21 October: The Battle of Trafalgar

Today is Trafalgar Day, commemorating Nelson’s victory and his death. There is a parade down the Mall to Trafalgar Square where a wreath is laid at the bottom of Nelson’s Column. On HMS Victory there is a commemorative service. 10 things you might not know about the Battle of Trafalgar:

1. Why did it happen? Napoleon Bonaparte, rather like Hitler in the 1930s, was trying to take over Europe which had resulted in the Napoleonic Wars. Britain knew Napoleon's plan would eventually include conquering Britain as well. As an island, Britain had a pretty good Navy and was working on preventing this by blockading French ports to stop the French ships from leaving.
2. However, during a storm, some French ships managed to get out of Toulon during a storm and avoid the blockade. They met up with a fleet of ships from Spain, their ally at the time. This combined fleet sailed to the West Indies, then back across the Atlantic Ocean to the Spanish port of Cadiz, pursued by the British the whole way.
3. The battle took place near Cape Trafalgar, which is in south west Spain.
4. You probably know that Horatio Nelson was the commander of the British fleet on HMS Victory. His French counterpart was Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve on board the French flagship, the Bucentaure.
5. The British fleet was outnumbered: the British had 27 ships, the French and Spanish had a combined total of 33 ships. Nevertheless, the French and Spanish lost 22 ships, the British lost none. Unlike Nelson, Villeneuve survived the battle and returned to France, only to be murdered by Napoleon.
6. Before the battle, Nelson ordered his signal officer, Lieutenant John Pasco to signal the fleet. The message Nelson initially wanted was "England confides that every man will do his duty." (Confides means, "is confident".) He wanted it sent as quickly as possible. Pasco suggested using the word "expects" instead, because it was in the signal book and could therefore be communicated using just one flag instead of having to spell it out letter by letter. Nelson agreed to the change, and said "That will do, Pasco, make it directly." The message is often misquoted as "England expects every man to do his duty," including on Nelson's tomb. The message is hoisted on board HMS Victory on Trafalgar Day each year.
7. HMS Victory had 104 guns, was constructed from 6,000 Oaks and elms, needed 26 miles of rope and rigging for the three masts, and was crewed by 821 men.
8. Nelson didn't play by the usual rules of engagement of sea battles. The convention was that opposing fleets would form two lines and engage in a clash of broadsides until one fleet withdrew. Nelson, however, split his fleet in two, placing half of it under the command of his deputy, Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, and sailed straight at the French and Spanish lines to separate them.
9. Nelson was fatally wounded as his ship engaged with the French ship the Redoutable. He was standing on deck as was traditional, when a French sharpshooter shot him in the spine. He knew at once it was a fatal wound and asked to be taken below so that his men wouldn't see him die and be discouraged. Nelson’s last words, according to contemporary accounts, were: “Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton, Hardy, take care of poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me, Hardy.” (Hardy did, on the cheek.) Nelson then said, “Now I am satisfied. Thank God I have done my duty.”
10. After the battle, many of the men couldn't return home for many years as Britain had to maintain a blockade of Cadiz and other ports. Admiral Collingwood never saw his family again. He spent five years commanding the blockade until at the age of 62, he became ill and asked permission to go home. Permission was granted, but he died at sea on the way back to England.

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