Why US naval 'victory' off British coast is celebrated 246 years on

A painting by Thomas Mitchell (1735-1790) recalling the battle between the USS Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis on September 23 1779

An epic naval battle off the East Yorkshire coast that sparked the birth of the US Navy will be celebrated later, more than 200 years on.

On 23 September, 1779, beneath Bempton Cliffs, a French and American fleet of four ships swooped in and attacked two British Royal Navy vessels that were escorting a convoy.

The USS Bonhomme Richard, under the command of Scottish-born naval captain John Paul Jones, managed to capture the frigate HMS Serapis.

The Battle of Flamborough Head, during the American War of Independence, is now one of the most celebrated naval actions in US history.

To mark the 246th anniversary, a refurbished monument, known as a toposcope, will be unveiled on the cliff tops with markings pointing to the site of the battle.

One of the organisers, Kim Hodgson, secretary of Yorkshire Coast 1779, said Jones is seen as "the father of the US Navy".

"They actually still teach the Battle of Flamborough Head to every midshipman that goes through their officer training," she said.

"They see him as a hero and so it is a very important battle for the Americans.

"It gave the Americans a boost that they could just about win the war because at the time America was not doing very well, they were suffering quite a few defeats over in the colonies, so this really gave them a boost of confidence.

"The Royal Navy was outnumbered two to one but they managed to protect the convoy, it was saved, but they did lose both their ships."

Scottish-born naval captain John Paul Jones is seen as the father figure of the US Navy

According to the research group, more than 400 men and boys were killed and injured when Captain Jones captured the Serapis, with his own Bonhomme Richard later sinking.

Ms Hodgson added: "The Americans treat it as a battle that they won. They may have captured two ships but they didn't achieve their objective, which was to capture some of those supply ships.

"They got off with the two Royal Navy ships but they didn't achieve their objective, but the Royal Navy did. That's why we want to raise this significant event."

Legend has it that when the two ships were side by side firing broadsides into each other the captain of HMS Serapis asked Jones if he was prepared to surrender, to which he reportedly replied "I have not yet begun to fight".

The refurbished toposcope was first installed on Bempton Cliffs in 1959

The toposcope will be unveiled in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of East Yorkshire, Jim Dick OBE, Michael Rice, High Sheriff of East Yorkshire, Charlie Dewhirst MP for Bridlington and the Wolds and Liam Dealtry, chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

It was originally built in 1959 and has been refurbished and made more accessible.

As well as arrows pointing to the site of the battle, panels will be installed giving more information about the skirmish, allowing visitors to "look out to sea and reimagine this ferocious battle and what it must have been like for the terrified locals watching this".

Ms Hodgson said the monument was a "really nice opportunity to remember our history and the significance of what the Yorkshire Coast played in that little bit of a historic timeline in 1779".

She added: "Isn't it amazing that in 1779 we were fighting with each other, but over the course of the last 250 years we have been good friends, sometimes best friends and always managed to turn that relationship around."

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