Summary
The story of how a cobbler from Fishguard thwarted the last successful invasion of Britain in 1797.
Teachers’ Notes
Recommended hymn:
He’s Got the Whole World (Come and Praise 1 no. 19)
Occasion:
Suitable for any time of the year, but could be used on the anniversary of the French invasion (23rd February 1797).
Instructions: Play the video when the directions appear.
In order to view the video you need Windows Media Player. Please click on the link below to download and install the latest free version:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/9/5/0953E553-3BB6-44B1-8973-106F1B7E5049/wmp11-windowsxp-x86-enu.exe
The Main Text
These days you cannot watch the news on TV or listen to the radio without hearing about countries that are fighting each other. Often these countries have arguments about who should control different areas. Sometimes the politicians can sort it out by talking to each other. But at other times one country sends an army to invade another. Can you name any countries that have been invaded recently? (Take responses.)
Invasions are nothing new. They have been happening for centuries. But in the United Kingdom there has not been a successful invasion for over two hundred years. When it last happened in 1797 a very brave Welsh woman helped to send the enemy away. This is the story of how she did it.
At the time Britain had been at war with France for four years. People had been expecting the French to invade but they thought that they would choose to attack a big city in England. So the people of the small seaside town of Fishguard in Pembrokeshire were very surprised when they woke up one morning to find that French troops had sailed to the west coast of Wales and landed on the beaches just a few kilometres away from their town.
There were only about 400 voluntary soldiers from the British army in the area. The French had 1400 men. They were well known as fierce fighters. They were armed with swords, guns and cannons. So, you can imagine that the people were very frightened. Some locked their doors and hid inside their houses. Some packed their bags and ran away as quickly as they could.
At that time one of the residents of Fishguard was a woman called Jemima Nicholas. She was a cobbler and made her living by making and repairing shoes. She was known to her friends as Big Jemima because she was so big and strong. When Jemima heard about the invaders she did not lock her door or run away. Instead, she decided to stay and help defend her town.
“I’m not frightened of the soldiers,” she said, “I’ll think of a way to save the people of Fishguard.”
She put on her black hat and wrapped her red shawl around her shoulders. Then she grabbed her pitchfork (that she normally used for helping the farmers make their hay), and ran out in search of the soldiers. Luckily, she found one hiding in the woods outside the town. She crept up behind him and prodded him with her pitchfork. Then she marched him though the streets all the way to where the commander of the British army, Lord Cawdor, was staying. Lord Cawdor was delighted.
“If only I had a few more like you,” he said to Jemima, “then we would soon be able to send the French invaders packing!”
All this time, the prisoner had been looking out of the corner of this eye, but he had been afraid to turn around. He could just about see the outline of a tall, black hat and something red. When he turned around he was shocked to find that he had been captured by a woman! This gave Lord Cawdor an idea.
“If this man thought you were a British soldier Jemima, then so will the rest of the French army. Go quickly and find as many women as you can.”
Without wasting a moment, Jemima ran around the streets knocking at the doors of her friends and neighbours. The she ran out to the surrounding villages and countryside and did the same thing.
“Don’t hide in your houses,” she called “Get your shawl and your hat. Bring anything you can that from a distance will look like a gun. You’re joining the British Army!”
Soon, there were about 400 women marching through Fishguard, all dressed in their traditional Welsh costume. On they marched until they reached the cliffs above the beach where the French had landed. Far out at sea, four ships could be seen advancing towards the coast. The women stood still and waited.
As Lord Cawdor had predicted, when the French saw the bright red shawls and tall black hats of the women they thought that they were the black hats and red coats of British soldiers. They thought it was useless to carry on fighting against such a huge army. They put down their weapons and surrendered.
Eventually, the real British soldiers arrived - but they were not needed. Jemima and the other Welsh women had saved the people of Britain from an invasion. The king in London was so pleased with Jemima that he gave her a reward of £50 every year for the rest of her life. This was a large sum of money in those days.
The people of Fishguard wanted to make sure that no-one forgot about Jemima so they erected a memorial stone. On it, they wrote these words,
“In memory of Jemima Nicholas of this town, the Welsh heroine who boldly marched to meet the French invaders who landed on our shores in February 1797. She died in Main Street in July 1832, aged 82 years. At the date of the invasion she was 47 years old and lived 35 years after the event.”
PLAY VIDEO
Jemima and her companions put their own lives in danger in order to save the lives of the people of their town. What do you think that you would have done if you had lived in Fishguard when the French attacked? Would you have run away? Or locked yourself inside your house? Or do you think you would have been one of the brave people who helped to send the invaders away?
Jesus taught us that as Christians we should be loving and forgiving, but sadly there are many wars around the world today because countries find it so difficult to solve their problems without fighting. Thousands of men and women face danger every day. Some of these people become famous war heroes and receive honours, such as medals, for their bravery; but, most of them don’t …. and many of them die in the fighting.
So, let’s take a moment to remember how Jemima and the women of Fishguard faced the enemy without having to turn to violence; and let us pray that the leaders of the countries of the world will follow their example today, and look for more peaceful ways to settle their problems.
Prayer
Dear Lord
Thank you for the brave example of Jemima Nicholas. We thank you that in our country today we enjoy safety from threats from other countries. We remember that there are many countries in the world where people are suffering at the hands of cruel invaders. We think of those people and pray that talking and not fighting will help to reach an agreement where people can live in peace. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen