On the day of the World Cup Quarter Final between England and France, Island Echo recalls the last occasion the French attempted to conquer the Isle of Wight in 1545.
France has had a long history of attacking the Isle of Wight. Their 1545 campaign was the last time the French attempted to conquer our Island.
The French forces – led by Claude d’Annebault – greatly outnumbered those of the English. However, the battles fought – including the battles of the Solent and Bonchurch – ended with the French being repelled. Therefore, the battles on the Island could be considered an English victory.
However, the English suffered heavily, including the loss of the Mary Rose in the Battle of the Solent. But it’s yet to be seen if the French will cause England more World Cup heartache this evening…
Hostilities on the Island commenced on 21st July. The French strategy was to land at Whitecliff Bay and cross Bembridge Down to attack Sandown. Another party landed at Bonchurch with the intention of marching to link up with their compatriots at Sandown.
The French had hoped that the good people of the Island would rebel against the English King. However, their hopes were misplaced – Islanders remained loyal to the English crown. Every man that lived on the Isle of Wight was required to have military training. The commander of the local forces, Sir Richard Worsley, led the residents of the Island out to defend their homes
The northern force was intercepted while crossing Bembridge Down, but fought its way to Sandown Castle, which was then under construction. The southern force, meanwhile, was routed at St Boniface Down. 1 account says the Island womenfolk shot arrows at the French.
The Chronicle of Charles Wriothesley – a contemporary witness – provides the following description:
“The 21 day of July the French galleys and navie came before Portesmouth haven, and landed certeine of theyre armye in the Yle of Wyght, and there burned and camped there about to the nomber of 2,000 men, and came every tyde with theyr gallies and shott their ordinaunce at the Kinges ships in the haven.”
Sir John Oglander (1585-1655) wrote:
“They landed at three several places at one time, purposely to divide our forces. Pierre Strosse landed at St Helens where there was a little fort, and beat our men, being divided from the fort, into the woods. Le Seigneur de Tais, General of the Foot, landed at Bonchurch, where there was a hot skirmish between them and us, and on either party many slain.”
The attempted French invasion of 1545 is commemorated by a plaque in Seaview.
The plaque reads:
“During the last invasion of this country, hundreds of French troops landed on the foreshore nearby. This armed invasion was bloodily defeated and repulsed by local militia”.
Brilliant! Thank you for this. Where did the illustrations come from? More local history articles please . Thanks.
And we have to repulse the Frogs again in 2022.
Great story, now the invaders get delivered to the shore and get free money/healthcare, and a hotel..
not much has changed then – the unwanted still turning up on our shores in rickety boats
But we were allowed to send them back then. Those that survived that is.
We were allowed to “send them back” until January 2020 when the Brexit transition period ended.
Kane was bloody useless his leg seized up when taking the penalty, probably caused by too much kneeling at the start of the game.
Gone out again on penalty taking, need to sack Southgate his been a jinx fancy have a boss that can’t take penalties himself in charge.