The Naval museum Mauritius

The Naval museum is situated in the South of Mauritius in Mahebourg, it recounts a very important aspect of Mauritian history in the great battle of 1810 between the French and British whereby the British conquered the island. The building itself was the first colonial mansion to be built on the island by Jean De Robillard and as such is listed as a national monument. The French Commander Hamilton and the British Officer Willoughby were both treated in the mansion when they got wounded during the battle as it was turned into a hospital. Bought in 1950 by the government, the mansion was turned into a museum under the Mauritius Institute. It is divided into three floors only two of which are accessible to the public. The first floor houses an amalgam of historical artefacts: a roll of honour dedicated to the Mauritians who died in World War п, the bell from the sunken Saint Geran ship, genuine cannons and cannonballs as used in the past, wrecks of the ships involved in the great battle at Grand Port, the harbour in use at that time, paintings, swords and other weapons of the King of Corsairs, Robert Surcouf. Numerous relics of the battle and objects from the shipwrecks are showcased in the museum. A relief map shows the dangerous reef at the battle site which has been the leading factor in the number of shipwrecks during that time period. A newspaper cutting of Charles Seabourne, along with other survivors from the ship Trevessa, who spent 25 days at sea has been preserved; showcased are the ship’s biscuits, a razor as well as a cigarette tin that the sailors used to measure water rations. The second floor is dedicated to the French governor Mahe De Labourdonnais who turned the little island into a land of settlement and development when the French owned the island. The four poster bed of the ancient governor as well as two palanquins, a collection of maps, coins, curios and models of sailing ships can be seen. The Naval museum is a place where people can go back into the past and relieve the moments when the British were fighting for the island and how they came to win it: a decidedly important point to stop by for history lovers!