Virtual Discovery #52 - Georgette and Catalpa
Part of a series of “Virtual Discovery” presentations featuring the military heritage of Rottnest island produced in parallel with Virtual Visit posts relating to the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia. This “Virtual Discovery” focuses on the Georgette and Catalpa and the escape of the Fenian military deserters from the Convict establishment in Fremantle.
The Fenians prisoners were from thehundreds of men arrested in Ireland in 1865, on suspicion of complicity in a planneduprising. There were two elements amongst the men charged, convicted, and sentenced to transportation: civilians, and serving British soldiers. The civilians were classified as political prisoners, whilst the ex-military were treated as ordinary criminals. The following year one of the military Fenian prisoners escaped from Bunbury aboard an American whaling vessel. John Boyle O’Reilly sailed to America and settled in Boston, eventually becoming the editor of the Boston Pilot. In 1869 the civilian element was granted clemency and freed. This left eight military Fenians still imprisoned.
Details
Details
Rottnest Island was closed to the public for extended periods during the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2020. The success of “Virtual Visi” series at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia prompted the creation of a parallel series of “Virtual Discoveries” focussing on the military and heritage aspects of Rottnest Island.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
