An ancient murder, 15 May, 1808
The murder of Olympe Mahy by 'a real rascal.' From The Star, June 30, 1927, written by Amias C Andros. The sculpted details on her tombstone are very worn now.
Military
The plan for recruiting the forces for the East Indies, March 1771
From The Scots Magazine, ed. James Boswell, Vol. 33.
News of Isaac Brock's death reaches Guernsey: November 24, 1812
From Le Publiciste, November 28 1812. The news was brought by Captain McCrindle of the ship Fame, out of Quebec with a cargo of timber. The newspaper also pubishes the reports from the Quebec newspapers McCrindle brought with him.
Tipperary, February 1915
From The Star, February 11, 1915. To much apparent jubilation, permission had been granted in this month to form a new Double Company of the Guernsey Militia from existing recruits. The 227 members had to be decided by ballot on the 5th February, as there were over 250 eligible men. The new Double Company was to be attached to the 6th Service Battalion of the Royal Irish regiment and was to leave the island for Fermoy to train before proceeding quickly to the front.
January 1828
From the Star newspaper.
An appeal from Flanders: a Guernseyman to Guernseymen, July 1916
'You're very young and very small you boys, but your hearts are big.' His Excellency the General Officer Commanding has authorised in the public interest the publication of the following extracts from a letter received from a non-commissioned officer at the front, and the statement that every consideration will be given to the promotion of those men who have passed through the fiery furnace of this war. H St Leger Wood, Colonel, AA and QMG, August 8th, 1916.
More deserters, January 1810
From the Gazette de Guernsey, January 13th 1810.
Herm is blown up by a mine, 4 January 1952
In view of the recent spectacular controlled detonation of a WWII bomb off Guernsey, here is a rather less controlled episode from 1952, in which the 28 inhabitants of Herm were incredibly lucky to escape injury or worse. 'Will you tell your husband when you go ashore that there is a mine somewhere off the Herm coast. Tell him to try and get a rope round it and pull it in; it will be quite harmless. It's been in the sea since the war and the firing mechanism will be rusted up.' Insurance did not cover damage by rogue mine, but the States stepped in to do the repairs, which were considerable.
Captain Grinnell's testimony, October 1778
An extremely interesting account from the enemy—at this point the Americans—of their view of Guernsey and its defences in 1778.
British conscripts: where compulsory service flourishes under the Union Jack, 1900
From The Star, July 5th, 1900. Reprinted from the Daily Mail of June 29th, 1900. Training the militia and their expertise at rifle-shooting.