Our home-grown hero

Guernsey traditionally takes people on their personal merits, rather than being impressed by celebrity. But in the case of Admiral James Saumarez, are we taking this deliberate downplaying too far? Chris Morvan went to Government House to hear an impassioned case for a reassessment of one of the greatest figures in our history Admiral James Saumarez should be far more well-known and celebrated in his home island because he is a major figure in naval history. That is the view of no less a character than former naval man His Excellency the Lt-Governor, Sir Fabian Malbon.

He is astonished that more is not made of Saumarez, whose family remains prominent in Guernsey.

Two recently-published books tell the story of this distinguished man. David Shayer's account of Saumarez's life and achievements is published by La Societe Guernesiaise, while Anthony Wilson's The Happy Warrior is available through the national publisher, UPSO.

For the beginner, though, Guernsey Museums and Art Galleries's slim volume Out of Nelson's Shadow puts Saumarez in the perspective where Sir Fabian believes he belongs, juxtaposing the two men's careers to enable us to compare them.

'There were several great admirals at that time,' Sir Fabian states. 'And Nelson sort of represents them all.'

To understand this, it helps to think in modern terms, in which skilful PR can elevate someone to a level of celebrity out of proportion to his or her accomplishments. While Nelson's achievements should not be underestimated, there was an element of self-promotion about the man that invites comparison with certain 21st-century figures. In those 18th- and 19th-century days, long before technology brought us recorded music and films and with war a matter of death or glory rather than universal condemnation and protests, military leaders became national heroes. Nelson's relationship with Emma, Lady Hamilton, attracted the sort of interest that the private life of Princess Diana held - and continues to hold - for millions of people who like to dream about the lives of the rich and famous.

Emma, the wife of Sir William Hamilton, was 35 years younger than Nelson and while their intense liaison produced a daughter, Nelson never secured a divorce from his wife.

His fame, enhanced by the way in which he wrote his own reports of the battles in which he was involved, was cemented once and for all by the manner of his death - at the end of his finest hour, the Battle of Trafalgar.James Saumarez, Sir Fabian asserts as he poses for a picture in front of a large portrait of him in Government House, comes across as what we would call 'a nice bloke', with no hint of arrogance.

He went about his business quietly and with a straight bat, his popularity with the men under his command providing the supreme testament to his character: When Saumarez took over a new ship, large number of his former crew would clamour to join him.

The Guernseyman's marriage, to local girl Martha Le Marchant, was a long and stable one, producing eight children.

Even while he was serving in the navy, Saumarez managed to maintain a Guernsey connection, most notably with a thrilling piece of derring-do played out right on our west coast.

Escorting a convoy from Plymouth, Saumarez found his seamanship and mettle challenged when a larger French force appeared. Having somehow ensured that the French followed his ship, The Crescent, leaving the others free to escape, he called upon the expertise of veteran Guernsey pilot Jean Breton who, fortuitously, was on board. Breton knew the ins and outs of that treacherous coastline as well as anyone and announced that he could guide the Crescent through the hazards and out again. Saumarez decided to trust everything to his fellow islander and they duly wove through the rocks, while the French quite sensibly concluded that it would be foolish to follow.

The crowds that gathered at Cobo and the Guet to watch the scene may not have known until later who was at the centre of the drama, but they are sure to have enjoyed such an unexpected episode.

Although he amassed a considerable fortune during his career, the admiral's 25 years of retirement in Guernsey were spent not in idle luxury, but in doing good for the community, setting up programmes to help the poor. He was instrumental in the formation of the Guernsey Savings Bank and was also the driving force behind the building of St James-the-Less to provide a church in which the services were conducted in English for the benefit of the troops of the garrison, whose command of French was less than that of the locals.

For these reasons, as much as for Saumarez's military prowess, Sir Fabian believes that the name of one of our greatest sons should be known by the island's schoolchildren, as it is in one much less obvious place. 'Swedish children are taught about Admiral Saumarez,' he says.

Saumarez spent several years in the Baltic in the early 19th century, commanding a fleet, the flagship of which was HMS Victory, refitted after the glory days under Nelson. Saumarez's task was to protect British trade and support Sweden at a time when there was potential mayhem in the area, with the rampant French, an ambitious Russia and Denmark adding to the danger.

In that situation Saumarez demonstrated that in addition to his seamanship and courage, he possessed considerable powers of diplomacy - further confirmation of Sir Fabian's opinion that this was a man who deserves far greater recognition in the island of his birth and indeed his death. The then Lord de Saumarez died peacefully at home in Guernsey.

'He could have been buried in Westminster Abbey,' Sir Fabian points out, 'but he chose the Castel Church.'

Although he wanted a private funeral, such was the great man's popularity that it is said a thousand people attended, or at least crowded into the churchyard in order to be part of the occasion.

The decision to be laid to rest in relatively humble surroundings just a mile away from the family home in what is still known as Saumarez Park is typical of the man. Both stubborn, in the stereotypically Guernsey mould, and unwilling to push himself forward, which meant he was not promoted as quickly as he deserved to be and was a less prominent figure with the British public, Saumarez is recognised by naval historians as one of the major figures of his time.

A monument in his honour was erected in 1878 overlooking the east coast at Delancey Park, but was demolished by the occupying forces during the Second World War and has never been rebuilt.

Fortunately, the four bronze plaques that provided explanation and images can now be found in Castle Cornet. One shows naval ships evading the French in Cobo Bay, while another lists major dates in the admiral's career, from Sullivan Island in 1778 to Algeciras in 1801.

A third, celebrating 'the first Baron of Saumarez', says it was 'erected by fellow countrymen as a tribute' and talks of his 'heroism and Christian character'.

A bona fide great Guernseyman then and surely worth at the very least another pile of granite or perhaps something else altogether - such as his inclusion in history lessons.