Militia camps in 1906

Part of the obligation to Militia service in Jersey was attendance at an annual camp. These camps were held at Grouville Common, Les Landes, Les Quennevais, Don Bridge, Greve de Lecq, People's Park, Les Platons, Elizabeth Castle and outside Fort Regent on what is now known as Glacis Field, and was previously called Mutton's Field

Official records

For reasons that are unclear there are apparently no official records of camps before the three-year period from 1906, but from this year there is not only a sequence of correspondence between the Lieut-Governor General Hugh Sutley Gough and the Bailiff, William Venables Vernon, but also a detailed photographic record of at least two of the camps, the work of the foremost photographer of the day, Albert Smith.

It is possible that these camps were the direct result of the Militia coming under the Army Act in 1905.

The correspondence between General Gough and Sir William is held by the Jersey Archive and mostly relates to requests from General Gough for financial support from the States for holding the camps, and confirmation from the Bailiff that the Defence Committee had agreed to the sums requested.

There were four camps in 1906 and the sums voted were £700, £1,299, £1,220 and £2,500 - a total of £5,721, which was a substantial sum at the time, the equivalent of over £200,000 at today's values.

The sums voted for the four 1907 camps were £700, £1,793, £1,020 and £1,600, a slightly reduced total of £5,113.

Medical officer, desertion and accident

Other items of interest in the correspondence are the appointment of Dr Le Geyt as medical officer for the 1906 camps, the Desertion of A Le Cocq from the Don Bridge camp in 1907, the need to schedule the 1908 camps around a race meeting already organised for Don Bridge, and an inquiry into an accident involving Gunner W H Hoare at Glacis Field in 1909.

Although photographs of other camps are in existence, it was is the 1906 camps for which the most comprehensive photographic record exists. Albert Smith appears to have been given unprecedented access to the camps and many of his photographs are in the collection of La Société Jersiaise. Among the participants was 21-year-old Helier Chevalier Bisson, grandfather of Jerripedia editor Mike Bisson, to whom a selection of photographs, believed to be the work of Albert Smith, have been handed down through his family.

Social activities

The militia was at the heart of the island's social life over a long period, and a man's rank in society was usually mirrored in his rank in the Militia. A sports day would be held during each camp and officers would invite their ladies to take tea and participate in events such as the tug of war.

Picture gallery

Click on any image to see full-size version

A tent at a 1906 camp at Glacis Field
Don Bridge in 1906
Don Bridge camp in 1906
Troops on parade at a 1906 camp
Tents cover Glacis Field for the 1906 camp
A break from training
The barber at the 1906 Glacis Field camp was Charles Edmund Dubras
Perfect lines of tents outside Fort Regent
Guard training
A smart turnout was demanded at all times
Troops return to their tents after training
A group photograph at the 1906 Glacis Field camp
Ready for inspection
An inspection party at Don Bridge of the Lieut-Governor and senior Militia officers
Queuing for pay
Sergeants at the 1906 Glacis Field camp
A service at the 1906 Don Bridge camp
An officer's tent
Two men with their tent
Officers entertain the ladies on Sports Day
Officers' tug of war
1907 camp at Don Bridge
1907 camp at Don Bridge
A Grouville Common camp photographed by Edwin Dale
Rifle practice at a Grouville Common camp photographed by Edwin Dale
Rifle practice at a Grouville Common camp photographed by Edwin Dale
A Grouville Common camp photographed by Edwin Dale
Infantry training at Grouville
Infantry training at Grouville
A 1908 camp at Elizabeth Castle
At Fort Regent in 1910
A camp at Les Quennevais in 1913 or 1914
Artillery photographed by Edwin Dale
Artillery practice at Les Platons in 1914
A camp in People's Park
The lighter side of a 1906 camp