[Paris Commune executions] In memoriam cards for the Archbishop of Paris, a veteran of the New Zealand Wars and others

St, Germain, Paris, L. Lesort fils edit d’image religieuses, 1871,
8vo, leather bound volume of around 110 in-memoriam cards (1858-1896), each inset mounted on an album leaf,

Including
black bordered in-memoriam card, with small portrait photograph of Georges Darboy the Archbishop of Paris, ‘A la memoire de S. G. Monseigneur Georges DARBOY ne le 16 Janvier 1813, Eveque de Nancy en 1859, Archeveque de Paris en 1863, fusille a La Roquette, le 24 Mai 1871, victime des haines religieuses du Comite de Salut Public’, 115 x 75mm,
with
a similar card for Jean Gaspard Deguerry...cure de St. Madeleine, shot at the same occasion,
amongst the many other cards is one (no photograph) for Fitzhugh D'Este Jerningham acting Lieutenant of HMS Harrier, ‘who was lost in the Falkland Islands, 19th January 1863 and whose remains were found on the 11th June following’,
and another card for William Percy Ricardo, Lieut 9th Royal Lancers ‘killed in action in Afghanistan 11the Dec 1879’

The execution of Darboy and Deguerry.
The refusal of the Paris Commune to accept the authority of the French government led to its harsh suppression by the regular French Army in ‘La Semaine sanglante’ beginning on 21 May 1871. On the 24 May, a delegation of national guardsmen and Gustave Genton, a member of the Committee of Public Safety, came to the new headquarters of the Commune and demanded the immediate execution of the hostages held at the prison of La Roquette. The new prosecutor of the Commune, Théophile Ferré, hesitated and then wrote a note: "Order to the Citizen Director of La Roquette to execute six hostages." Genton asked for volunteers to serve as a firing squad, and went to the La Roquette prison, where many of the hostages were being held. Genton was given a list of hostages and selected six names, including the Archbishop of Paris and three priests. The governor of the prison, M. François, refused to give up the Archbishop without a specific order from the Commune. Genton sent a deputy back to the Prosecutor, who wrote ‘and especially the archbishop’ on the bottom of his note. The archbishop and five other hostages were promptly taken out into the courtyard of the prison, lined up against the wall, and shot.

Fitzhugh D'Este Jerningham.
HMS Harrier took part in the New Zeland Wars; in August 1863 taking part in a reconnaissance of Paparoa and Haurake; in September 1863 conveying soldiers supporting a raid on Cameron Town; in November 1863 the Naval Brigade taking part in the assault on the pa at Rangiriri. On the return voyage from the Pacific Fitzhugh D'Este Jerningham went ashore alone on one of the Falkland Islands, when he did not return, a search party failed to find any trace of their companion and his remains were not discovered for 6 months

[ref: 12570] £350