Heroes Rediscovered

A rare First World War album commemorating Jersey's war heroes has been found in the Town Hall's archives.

The book records a 1916 parish initiative to honour soldiers who fought in the Great War and includes portrait photographs of the soldiers who were awarded a watch and illuminated scroll. It also contains newspaper cuttings recording the event. Former St Helier Constable John Pinel initiated the honouring system and it would appear that town clerk Mr Le Masurier put the album together.

Former Société Jersiaise president Marie-Louise Backhurst found the album six weeks ago – and Jersey's World War One historian Ian Ronayne said that he was very excited by the find. 'There are not a lot of photos around of the First World War,' he said. 'There is so much detail in the photos, it is great. They show the men's badges and what they were wearing.'

Official records show that more than 6,000 Jerseymen served in the armed forces during the war and at least 1,000 lost their lives. 'That was a major wedge of a community,' said Mr Ronayne.

By Jo Hutchison.
Article © 13/10/2008 Guiton Group - This Is Jersey

The Société Jersiaise was delighted to be able to assist the Town Hall by digitising the album using our imaging equipment, acquired through charitable funds in 2007. A full digital copy of the album is available for readers to consult in the Lord Coutanche Library. An index of the recipients documented in the album is currently being compiled.