The group behind the annual commemoration of the battle of Flamborough Head have changed their name.
The Filey Bay 1779 group is changing it's name to Yorkshire Coast 1779 to more broadly reflect the impact of the famous battle on the wider coastline.
James Hodgson is Co-founder of the group.
The 250th anniversary of the battle will take place in 5 years time - James Hodgson - says it's a big deal for the Americans and could provide a tourism boost for the Yorkshire Coast.
The battle is one of the most celebrated naval actions in US history, despite its relatively small size and considerable dispute as to who actually won!
James says it holds an important place in US naval history.
But despite the battle taking place in Filey Bay James says the imapct of the event was felt in all of teh Yorkshire Coast's coastal communities:
"Since we started in 2020 we have been expanding, researching and discovering so much more about the Battle of Flamborough Head. And not just about the battle itself, but how it affected the local coastal communities.
Bridlington witnessed an anxious time in the days leading up to the battle due to the presence of the enemy squadron so close to land.
The Baltic convoy of over 40 ships harboured under the safety of the guns of Scarborough Castle on 23 September, and prisoners aboard the Bonhomme Richard escaped to Butcher's Haven in Filey Bay!
The coastal communities all witnessed the dramatic event and feared an invasion was eminent!
Those that could, such as the Graemes of Sewerby Hall, buried their treasure in the garden and escaped to York, whilst those left behind witnessed a fierce and volatile sea battle from the cliffs of Bempton, Speeton ad Filey Brigg, with even an eye-witness account from Scarborough"
The battle itself saw a Franco-American Squadron of four ships, including the Bonhomme Richard under the command of John Paul Jones, attempted to attack a large convoy of merchant vessels laden with essential supplies for the UK Government but the two British Royal Navy escorts, the HMS Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough, engaged the Americans despite being outnumbered and outgunned two-to-one, thereby enabling the convoy to escape to relative safety beneath the “new state-of-the-art” cannons of Scarborough Castle.
In the ensuing battle, in which over 400 men and boys were killed and injured, John Paul Jones captured HMS Serapis and The Countess of Scarborough whilst his own ship, the Bonhomme Richard, was badly damaged and later sunk.
This was also the famous battle where the immortalised words of John Paul Jones were meant to have been declared when asked to surrender he replied, “Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight!”, which every American child is taught at school.
The US Navy still has warships in its fleet called the “John Paul Jones” and “Bonhomme Richard”.
Debate continues to this day as to who emerged victorious:. Both America and Great Britain attest that their missions were accomplished.
The battle is of particular importance in both the United States and France, which interest will increase year on year as we approach the 250th anniversary of the battle in 2029.
James says that events are already being organised in advance of the 250 year anniversary.
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