On this day, the recently-formed French Republic (Revolutionary France) attempted a military invasion of Great Britain in what is often referred to as ‘the last invasion of Britain’. The plan was for two diversionary forces to set sail for Newcastle and Wales, while the main French force of 15,000 men headed for Bantry Bay in Ireland. However, atrocious weather conditions and poor discipline on board meant that only the Wales contingent arrived at destination. Under the cover of darkness, 1400 French troops disembarked close to Fishguard on the Welsh coast where the local defenders, although seriously outnumbered, managed to trick them into an unconditional surrender two days later. According to legend, a local shoemaker, Jemima Nicholas, single-handedly captured a dozen French soldiers at the point of her pitchfork and locked them overnight in St Mary’s Church.
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