Trafalgar Day 21st October

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Trafalgar Day 21st October

'England expects that every man will do his duty.' Horatio Nelson

Trafalgar Day celebrates the victory won by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. Sadly, it also commemorates his death on that same day.

The famous battle took place off Cape Trafalgar, Cadiz, Spain. It was a crucial victory for the British Navy in the Napoleonic wars.

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The Legend of Nelson Turning a Blind Eye

The 'Blind Eye' incident occurred at the battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. At a critical stage of the action, the commander of the British fleet, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker II signalled to Nelson that he should break off the attack. Nelson refused and later remarked, that he had a blind eye and sometimes had a right to use it.

Later Hyde Parker II (there were all dynasty of naval Parkers) recognised that had Nelson obeyed the order then his ships would have been endangered to counter-attack.

More Interesting Facts about Nelson and Trafalgar Day

Trafalgar Day was widely commemorated by parades, dinners and other events throughout much of the British Empire in the 19th centuries.
When Will attended the Royal Hospital School [RHS], Holbrook, Suffolk, in the late 50's and early 60's, a special Trafalgar 'duff' [pudding/dessert] was always served at dinner on 21st October each year.
Nelson was also famous or infamous for his affair with Lady Emma Hamilton. They had a daughter who was named Horatia, which confirmed that Nelson was indeed her father.
The name Horatio is probably derived from the Latin name Horatius. As with many famous generals, Horatio Nelson inspired parents to name their sons after the victorious general. Other variations include, Horace, Horacio, Horaz and Oratio.
Nelson's most inspirational quote was: 'England expects that every man will do his duty'. However he has left us other quotes which stand the test of time, most notably:
'Desperate affairs require desperate measures'.
'First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can'.
'Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon'.

Nelson's Column Trafalgar Square

Following Nelson's victory at Trafalgar 1805, in 1843 Nelson's Column, designed by William Railton, was erected in London to commemorate both the victory and his death and still can be seen today in Trafalgar Square.

The Square is a site of major significant historic interest and its monuments and statues also have individual heritage classifications. New Year's celebrations are held here each year at midnight. Incidentally, Trafalgar Square was pedestrianised in 2008, and this has proved to be a huge success for people appreciating the square and the famous statue of Nelson's column.

The Dolphin pub in Old Portsmouth, England, was reputedly a haunt of Lord Nelson. Will and Guy have learned that he drank there apparently before setting off to defeat the Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in 1805.

The pub, one of Portsmouth's oldest is incidentally is only a cannon shot from Will's local - The Duke of Buckingham, is in the High Street, and claims to have a glass window upon which is Nelson's signature. This glass has been signed by many dignitaries of the time with a diamond type stylus. The present manager, Mr Paul Goldthorpe is to display the window for viewing in the pub.

Naval Service Medal Nelson's Column

A rare medal awarded to a Royal Marine who lay wounded alongside Lord Nelson at Trafalgar has gone on display marking Trafalgar Day

The Naval General Service Medal was awarded to Lt Lewis Buckle Reeve, who was on board the Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory in the battle in October 1805. Lt Reeve, born in nearby East Meon, was treated by Nelson's surgeon; he survived to fight again, retiring in 1817. He died in 1861, aged 75. This medal is a rare reminder of the role played by a Royal Marines Officer, only one of four on board Victory, alongside Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. You can see his medal may at the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth, England.

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Nicholas Pocock Painting of HMS Victory

Trafalgar Day is less important to people nowadays as it is felt that so many deaths resulted from the battle that Armistice Day, Veterans Day and Poppy Day should commemorate all military losses on Remembrance Sunday. Nelson's Flagship - HMS Victory

HMS Victory - Nelson's Flagship

Also to be viewed in the UK's premier naval city is Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory. Admiral Horatio Nelson's HMS Victory was launched in 1765, played a decisive role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and now sits in dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Nelson and Hardy - Famous Conversation

Here is a 'politically correct' [PC] and humorous version of an imaginary conversation between Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson and Captain of the Fleet, Thomas Hardy.

Scene: The Atlantic Ocean, off Trafalgar, south of Cadiz. Admiral Nelson is about to engage the French and Spanish ships:

Nelson: 'Order the signal, Hardy.'

Hardy: 'Aye, aye sir.'

Nelson: 'Hold on, that's not what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?'

Hardy: 'Sorry sir?'

Nelson [reading aloud]: 'England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability.' What gobbledegook is this?'

Hardy: 'Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting 'England...' past the censors, lest it be considered racist.'

Nelson: 'Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco.'

Hardy: 'Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke-free working environments.'

Nelson: 'In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the mainbrace to steel the men before battle.'

Hardy: 'The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. It's part of the Government's policy on binge drinking.'

Nelson: 'Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it .............. full speed ahead.'

Hardy: 'I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water.'

Nelson: 'Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest please.'

Hardy: 'That won't be possible, sir.'

Nelson: 'What?'

Hardy: 'Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness; and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until a proper scaffolding can be erected.'

Nelson: 'Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy.'

Hardy: 'He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck, Admiral.'

Nelson: 'Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd.'

Hardy: 'Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier-free environment for the differently abled.'

Nelson: 'Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of Admiral by playing the disability card.'

Hardy: 'Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency.'

Nelson: 'Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons.'

Hardy: 'A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?'

Nelson: 'I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy.'

Hardy: 'The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral.'

Nelson: 'What? This is mutiny!'

Hardy: 'It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There's a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks.'

Nelson: 'Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?'

Hardy: 'Actually, sir, we're not.' Admiral Lord Nelson 21st October Trafalgar Day

Nelson: 'We're not?'

Hardy: 'No, sir. The French and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation.'

Nelson: 'But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil.'

Hardy: 'I wouldn't let the ship's diversity co-ordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report.'

Nelson: 'You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King.'

Hardy: 'Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life'

Nelson: 'Don't tell me - health and safety. Whatever happened to rum, and the lash?'

Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a total ban on all corporal punishment.'

Nelson: 'Oh dear, In that case............................ kiss me, Hardy.'

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