The Last Invasion of Britain, Fishguard 1797

A French force commanded by an American invades Wales during the War of the First Coalition. It is history that deserves to be remembered.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As images of actual events are sometimes not available, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
The episode relates events that occurred during a period of conflict. All information is provided within historical context and is intended for educational purposes. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
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[@Georgeasaurus2001]

I'm Welsh but I have a French surname, it's always been the story in my family that I'm descended from French army deserters

[@maddyg3208]

Georgeasaurus2001 You need to go over to France and give yourself up

[@QuantumRift]

drunken French army deserters...LOL

[@frankcooke1692]

Deserters... aka French Military Intelligence

[@benspeedschannel888]

Only the french could fail to incite the Welsh against the English 😂😂😂😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@Matt_from_Florida]

I'm Welsh and ready to be incited.

[@Matt_from_Florida]

@uncletigger But I have Wednesday off. What am I to do?

[@jerrygregor]

@@Matt_from_Florida When I was a lad, Wednesday was "early closing day" (Shops Act 1911). I reckon you could have mustered a rabble for invasion in the afternoon.

[@BlueBaron3339]

Clearly, you've never been to Wales, Ben 😉

[@benspeedschannel888]

BlueBaron3339 Welsh born, bread, and never want to leave! Neath boy always lol

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

The details...sounds like a Monty Python skit! 😆 Great video! 18th century history is my favorite. Thank you! 👍❤️🤗 BUNGA! BUNGA!

[@HeaanLasai]

Ha. I get that reference.

[@alexcrawford6162]

Bunga bunga!

[@BlueBaron3339]

My first thought too! Well....second after The Three Stooges Invade England.

[@thomasflanders4153]

Run away! Run Away!

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

@@thomasflanders4153 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

[@GasCityGuy]

Thanks for posting! I lived in Pembrokeshire about 15 miles from Fishguard for 5 years and heard the story a few times but never with this much detail and background. It was nice to hear the full story!

[@RCAvhstape]

This doesn't do much for France's military history joke problem.

[@lordgarion514]

@Hunter deja Napoleon ended up in exile. He won battles, but ultimately lost the war.

[@lordgarion514]

@Hunter deja Did not say he wasn't. I wasn't secretly implying anything. I meant exactly, and only, what I said. And the OP was about the French's losing. And as great as Napoleon might have been (winning 52 of 60 battles), the French ultimately lost that war, and pretty badly.

[@RCAvhstape]

This was supposed to be light-hearted. Don't get all butthurt over it.

[@rabbi120348]

@@lordgarion514 "Able was I ere I saw Elba"

[@m4rs12]

@Hunter D it all went downhill for the french once lefty bleeding heart govt took over prior to ww2

[@robotslug]

You put these out so quickly! I love it, having these videos to look forward to is a highlight in my life.

[@HeaanLasai]

Never underestimate a good woman with a pitchfork...

[@lordgarion514]

You really shouldn't mess with a bad woman with a pitchfork either TBH.

[@pmritzen2597]

Hell, never underestimate a woman PERIOD.

[@r2gelfand]

Especially an angry one...

[@alexcrawford6162]

They planned to invade Newcastle? Their cavalry wouldn’t have stood a chance, us Geordies are well known for our horse punching abilities!

[@naapalm82]

Alex Crawford Shoot horses. Much faster.

[@deanstuart8012]

Only police horses though. And on match day.

[@alexcrawford6162]

Police horses, french horses, they’re all the same after a few pints!

[@smartieplum]

Folk are usually trying to escape Newcastle.

[@rabbi120348]

The French had a lot of coal they were carrying...

[@stashyjon]

Very informative. Another mistake the French made was landing in Pembrokeshire. That county has traditionally been the mst pro-English part of Wales. It was planted by English settlers from around 1100 onwards, partly to provide a bastion against Welsh rebellion and partly to help secure and protect harbours such as Fishgaurd and Milford Haven that were vital links in the trade and communication with Ireland. The area later gave rise to Henry Tudor, (later Henry VII of England and first monarch of the Tudor dynasty). Had they landed elsewhere in Wales, say Anglsey or Caernarfonshire they may have gained more sympathy from the locals and been more successful. Also another incident from these attempted invasions was the (in)famous Hartlepool, monkey incident, where a french ship was wrecked off the North East Coast of England and the only survivor was a monkey belonging to one of the crew. The locals high on invasion panic thought said monkey was a French spy, tried the poor creature for espinonarge and hung it in the town square!! (another tale worthy of your treatment if you ever get the time) Keep up the good work Jon

[@copferthat]

People from Hartlepool still have the nickname of 'monkey hangers'

[@deanstuart8012]

@@copferthat that is true, but not being of the snowflake type they actually make fun of it themselves. The football club mascot, Hangus the Monkey, was twice elected town mayor.

[@copferthat]

@@deanstuart8012 Makes yer-proud.

[@jic1]

To be fair, as the video says, they were supposed to attack Bristol, and only diverted to Wales at the last minute.

[@ttrizzyt]

As someone from Fishguard, that sentiment towards the English is no longer true

[@leespitzer9997]

Just noticed the silver play button. Congratulations!

[@Dave_Sisson]

They promised us they would display it after the 100,000 subs episode. That wasn't long ago, but they are already up to 146,000.

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

@@Dave_Sissondid we miss it?

[@jester4886]

@@Dave_Sisson who are "they"??

[@Dave_Sisson]

Guthmundur, I don't think he ever unveiled it on camera, but this is the first time I've seen it in the background. Leroy, "they" are The History Guy and his partner/wife, she was the presenter of a recent episode.

[@donc2446]

@@Dave_Sisson Don't forget the history cat!

[@ronlovitt165]

Another great history story that I previously knew nothing about. THG--I received your History Guy coffee mug on Saturday. It is grey tone with your signature slogan and bow tie in blue. It looks and works great, thanks! Love your channel!

[@thaddeusbent9432]

Very good indeed! Lots of detail and lots of context delivered fantastically!

[@darlenewright5850]

Absolutely loved this one! Chuckled and smiled all the way through. Thank you.

[@1roanstephen]

I have been waiting for a new episode. Thank you. I really enjoy the videos you and the History Gal produce.

[@1amnutz]

Some ideas I’d like to hear: An episode on the 2PPCLI (The Patricias), 3RAR, & A Co. 72 Heavy Tank and the Battle of Kapyong in Korea? Also the story of the 1st Brazilian Fighter Group in WWII? And what about the role Quaker women had in the Underground Railroad? I really enjoy your channel.

[@bhaddock9277]

Great video. Thanks for featuring Europe. Lots of interesting UK and Scottish history gems worth covering.

[@pradohealey3000]

Thank you History Guy!

[@gerannightshadow5688]

This is the reason I subscribe to this channel! Sometimes truth is SOOOOO much funnier than fiction. Thank you, History Guy!

[@14MurdochMurdoch88]

Pulled out for this, worth it

[@ryankenyon5010]

Fantastic! Now, if I could only stop binge watching...

[@michelleeaton7955]

I'm such a proud history nerd lol. I'm so glad I found you, and so glad to have learn this. Thank you for sharing.

[@JoseSanchez-wb5rz]

History is what it is,it is things that happened in the past and we are supposed to learn from them,but this was plain funny,nice episode there, really cheered me up.

[@burants89]

Another great upload sir, thank you

[@viewsandreviews180]

Thank you for posting this video. I haven’t laughed this much in awhile. This was truly comical.

[@pigpen3499]

Wow never knew anything about this. Thanks history guy!

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

I had 0 idea.. I had described the whole era as "turbulant" (not That turbulant.. jeeez=) to someone in USA, regarding the question if it is time to consider to reconsider a few,, considerations from that era, since tech and stuff has changed so much.

[@pigpen3499]

@@gumunduringigumundsson9344, I completely agree, I try my best to "self educate " myself thru documentaries and googling everything, I was surprised when I seen this video.

[@noka1979]

Hello again from Ireland, great video and story

[@peterdavy6110]

Great video. Just a few comments. Not a lot of prior French planning here. Getting from South Wales to North Wales, by road, is difficult even today - Welsh roads tend to run East to West. In the 1790s it would have been almost impossible. The terms of the French surrender were signed in a pub! The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard - it's still there and a nice boozer it is too. The successors to the local militia have the battle honour "Fishguard 1797" the only battle honour in the British Army awarded for service in the UK. Finally, the General who beat the French force in Ireland in 1798 was Cornwallis - better know to Americans as the guy who surrendered at Yorktown.

[@shanehebert3237]

Thats a nice play button in the background. Fine work, good sir, well deserved.

[@jimsvideos7201]

An angry six-foot tall woman who no doubt had strong hands, and who had a pokey thing in her hands? I wouldn't cross a woman like that.

[@catholiccrusader5328]

Me neither.

[@peterdavy6110]

You don't cross Welsh women period.

[@alterego157]

That's why no one will remember your name

[@Peoples_Republic_of_Devonshire]

You don't fuck with the Welsh, you especially don't fuck with Welsh women

[@ojdavies147]

Love this channel. Keep up the valuable work!!

[@bobgnarley1]

Very enjoyable, thank you both!

[@michaelch5060]

always fascinating! Thanks for sharing

[@Mr3344555]

Yes, the bell icon is useful after all! Thank you for the upload dad!

[@TheElnots]

Almost 150k! You're really a KZbin success!

[@homefront3162]

Landon Michael lmao

[@flukeman022]

The History Guy, Mark Felton, The Armchair Historian and Dark Docs are awesome. They should in at least one video.

[@ratulxy]

Your narration is getting better and better.

[@Nirrrina]

If I were a high school history teacher I'd be using your videos in class. They are so incredibly informative. Jam packed with knowledge. It's also presented in a way that makes it interesting and even exciting.

[@johnmiddleditch3656]

There's a moral in there somewhere. Excellent as usual, thank you very much.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Did Tom's crew inspire this one? Nice to hear more on this. Always nice to hear your take on History... Guy

[@Mbrafford1966]

Thank You for being on KZbin, I am living in Japan and your videos are feeding my love of history, also teaching me so much, and even reminding me of history and English that I have forgotten. I am living in Otsu City, perhaps you know of the attack on the Russian Prince here in Otsu.

[@MerrimanDevonshire]

Nice to see the Silver Button on you desk.

[@MellowYellow.]

Channels like this are what make KZbin awesome!

[@ceck.8843]

Im glad you got rid of the music. At first it didn't bother me but the more I watched your episodes, the more it started to grate on me. I like the new format. Good luck to your success sir.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Some viewers tell me that they still miss the introduction. It was mostly an issue if you were watching several episodes in a row.

[@ceck.8843]

But binge watching is the best way to watch your show! =D I hope you didn't take my criticism in the wrong way, I love your channel!

[@Kai33331]

love this channel

[@haroldellis9721]

It is my understanding that, a number of Welch women came out to observe, and in their traditional dress of black had and red top, were mistaken for additional British troops.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Harold Ellis that is one story, yes.

[@SloppySalad]

Welsh*

[@deanstuart8012]

@@SloppySalad It could be Welch, actually. Welch is a traditional spelling. Also, the Welch Regiment (41st and 61st(?) Regiments of Foot) used the spelling unofficially until it was finally approved in 1920.

[@rodden1953]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I used to live there and thats the story they always tell about the women in traditional Welsh costume , ( BTW the welsh costume is only what ALL the British used to wear, but while the English fashions of dress moved on the Welsh didnt, So the "Traditional Welsh costume" became a form of ridicule . :) Pembrokeshire has always been called Little England beyond Wales and English speaking , there is no castle in Fishguard , the troops were a militia from the south of the county in Pembroke where there are lots of forts and Martello towers

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

rodden1953 the reason that I did not include that story, which also varies as to whether it was coincidence or deliberate, is that the timeline doesn’t fit, as Tate offered surrender after dark.

[@johnkelley9877]

This is too good not to be true! An invasion with no battle. Thanks for sharing this.

[@bobbycars1340]

That KZbin award on your desk looks nice, Congratulations Sir.

[@johnclayden1670]

Fascinating! This was completely new to me.

[@nathanfirmin4960]

Love your channel! Would an episode on the Acadian dispersion to America after the French and Indian War be a possibility?

[@grahamcann1761]

As always thank you very much to you, and those behind the scenes. Recently a friend shared a post (on Facebook) about the “strikes” (In Germany (Naval troops), England, France, and Ireland.) that (forced) “ended World War I”. (The suggested that it was "the people" who'd caused the war to be ended, but politicians want this to be downplayed.) I suspect this was only a part (possibly, if accurate,) of what brought an end to the first World War, but it’s an aspect I’m not familiar with. Might it be something you could expand upon? And wishing you of the upcoming holiday season.

[@dennisdempsey6011]

Well Done and wort the time to watch!

[@whatwedoin6784]

The black Tom explosion on July 30 1916 in Jersey City NJ is history that deserves to be remembered.

[@Rich206L]

I love your stuff and I pray that you are a teacher, somewhere! What I wouldn't have given to have someone like you when I was in school! Bravo. Rich

[@Gunner40Five]

Another great History Guy episode! Well done. Have you considered an episode about the Ni ihau incident following the attack on Pearl Harbor? I think this would make a great History Guy episode.

[@leftoffcolfax]

Best introduction to a history lesson EVER.

[@md7999]

Another excellent episode, well researched and so informative. I am a new subscriber to your channel and, if possible, would like to see some more episodes with an Irish connection.......greetings from Dublin!

[@tomgeorge82]

I have family in Fishguard, it’s a lovely place! Excellent video :)

[@MetelAdict]

Someone is watching Citation Needed. Great video all around.

[@YTMegiddo]

Haha! My uncle is William Tate and as I understand it, our family came from Wales. Scoundrels, malcontents and criminals!!! Gotta love history and another cool video. 👍

[@C.O._Jones]

Jemima Nicholas fought them on the beaches, she fought them on the landing grounds... 😂 History Guy, I am continually amazed by the fascinating events you bring to life for us. Thank you and Mrs. History Guy (and History Cat Penny) for your outstanding work, bringing us the best channel on KZbin.

[@astrodiver1]

Hey History Guy, is that a KZbin 125k subscriber award? Great presentation as always. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Astrodiver 1 it is for 100k subscribers

[@astrodiver1]

Alright! 250 by Presidents day.

[@gordybishop2375]

Awesome introduction

[@goofyiest]

I think this particular one is history begging to be forgotten!

[@goofyiest]

but fun for us to remember.

[@vincentpellegrino789]

How do you find these great stories? Well done.

[@vernonbear]

Excellent as always, you could extend this theme.... last invasion of the British Isles, Jersey (and the Channel Islands) 1940-45 by German Forces.

[@TubeAngel]

I'm geeked up off them bars, so geeked up off them bars

[@dabedwards]

Thank you for this great series. One little point concerning your graphics --- the maps shown at 2.00 and 2.35 appear to be from a very much earlier period than the one you describe. Positively medieval! By 1790, the science of map-making had advanced to a very high level, had it not?

[@vespelian5274]

Brilliant as usual. Comedy history at its finest. One minor point: Fishguard is in north Pembrokeshire in west wales not north. I grew up in Pembroke so Fishguard and the Inn where the surrender took place was not far away. The local legend is that the French thought the local Welsh women with their tall black hats were reinforcements for the militia.

[@kevinchappell3694]

The Welsh cannon would have fired a ball (shot) and not a shell (encasing explosives) if it had fired a projectile. 🤔🇨🇦

[@silas__3994]

Great video,i have a request it would be cool if you made a video talking about and showing your collection and room.

[@cephasmartin8593]

This was hysterically funny. Thanks.

[@jamesmcgrath1952]

Excellent.

[@B4umkuchen]

I would dismiss this story as ridiculous click bait if any other than you, good sir, would present it on youtube. Excellent narration for a really unbelievable ridiculous historic fact. Thank you for reminding us of it ;).

[@pmvaldez1]

I broke off from Samcrac's live chat for The History Guy! 😁

[@holnrew]

I live in Pembrokeshire, great to hear this story told

[@shorttimer874]

The landing in France mentioned at the beginning is, I think, the backdrop for a story early in the career of the young Hornblower, as transcribed by C S Forester

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I believe it is, yes.

[@mlouttit4924]

Like yourself History Guy, I have a degree in history and I never knew about this..thanks for broadening my knowledge.

[@MEstang95]

Love this channel! And like 5k

[@jamessteel1719]

Bravo! Farcical history at its glorious best, well done the History Guy!

[@emilinebest3241]

future episode recommendation: Napoleon's height was measured upon his death by one unit of measure (obsolete) and when interpreted as metric calculated him to be rather short. In fact, he was average height for the era.

[@vernonbear]

The height thing was used by the British as propaganda. You diminish your opponents stature to make them an object of ridicule for your forces and the population at large.

[@rabbi120348]

@@vernonbear The downside is that if you lose, you become the object of ridicule. Also, average height for that time is pretty short compared to average stature today -- better nutrition.

[@vernonbear]

Bob Rabinoff As luck would have it we beat Napoleon more times than we lost in battles and overall we won that particular war. Thanks to our victories the myth persisted that he was a man of little stature. Shhh we never got found out 😜

[@mikeblair2594]

I love this guy

[@jetterofletcher5682]

Doing an episode on the "Mutiny at Nore" might be a fun bit of history that I'm sure a lot of Americans, at least, wouldn't know about.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

Bristol isn't on the South coast of England, it's at the Eastern end of the bit of the Atlantic dividing South Wales from Devon and Cornwall. As a clue, this bit of ocean is called the Bristol Channel for a reason...

[@bobapbob5812]

surprised you didnot mention the Welsh women in their red coats and black hats who gathered on the hills above the French. The French thought they were British troops. For the anniversary in 1997 the ladies of Fishguard (Abergwaun) made a tapestry similar to the one in Bordeau in Normandy showing William's conquest. The one in Fishguard shows the activities in 1797. I was lucky and got to see it with my wife on a visit to Wales.

[@neilgolden4709]

Once again, unsurprisingly, you have put together a very informative piece... Just one thing, to clear things up for those who aren't versed in medical terminology of years past, any time you mention someone dying from "consumption", be sure to note that, due to the way it seemed to "consume" it's victims and the mystery surrounding the disease, this was simply the term for tuberculosis, at that time. I run into people all the time that, through genealogical research, have began to think that several of their forbearers died from the "consumption" of alcohol... 🤦‍♂️

[@johnbuchan3678]

at 13:37, "November of 1896" should be "1796" (Always enjoy your videos very much.)

[@3-DtimeCosmology]

Wow, what a story!

[@thefpvlife7785]

Not too many Americans know this but the French Navy fought the British Navy off the shores of the Carolinas to protect and defend America.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

It was actually off the coast of Virginia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4mneK2jhNB2a8k

[@steveshoemaker6347]

I have read about a lot of this stuff and a very nice "TIE" i must say !

[@timeflysintheshop]

Great video as always. So I noticed that the tassel on the left of the bugle is hanging different than in older videos, and the are maybe a couple marks on the wall just above the bugle. Can you play it?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I actually did used to play the bugle, but have never played this one, no. I must have just been showing it to someone.

[@pezza1958]

Hi THG. At 4:17. you quote the date 1896, which should have been 1796. Love your presentations.

[@hipocampelofantocame]

Catch as catch can. Those good old days.

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

Omg. I think I just heard the echoes of the epicc shouting when the 4000 wagon and 70.000 muskets news was delivered. Dang! LOL!

[@chdreturns]

You should do the MV Doña Paz. The deadliest civilian maritime disaster which sadly is mostly forgotten. It happened when an overloaded Philippine passenger ferry collided with a malfunctioning oil tanker called the MT Vector. Out of over 4000 souls on board only 27 survived.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Sweet you got a play button congratulations

[@marcbloom7462]

Are you going to do an episode on General Dumas?

[@johnheuler7791]

Have you thought about doing an episode on the Lakeview Gusher? Check out the West Kern Oil Museum for an exhibit.

[@breadwineandsong4014]

Very interesting segment. It is helpful. though, when discussing battles, to include updated maps with circled or highlighted, and labeled objectives and animated troop or unit movements. The use of historical maps are interesting as historical pieces to the documentary, but of little value to the illustration of the discussion. Thank you.

[@fredherfst8148]

Damn...I went back to the beginning, but no mention of pirates. But not dissappointed..what a hilarious rube goldberg sequence of exceedingly entertaining stupidity. Fun one, mr Guy..and the Madame Guy.. Thanks

[@jasonjones6231]

Hi History Guy, I recomend a video on Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands in Devon, UK. Make sure you read 'The Forgotten Dead: The true story of Exercise Tiger, the disastrous rehearsal for D-Day' by Ken Small. The story is amazing.