William Bligh

William Bligh — page 1 — Our story starts on Australia Day 1808. Actually Australia Day hadn't been invented then nor had Australia really But we are going back to 26 January 1808 and we are in Sydney capital of the colony of New South Wales Did you notice the date That's right it's exactly twenty years since the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Botany Bay Look here comes a military parade marching down the road to Government House Ah don't the soldiers look resplendent in their red coats moving in time to the stirring strains of the Grenadiers March fixed bayonets glinting in the evening sunlight

William Bligh — page 2 — People have gathered to see what is going on We can see a few children marching alongside the soldiers and a couple of dogs wheeling around in excited circles But wait who is that Aboriginal man leaning against a tree observing these events Could it be Bennelong once a friend of the first governor Arthur Phillip and ambassador for his people He's no longer welcome at Government House but he still comes into town every so often What is he thinking The soldiers march on and sweep through the front gates of Government House

William Bligh — page 3 — But what's this There's a young woman confronting the soldiers trying to block their progress She screams at them You traitors you rebels You come to murder my father This must be Mary Governor Bligh's daughter She came from England to look after him and everyone knows she is very protective of her father And look now she is trying to fight them off with her parasol That's feisty The soldiers look embarrassed and are not sure what to do until a couple of them are ordered to drag her aside A few others rush into the house with orders to arrest the governor Bligh hears their footsteps and realises they are coming for him He retreats to an upstairs bedroom and thinks Do I stand on my dignity and confront them Do I try to escape to give myself a chance of winning back my authority 211 Bligh hears the soldiers cursing as room after room turns out to be empty His refuge is a bedroom where secret papers are stored and he is busily destroying the documents when two soldiers burst through the door and arrest him at bayonet point As they march him downstairs threatening him with death should he show any resistance Bligh thinks to himself No not again I don't believe it

William Bligh — page 4

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