the struggling British.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment