Commemorating Nelson’s historic Battle of Trafalgar
Banquets, traditional toasts and parades mark victory of most famous sea lord
Admiral Lord Nelson is arguably Britain’s best loved sea lord and the battle of Trafalgar his most famous victory. The Battle of Trafalgar raged for five hours on October 21 1805, remaining one of the most decisive naval battles in history.
Horatio Nelson and his 27-ship fleet were pitted against the combined navies of France and Spain.
Nelson’s strategy led to victory, but it cost him and 1,500 other British seamen their lives.
It is commemorated each year on October 21 and stems from the formation of the Navy League in 1894.
It gave added impetus to the movement to recognise Nelson’s legacy and grand celebrations were held in Trafalgar Square in London on Trafalgar Day 1896.
It was commemorated by parades, dinners and other events throughout much of the British Empire in the 19th century and early 20th century.
It continues to be celebrated by navies of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Its public celebration declined after the end of World War IOne in 1918. The massive casualties and upheaval had changed the general public perception of war as a source of glorious victories to a more sombre view of it as a tragedy, for which Armistice Day on November 11 was created.
However Trafalgar Day was still marked as a public day each year. On October 21 each year the commissioned officers of the Royal Navy celebrate the victory at the Battle of Trafalgar by holding a Trafalgar Night dinner in the Officer’s Mess.
At the banquet a speech is usually made by a guest of honour. On October 21 2005 200th anniversary dinner the toast was given by the Queen.
Horatio Nelson was the son of a rector from Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk.
The family were poor despite being considered scholarly. While related to Sir Robert Walpole, Nelson’s life was instead determined by his maternal uncle Captain Maurice Suckling.
Nelson’s mother passed away when he was nine, after which his uncle agreed to take him to sea.
Under the command of his uncle, Nelson was only 12 years old when he officially joined the Royal Navy as an apprentice, the lowest naval rank.
In portraits it is often easy to see that an arm is missing but it is harder to identify that he was nearly blind in one eye. His eye injury was caused during service in the Mediterranean against French forces.
His right arm was amputated after he completed the assault on Tenerife at the Battle of Cape St Vincent.
During his first command, Nelson met, courted, and eventually married a young widow, Frances Nisbet.
They were married for 10 years before he met Emma Hamilton in Naples. Emma was married to Sir William Hamilton, but this did not stop the pair from starting an affair.
He remained in love with her until his death and made arrangements for her to be financially supported by the State until she died.
Much of the action during the Battle of Trafalgar was concentrated around Nelson’s ship HMS Victory. In spite of advice, he entered battle wearing his full uniform and he was subsequently hit by a French sniper on the Redoutable.
The musket shot went through his shoulder and chest. Nelson was taken below to the surgeon where he would die 30 minutes before the end of the battle. Nelson’s last words are believed to be, “Thank God I have done my duty.”
Although some scholars dispute he said those words.
HMS Victory is now a museum in Portsmouth Harbour.