Guernsey2005
- Year of the Sea
Europa Historic
Facts - Issue date 28th April 1982.The 13p stamp depicts under a menacing sky, the fleet of Duke William as it crosses the English channel to do battle at Hastings.
At the end of the 18th century through until 1815, peace was a rare commodity in the relations between England and France. The Channel Islands were unfavourably situated geographically in time of conflict between the two powers and frequent were the alarms of impending French invasion. During one incident in 1794, Captain (as he was ) Sir James Saumarez found his ship H.M.S. Crescent, and two others faced with a vastly superior enemy fleet (20p stamp) By distracting the French, he allowed the two vessels which he was escorting to seek the shelter of Guernsey. The locally-born sailor then headed "Crescent" towards the island's west coast where his knowledge and that of another Guernseyman in his crew, enabled escape to be made through the myriad treacherous reefs.
Text taken from insert contained in First Day Cover envelope, issued by Guernsey Post Office Philatelic Bureau, 1982.
Golden Era of Shipping 1 - Issue date: 15th November 1983.
A brigantine named "The Star of the West" features on these five stamps. It was owned by Messrs. Dorey,Brache,Collas,Mahy, Domaille, Carrington, Falla and one unknown. As was usual the cost of the vessel was divided into sixty-fourths, each member buying the number os shares he required. The order was then placed with Messrs. Domaille and Brache whose yard was situated in St. Sampson at the north of the island. She was described in the local newspaper as being " a creditable specimen of marine architecture".
The 9p stamp depicts her launch in 1869. It appears that a temporary framework of timbers was laid across the road into the water, some of the coping stones being removed to obtain a better angle. The 26p stamp illustrates the the "Star of the West" tacking off the Rio Grande in a heavy squall:on one voyage it took twenty-five days before the brigantine could enter the harbour safely. After the launch the vessel was handed to Captain Harwood and her maiden voyage took her to the exotic island of St. Lucia ( 28p stamp, bottom left). On 18th November 1872, the brigantine was taken over by Captain J.G. Lenfestey (pictured on the 9p value stamp) who remained with the vessel for ten years, until the end of her deep sea service. Most of the vessel's long journeys commenced from either St. Sampson or St. Peter Port: the 13p value shows her slowly leaving St. Peter Port. A typical route is depicted on the 31p. Carrying a cargo or railway sleepers the brigantine arrived in Guernsey from London, bound for Cadiz, on 3rd May 1879. At Cadiz the sleepers were discharged and a cargo of salt was taken on; the "Star of the West" then set sail from Rio Grande where the salt was to be unloaded. On the homeward leg a call was made at Aguadilla in Puerto Rico where a cargo of sugar was loaded, the return to St. Sampson occuring in the Spring of 1880. The vessel sank in calm weather in 1892. During her years of service she had traveled some 370,000 miles and carried some 60,000tons of cargo.
Text taken from insert contained in first Day Cover envelope, issued by Guernsey Post Office, 1983.
Europa:
Great Works of Human Genius, issued 14th March 1983Castle Cornet appears on all four stamps. It is likely that St.Peter Port possessed a form of primitive harbour ( probably a breakwater of loose stones) prior to the 13th century. The first major references however date from the reign of Edward 1. In 1245 he authorised a three year levy on shipping dues if a quay were constructed and thirty years later a further duty on all loaded ships touching St.Peter Port was santioned to finance the building of a causeway between Castle Cornet and St. Peter Port. This pier was destroyed by the French at the end of the century, promting the King in 1305 to impose a tax on all craft from that country using St.Peter Port; the quay was rebuilt with the cash raised, as indeed was that part of the twon which had been damaged.
The original element of the extensive present day harbour probably goes back to 1580 when the south quay, shown in the 20p "old view" was commenced. The early depiction of St.Peter Port used on the 20p stamp is exactly one hundred years older than the first south quay. The 13p "old view" shows the existing harbour in course of extension at the southern end to form the present Albert Pier, as seen in the se-tenant 13p value.
The harbour of St.Peter Port is continually developing. Increased tourism had led to the provision of marinas, seen in the foreground of the 13p stamp to the right and left of the Town Church spire. An artist's impression of the "future" harbour can be seen in the 20p value.
Text taken from the insert contained in the First Day Cover envelope, issued by the Guernsey Post Office,1983.
Admiral Lord de Saumarez : 1757 - 1836 Issue date: 4th February, 1986.
The five stamps depict major events in the Admiral's career.
29p Battle of St. Vincent - 14th February 1797. In the painting, Saumarez of the 74-gun ship Orion is shown engaging the Santissima Trinidad just before the latter struck her flag. In the background is the first-rate Salvador del Mondo which has already struck her flag.
14p Battle of the Nile - 1st August 1798.Sir James Saumarez was second in command at this action and showing his usual zeal he sank a frigate with one double-shotted broadside and engaged many ships of the French line. During the battle Sir James was wounded by a flying pulley-wheel which after killing his clerk and mortally wounding Miells, a midshipman, struck him on his thigh and side; he could not however be persuaded to leave the deck, even to have the wound examined. The painting depicts Captain Sir James Saumarez in Orion, having let go the bower anchor, giving the enemy a broadside.
34p Battle of the Saints - 12th April 1782.Captain Saumarez withdrew his ship, the Russell from British line of battle to engage the enemy more closely and sailed up their line engaging broadsides with four of the 74 gunners; his was the only vessel of his squadron to remain in the action. The stamp shows the Russell engaging on the lee quarter of Ville de Paris before the surrender.
31p H.M.S. Crescent off Cherbourg. Captain Saumarez of the 36-gun frigate Crescent intercepted the French Reunion on 20th October 1793, as she was endeavouring to return to Cherbourg after a commerce-raiding cruise.The Reunion had 34 men killed and 84 wounded, the Crescent just one man hurt by the recoil of a gun.Crescent is portrayed broadside on to the stern of Reunion, near the close of the duel. Captain Saumarez was knighted for this gallant action.
9p squadron off Nargue Island - 23rd July 1809. To maintain alliance with Sweden, Vice-Admiral Saumarez and his flagship Victory were sent to the Baltic to protect the Swedish dominions.
Text taken from the insert contained in the First Day Cover envelope, issued by the Guernsey Post Office, 1986.
Alderney Shipwrecks - 5th May 1987
The worst year of relatively recent times was 1910 when four steamers were lost in the area of Alderney, all in the month of June. the yacht shown on the 29p was also a victim of this period, becoming stranded on the breakwater rocks within sight of one of the steamers, Terra. The Maina was however refloated without sustaining damage to her hull.
The Petit Raymond on the 15p stamp, was bound for Southampton with potatoes when she struck the coast of Alderney on 19th September 1906. Her mainsail having been split, high winds forced her towards the island and she grounded on sand at low tide. A coastguard bravely swam to her with a line and the ship's lifeboat was thereby pulled ashore with the crew.The captain rejoined the vessel and had to be forcibly removed shortly before the rising tide caused her to keel over.Petit Raymond eventually became a total wreck.31p the Burton struck Grois Reef on 9th January, 1911 and her hull was irreparably damaged. The inter-island vessel Courier stood by whilst the crew rowed the ship's lifeboat to safety. Although successfully beached eventually in the harbour, Burton was unable to withstand the power of the sea and was declared a wreck. The Point Law, 34p stamp was a Shell-Mex tanker. She was also "on business" in the Channel Isalnds since she catered for their fuel requirements. She ran aground at full speed on the south -west of Alderney on 15th July 1975. St.Peter Port lifeboat went to the scene but a helicopter was required to lift off the crew. A local salvage company purchased the wreck after she broke in two places.
Text taken from the insert contained in the First Day Cover envelope, issued by the Guernsey Post Office, 1987.
Golden Era of Guernsey Shipping - issued 9th february 1988.
The 11p stamp shows the "Golden Spur" off St Sampson's Harbour en route to Cardiff. The 34p stamp shows the voyage of the "Golden Spur" which commenced on 29th April 1872. On the 15p stamp "Golden Spur" is entering Hong Kong Harbour, a port which she visited twice on this voyage. Following a short trip to Macao (29p) half the world was traversed with a cargo for Buenos Aires.The 31p stamp shows the "Golden Spur" participating in the Tea Races of 1867 and 1869.
Text taken from the insert contained in the First Day Cover envelope, issued by the Guernsey Post Office, 1988.