French naval victory in NTW 1810-2010

Yes I know, its going to be hard to believe that one of the highlights of the French naval calender
this year will be the 200th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Grand Port, Mauritius in
May 2010.
Where ( at long last ) a Napoleonic french naval squadron, commanded by Guy-Victor Duperré
scores a notable victory over a British royal naval squadron under the command of Captain Samuel Pym.


The french under Commodore Jaqcques Hamelin had dispatched a powerful frigate squadron, late in
1808 to harrass the british convoys escorting merchant ships from India. ( No Suez Canal in 1800's )
So Admiral Albermarle Bertie directed his Indian Ocean squadron under Commodore Josias
Rowley to blockade the French islands.

Battle of Grand Port 1810

For the next two years, the British raided ports and anchorages on the French islands while the
French attacked trade convoys in the Indian ocean. The British were able to slowly reduce the
French presence by eliminating their bases through limited invasions, but then suffered a major
setback at the Battle of Grand Port where a french squadron, under by Guy-Victor Duperré scores
a notable victory over a British royal naval squadron commanded of Captain Samuel Pym in
August 1810.
Leaving the british Royal Navy on the defensive, during the autumn of 1810.
Naturally it was the worst british naval defeat of the Napoleonic Wars, although fortunately for the
Indian convoys, the setback proved shortlived as britain was soon on the offensive again.

Battle of Grand Port - re-enacted

As can be expected from the French ( what the British might count as a somewhat embarrasing
episode to the balance of power in the Indian Ocean ) is set to become a major celebration
for the French and Mauritian governments for in May 2010. A battle re-enactment is planned
for May 2010 where a number of square rigged saling ships will refight the Battle of Grand Port.
The re-enactment will include a number of living history events in the harbour recreating
life in Mauritius in 1810.

Mauritius naval campaign of 1809 to 1811

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius_campaign_of_1809%E2%80%931811

Battle of Grand Port, August 1810

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Grand_Port

Mauritius, Grand Port re-enactment news

http://www.mauritiusupdate.com/page.php?page_id=87

Mauritius to host Grand Port re-enactment

http://traveloscopy.com/CMS/content/view/1357/36/

Latest news is the Bicentennial commemorations for the French naval victory over the British
royal navy in Mauritius, continues apace.
With the launching of the Grand Port website which includes a photo of former French President
Jacques Chirac, receiving a painting of the Battle of Grand Port from the Mauritian Prime
Minister back in 2006.
No doubt the painting has pride of place in the Elysee Palace, just to miff any visiting
Naval attaches from the British embassy.

Battle of Grand Port, 1810 commemoration website

http://www.prepamar.net/en/content5.swf

Which brings me nicely onto the subject of French naval victories over the British.
Before I can even start looking up these 'best forgotten glitches in royal naval history'
The BBC have beaten me to it, with the second episode of Dan Snow's
Empire of the Sea, with the Battle of Beachy Head 1690 and Lagos Bay ( off Portugal ) in 1693.
Fortunately, just when I was thinking Britannia no longer rules the waves,
British naval supremacy is restored over the french by the end of the program. Phew !!!

See again - BBC2 Empire of the Sea's

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q3l9k

Wow, this would be really cool to go to! However, as you vaguely pointed out, this was merely one engagement during the Mauritius Campaign, and Rowley eventually defeated Hamelin.

If anyone here is interested in Naval books, Patrick O'Brien's Mauritius Command is easily my favorite period naval book (best out of that series so far as well). Basically he just puts his main character Aubrey in place of Commodore James Rowley and follows the historical events of the campaign to the letter. The Battle of Grand Port was the best part of the book!

Yes excellent series and so well researched except Aubrey and Maturin are a bit too goodie goodie for my liking.A bit more of the lash would be more historical


Must allow the French a few victories I suppose.

I didn't know the French naval calendar celebrated victories to be honest. I didn't even know they had a naval calendar actually lol.

Originally Posted by RuleBritannia

I didn't know the French naval calendar celebrated victories to be honest. I didn't even know they had a naval calendar actually lol.

I didn't know the French navy had any victories...

(I'm joking, before everyone starts ripping on me like every other time I say something sarcastic...)

Originally Posted by Tiberius Tosi

I didn't know the French navy had any victories...

(I'm joking, before everyone starts ripping on me like every other time I say something sarcastic...)

Wait a minute, the French have a navy?

.

Of course, when we Brits celebrated the anniversary of by far the most important naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars in 2005, our 're-enactment' centred around the 'Red' and 'Blue' fleets so as to avoid any offence to France!

Originally Posted by Lord Tomyris

Of course, when we Brits celebrated the anniversary of by far the most important naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars in 2005, our 're-enactment' centred around the 'Red' and 'Blue' fleets so as to avoid any offence to France!

Bloody political correctness.

If it was up to me, I would make it as much HAHA WE WON IN YOUR FACE FROGGIES as possible. Bloody Labour government.

Why didnt they get HMS Victory out of drydock? Would it be possible?

Originally Posted by HMS Empire Broadsword

Bloody political correctness.

If it was up to me, I would make it as much HAHA WE WON IN YOUR FACE FROGGIES as possible. Bloody Labour government.

Why didnt they get HMS Victory out of drydock? Would it be possible?

We should build then entire fleet back up and sail over to Calais, well have it back in no time!

the french have actually won battles?

Don't worry dear friend from beyond the Channel ... there is no offense by gentleman ... However i'm not sure Brits are gentlemen, actually !

French military victories?

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html

Evan

Originally Posted by Evan MF

French military victories?

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html

Evan

That is a typical stupid result of the employement of anglosaxon programmers ... like that happen for the economie and bank system (see the recent result) ... For exemple, now, HSBC close some of his London activities and transfer it to Paris because the French Middle office make less mistake and make profit (british lost many money).
We (the majority of french people) have more respect than the majority of british. Because we respect the quality of our ennemy like we respect it of our friend, in the victory like in the defeat. And maybe SURCOUF was right :
Discussing with a British officer: "You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour." Robert SURCOUF : "Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most."
[in french because during this diner this gentlemen spoke French, a more civilised language than english , « Enfin, Monsieur, avouez que vous, Français, vous battiez pour l'argent tandis que nous, Anglais, nous battions pour l'honneur… » Surcouf lui répondit d'un ton calme : « Certes, Monsieur, mais chacun se bat pour acquérir ce qu'il n'a pas. »]
And in fact, the old british anger against the French people is actual ... but the opposit is false.

Kiss, Léo

Originally Posted by littleleo

That is a typical stupid result of the employement of anglosaxon programmers ... like that happen for the economie and bank system (see the recent result) ... For exemple, now, HSBC close some of his London activities and transfer it to Paris because the French Middle office make less mistake and make profit (british lost many money).

The French Offices were sold in December.

We (the majority of french people) have more respect than the majority of british. Because we respect the quality of our ennemy like we respect it of our friend, in the victory like in the defeat. And maybe SURCOUF was right :
Discussing with a British officer: "You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour." Robert SURCOUF : "Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most."

The irony is, alas, lost on the French when considering that Surcouf was a Privateer.

And in fact, the old british anger against the French people is actual ... but the opposit is false.

It doesn't help when your leaders insult us an every opportunity. No British Prime Minister of the last twenty years would do such a thing. Seems to be a curiously French past-time.

Kiss, Léo

Merci.

To be honest, I'd say a strong pillar of British national identity is dislike of the French, a helpful element which brought England and Scotland closer together - after all, the British identity was forged during a period when the nation was waging a 'Second Hundred Years' War' against France: from 1689 to 1815 no less than seven wars were fought between the two countries! Small wonder that the British would come to define themselves in opposition to the Catholic, then Republican, other.

Originally Posted by Markas

The irony is, alas, lost on the French when considering that Surcouf was a Privateer.

Really ?

The irony is lost ? But by who ?

Surcouf was a privateer ? Well, that's precisely the point of Surcouf's answer, isn't it ? He lacks money, not honor, so he fight FOR money rather than FOR honor. Unlike the british, or so he says...

Now, you can argue he ended filthy rich because he was a privateer, but he never meant to be taken seriously, it was just "un mot d'esprit".

It doesn't help when your leaders insult us an every opportunity. No British Prime Minister of the last twenty years would do such a thing. Seems to be a curiously French past-time.

And none of our newspaper would regularly publish garbage about the british, even the worst of them.

Dont care .....

Noone cares about the french except the french GL with your crapy battle thing.....

Originally Posted by dogs990

Dont care .....

Noone cares about the french except the french GL with your crapy battle thing.....

So don't post.

K thxbye !