From Vivienne Reed.
I WAS pleased to read in the JEP that, at last, there may be a statue of Major Peirson, the young man who saved Jersey from French rule. This event was as important as Liberation Day for the Island’s freedom.
I wrote to the Sculpture Trust ages ago and the reply was that they had put it on file and other projects were higher priority. Tourism welcomed the idea when I suggested they could sell postcards and booklets of the event.
Placing the statue near the Town Church is the best place, as the only memorial of Major Peirson is on the slab over his coffin inside the church.
The young officer was left in charge of the troops while his senior officers were on Christmas leave. He bravely led them into battle in the Royal Square.
Copley’s painting of the Battle of Jersey in the Tate Gallery, London shows a black man among the soldiers. He was Peirson’s servant who came with him from the family estate.
A book by Maine is available – also copies of the painting – all locally.
