Back in 1902, the people of Jersey set out to celebrate the Coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and they wanted to make it different.
So, someone somewhere hit upon the idea of a "Battle of Flowers" but little did they realise when the words were first uttered that over 100 years later the event would be World famous and have passed its Centenary.

With the exception of the duration of the two World Wars, the Island has regularly gone "into Battle", and the event has become a community focal point as well as the high point of the summer season.
Back in the '60s, the event was attracting huge audiences and most Battle observers agree that the largest crowd was probably the 60,000 which saw the spectacle in 1969.
Smaller numbers - around 30,000 people - watch the event these days, safe in the saying that "it never rains on Battle Day" - fingers crossed!

This century of Battles has also reflected the changes and developments that have occurred in western society.
The first motor vehicles joined the parade in 1906, but horse-drawn floats were popular right up until the 1970s.
Gone also is the real "Battle" where the crowd were invited to rip up the exhibits and pelt their friends with flowers.