Welsh Journals

CAPTAIN FRANCOIS HUSSON- BY STRANGERS HONOUR'D' 'There's a pirate buried in the Churchyard Miss'. Such was the phrase so often repeated by the young fraternity of Priory School that the author was stirred to investigate the so called 'pirate'. In the churchyard of Brecon Cathedral there is a grave with a headstone inscription which reads, 'Ci git Francois Husson Prisonnier de guerre. Francois Capne an 4me Regt D'artillerie de Marine Decede le 27 Avril 1810 age de 48ans 'By foreign hands his humble grave adorned. By strangers honour'd and by strangers mourn'd' When viewing the gravestone for the very first time, little did the author appreciate how much pleasurable time would be spent and how many journeys made, in trying to unravel the mystery of why a Frenchman was buried in a Welsh churchyard. The headstone depicts with the inscription, an amateurish attempt at a skull and crossbones; however its authenticity is doubtful as it appears to be graffiti added at a later date. The romantic notions of the very young were to be dispelled as there was no pirate; however there was a Captain Francois Husson, 4th Artillery Regiment of Marines, prisoner-of-war. The possibility existed that Francois Husson was captured during the last invasion of Britain which took place at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, in 1798. This proved not to be the case after examining the documents in the Public Record Office in London. Francois was born at Bussieres, a farm two kilometres outside the small village of Chambley. Situated between Verdun and Metz, Chambley at present boasts a cafe, a bakery, and a church and is very much part of rural France. The Husson family still live at Bussieres and historically have been farmers, lawyers and priests. It is somewhat of a mystery why Francois joined the marines, but at the age of seventeen, he enlisted on June 10th 1781. Some twenty five years later, being part of a detachment of marines on board the French Frigate Le President whilst returning to Brittany from the West Indies, Le President was intercepted and chased by five British vessels under the command of Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Louis. After two days of combat and chase Le President was captured by H. M.S. Canopus and H.M.S. Dispatch. Sixty-eight prisoners were taken and transported to the military prison at Forton, Portsmouth. Francois Husson while imprisoned at Forton was offered parole along with twelve of his fellow officers. 'The inscription can be translated thus: Here lies Francois Husson, prisoner-of-war, Captain of the 4th Artillery Regiment of Marines. He died on the 27th April 1810 aged 48.