Jean De Narde - A French Napoleonic Army Officer in Dereham
Jean De Narde & The East Norfolk Militia
On the 23rd July 2016 there was a Napoleonic re-enactment in Dereham churchyard of an incident in 1799.
(http://eastnorfolkmilitia.webs.com/themilitia.htm)
On the 23rd July 2016 there was a Napoleonic re-enactment in Dereham churchyard of an incident in 1799.
(http://eastnorfolkmilitia.webs.com/themilitia.htm)
The Militia were formed to be the "Home Guard" for the British Isles should there be an attack by foreign powers...noteably the French. While this was the "primary" reason for the Militia's existence, it was no doubt thought that in times of civil unrest then the Militia could be used to put down any proto-revolution by the population. For this reason most militia rarely served in the area in which they were raised..so as not to be put in the situation of shooting their friends, neighbours and family. There were cavalry and artillery militia but most numerous were the infantry militia. While in the militia, a soldier was not required to serve overseas. Having said that the lure of adventure and riches made many join up with the Line Regiments. Indeed, roughly half the recruits for the Army came from the ranks of the Militia. (Text from East Norfolk Militia)
From Carthew's 'The Town We Live In' 1857
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Jean De Narde - Dereham 1799
The East North Militia have one “battle honour” to its “credit” Whilst escorting French prisoners of war from Yarmouth to Norman Cross, The Militia locked up their prisoners for the night in the bell tower of Dereham church – for safe keeping. In spite of this, an officer by the name of Jean De Narde, the 28 year son of a notary from St. Malo, managed to escape from the church. Finding that the Militia had set piquets around the perimeter of the Church he climbed an oak hoping that his absence would go unnoticed and that the party would leave without him thus allowing him to make good his escape. Unfortunately for De Narde, the Militia, realizing that they were missing a prisoner conducted a search of the locality and the Frenchman was spotted on account of him leaving his legs dangling from the tree. The Sergeant was told to get the Frenchman down. The prisoner was called on to surrender. Whether De Narde did not understand English that was yelled at him or perhaps he did not even realise that he had been discovered, De Narde kept to his tree. The Sergeant thereupon shot the Frenchman from the tree, killing him instantly. The local population were apparently ashamed by this action and thought this deed to be one of unnecessary cruelty, according to the Parish Priest, the Reverend Benjamin John Armstrong.
Eventually a monument was raised to the unfortunate De Narde and the family in St Malo informed of his fate.
The memorial reads…….
In memory of Jean De Narde,
Son of a Notary Public of St. Malo;
A French prisoner of war, who, having escaped from the Bell tower of this church, was pursued and shot by a soldier on duty, October 6th, 1799, aged 28 years.
The back of the memorial reads:-
This memorial of his untimely fate has been erected by the Vicar, and two friends who accompanied him on a visit to Paris, as a tribute of respect to that brave and generous nation, once our foes, but now our allies and bretheren. [October], Ainsi soit-il (So be it) A.D. 1857.
The East North Militia have one “battle honour” to its “credit” Whilst escorting French prisoners of war from Yarmouth to Norman Cross, The Militia locked up their prisoners for the night in the bell tower of Dereham church – for safe keeping. In spite of this, an officer by the name of Jean De Narde, the 28 year son of a notary from St. Malo, managed to escape from the church. Finding that the Militia had set piquets around the perimeter of the Church he climbed an oak hoping that his absence would go unnoticed and that the party would leave without him thus allowing him to make good his escape. Unfortunately for De Narde, the Militia, realizing that they were missing a prisoner conducted a search of the locality and the Frenchman was spotted on account of him leaving his legs dangling from the tree. The Sergeant was told to get the Frenchman down. The prisoner was called on to surrender. Whether De Narde did not understand English that was yelled at him or perhaps he did not even realise that he had been discovered, De Narde kept to his tree. The Sergeant thereupon shot the Frenchman from the tree, killing him instantly. The local population were apparently ashamed by this action and thought this deed to be one of unnecessary cruelty, according to the Parish Priest, the Reverend Benjamin John Armstrong.
Eventually a monument was raised to the unfortunate De Narde and the family in St Malo informed of his fate.
The memorial reads…….
In memory of Jean De Narde,
Son of a Notary Public of St. Malo;
A French prisoner of war, who, having escaped from the Bell tower of this church, was pursued and shot by a soldier on duty, October 6th, 1799, aged 28 years.
The back of the memorial reads:-
This memorial of his untimely fate has been erected by the Vicar, and two friends who accompanied him on a visit to Paris, as a tribute of respect to that brave and generous nation, once our foes, but now our allies and bretheren. [October], Ainsi soit-il (So be it) A.D. 1857.
Jean De Narde's grave in Dereham churchyard photographed by Herbert T Cave c1906
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Jean De Narde's grave in Dereham churchyard 2016
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Commanding Officers
The following is a list of the commanding officers of the East Norfolk Militia.
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, Col. of the Norfolk Milita from 1759
Lt. Col. R. Ward took command 1792
Hon. John Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Col. of the East Norfolk Militia, took command 1798
Lt. Col. Charles Lucas took command 1804.
Lt. Col. J. Stanisforth Patteson took command 1806.
Lt. Col. W. Durrant took command in 1808.
Lt. Col. W. Mason took command 1824.
Col. Sir E.H.K. Lacon took command in 1860
Col. Charles Applewaite, took command in 1881.
Successor units
In 1881, following reorganisation of the British Army as part of the Childers Reforms, the East Norfolk Militia became the 4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. Later titled the Royal Norfolk Regiment, it was amalgamated with the neighbouring Suffolk Regiment to form the 1st East Anglian Regiment. In 1964, the regiment became part of the Royal Anglian Regiment.
Re-enactment Group
The East Norfolk Militia is a Napoleonic era re-enactment group, formed in 2000 to help celebrate the bicentenary of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson being awarded the Freedom of the Great Yarmouth Borough. In 2005 they took part in events to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar at the Royal Norfolk Show. They perform ceremonial and guard duties for events in and around the East Anglia region in addition to taking part in living history events, and took part in the bicentenary re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo.
The following is a list of the commanding officers of the East Norfolk Militia.
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, Col. of the Norfolk Milita from 1759
Lt. Col. R. Ward took command 1792
Hon. John Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Col. of the East Norfolk Militia, took command 1798
Lt. Col. Charles Lucas took command 1804.
Lt. Col. J. Stanisforth Patteson took command 1806.
Lt. Col. W. Durrant took command in 1808.
Lt. Col. W. Mason took command 1824.
Col. Sir E.H.K. Lacon took command in 1860
Col. Charles Applewaite, took command in 1881.
Successor units
In 1881, following reorganisation of the British Army as part of the Childers Reforms, the East Norfolk Militia became the 4th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. Later titled the Royal Norfolk Regiment, it was amalgamated with the neighbouring Suffolk Regiment to form the 1st East Anglian Regiment. In 1964, the regiment became part of the Royal Anglian Regiment.
Re-enactment Group
The East Norfolk Militia is a Napoleonic era re-enactment group, formed in 2000 to help celebrate the bicentenary of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson being awarded the Freedom of the Great Yarmouth Borough. In 2005 they took part in events to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar at the Royal Norfolk Show. They perform ceremonial and guard duties for events in and around the East Anglia region in addition to taking part in living history events, and took part in the bicentenary re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo.
Sir Armine Wodehouse MP for Norfolk Colonel of the 2nd, or Eastern Regiment of Norfolk Militia, at a Review of his Regiment near Norwich, 1759