The Nelson Society
Richard Cavendish visits the society dedicated to Britain's great military hero.
Every year on October 21st a ceremony is held on board HMS Victory in her drydock in Portsmouth. A wreath is laid at a certain spot on the quarterdeck, there is a brief service and in the evening a dinner.
The spot on the quarterdeck is where at about 1.25pm on October 21st 1805 a smallish frail man with one arm, in an admiral's uniform blazing with the stars of four orders of chivalry, fell pierced by a musket bullet from a French warship. Round him raged the carnage of the battle of Trafalgar, broadsides thundering, timbers splintering, blood spouting, hoarse yells and screams. He was carried below, to die after three hours of pain in the darkness of Victory's cramped cockpit.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
