24th July 1203
The Royal Militia of Jersey is formed
King John decreed that each Channel Island must gather sufficient men and money to defend itself from invasion and, on 24 July, plans were laid for a local militia that could take care of Jersey. After all, it was unlikely a force from the mainland would be able to reach the Channel Islands quicker than an invading army from France.
Although the Militia itself wasn’t formed on that day, it can trace its routes back to King John’s proclamation. It has been through various guises over the years but, in 1337 its existence as a militia was formalised, and it remained as such until 1946, despite leaving the island in 1939 prior to the Occupation. Although suspended after the war, it was re-formed as a Territorial Army regiment in 1987 and, in 2007, incorporated into the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.
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Other events that occured in July
Jersey dispatches a tenth of its police force to Les Ecrehous
- Jersey Police dispatched 24 officers to Les Ecrehous to protect islanders’ huts and repel a possible French invasion.
- Read more…
Author Ellen Anne Hewett is born
- Ellen Hewett, born Ellen Baker, was just 12 when she emigrated from Jersey to New Zealand, along with the rest of her family.
- Read more…
The King approves construction of defensive towers
- After governor Henry Seymour proposed building defensive towers around Jersey's coast the king approved the plan.
- Read more…
Bergerac creator Robert Banks Stewart is born
- Edinburgh-born screenwriter and producer Robert Banks Stewart devised the Jersey-set BBC police drama, Bergerac.
- Read more…