Free Republic

When Germany invaded the Isle of Sark—the last foothold of feudalism in the western world—Dame Sibyl Hathaway protected her people with the unlikeliest of weapons: Feudal etiquette, old-world manners, and a dollop of classic snobbery. Dame Sibyl Hathaway had 275 Nazi prisoners on her hands and knew exactly what she wanted to do with them. It was May 1945. Five years earlier, Germany had invaded Hathaway’s home in the British Channel Islands, a tiny isle of 400 called Sark. Despite having no modern defense network or fancy gun emplacements—it didn’t even have electricity—Sark had proven itself to be uniquely prepared...

The project, which got underway in October 2011, was implemented to save and preserve the historic WWII era submarine, which is located at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire. The project has so far seen the ship’s outer structure repaired and maintenance access around the site improved. Phase One of the project, which reached completion in summer 2012 focused on the construction of a cofferdam around the base of the submarine, ensuring easy access for regular maintenance. Phase Two, meanwhile, restored HMS Alliance’s exterior which had corroded so badly that sections of the submarine were in danger of...

The Duke of Edinburgh, who has been keen on ships and sailing ever since his days as a naval officer, will give the clipper ship, City of Adelaide a royal sendoff next month in Greenwich. The Duke of Edinburgh will see off the ship after it docks next to its well-known sister ship, The Cutty Sark, on the River Thames. The City of Adelaide, a 150 year old ship with a rich history will embark on its journey home to South Australia. The City of Adelaide is the last remaining ship that carried emigrants from across Europe to Australia in...

Five years after the Cutty Sark, once the pride of the British Empire, was ravaged by fire the ship has been restored to her former glory in time for a momentous year in Britain. The 19th century sailing ship was to be re-opened on Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth II, weeks before the monarch celebrates her diamond jubilee in June. Cutty Sark, which used to streak across the oceans carrying tea and wool, has come a long way since the flames burned through all three of her decks, turning her into an inferno early one morning in May 2007. ... Jim...

Three judges agreed that the role of the island's unelected Seneschal - who is both president of Sark's parliament and its chief judge - contravened the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the rights of individuals to a fair trial. The declaration by the Appeal Court is not legally binding, but if the island's rulers do not implement the judges' recommendations to remove one of the Seneschal's two roles they could face further legal action in future which could force them to act. Sark has operated under a feudal system for 450 years, after Elizabeth I granted the island's...