WOT, No Trafalgar Posts?

[peter nicholl]

Come on there must be someone else who's interested in the 200th Anniversary of Trafalgar! Not that I had anyone there, but I do know of two who built one of the ships. Or is it that everyone else has Spliced the Mainbrace already (and the sun not yet over the yardarm) and are in no fit state to post .

Peter

[busyglen]

Well I for one will be celebrating so you are not alone Peter!!

My husband and I (sorry for that!) with a group of other people, meet several times a year for a lunch or dinner to celebrate certain occasions. We all pay £5 over the top for a local charity which is a childrens hospice. As some of the menfolk are ex-navy, army and airforce, we celebrate things like `Battle of Britain' day, The Battle of the Nile, Battle of Waterloo, Trafalgar Day, and Remembrance Sunday, and St. Georges Day. We always hold them on the nearest Saturday, with the exception of Remembrance Sunday.

As this is a `special' event `The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar' we are having a dinner this evening. There will be a special commemorative
engraved item that will be unique and will have the provenance of our group to go with it. A few years ago we celebrated (I forget the number of years)
the Battle of the Nile, and we had engraved glasses with a programme which listed all of our names and the gentlemen's ranks etc. It's nice to keep.

So yes.....there are a few out here that are celebrating, and making money too!! Pass the Port!

Cheers

Glenys

[peter nicholl]

Well done Glenys, I especially liked the gifts to the childrens hospice. Pencil into your diary The Battle of the Nile gives the opportunity for an "all-nighter" 1-2 August 1798 and although it nearly clashes with Trafalgar Day, what about Camperdown, 11 October 1797?

Peter
ps for those below deck this calls for neaters rather than grog.

[Geoffers]

I was waiting for roughly the time when Royal Sovereign returned fire to the enemy fleets and the battle began, for the Royal Navy.

I was born in Pompey, to a naval family whose ancestors came from Norfolk and I too will be celebrating the victory - and remembering the loss, not just of Admiral Lord Nelson, but the gallant men from all three fleets who lost their lives in the action off Trafalgar.

Cheers

Geoffers

[hope full]

Enjoy the celebrations all
Toast the heroes............. and I'll be raising a glass to Emma & Horatia too.

best wishes
Hope

[AnnB]

Neither my husband or I come from a Naval background, but we have always had a fascination with anything to do with Nelson and his Navy, so we'll certainly be raising a glass later on.

Whilst we were researching for a book we compiled several years ago about a Naval sloop, we spent many hours at Kew and amongst a box of Captain's letters we came across one written by Nelson in which he was trying to defend the actions of one of his sailors who had got himself in a bit of bother.

It was an amazing thing to sit holding that letter.

Best wishes
Ann

[busyglen]

I forgot to mention Peter, that tomorrow, (after a late night) we are dashing off to Portsmouth for another Trafalgar celebration....gluttons for punishment!! I'm really getting too old for all this `partying'!!

Thanks for the dates....we celebrated the 200th Battle of the Nile on 1st August 1998. I've just checked the glasses we received. Not sure about the Camperdown though.....that's one that alludes me.

Glenys

[Geoffers]

Whilst remembering Nelson et al, let us also not forget the poor unfortunate pig from the (French) 'Achille' The ship was reduced to a burning wreck by bombardment from a succession of British ships. She eventually blew up just before 6PM.

British ships sent boats to look for survivors picked up over 200 crew from the sea. Amongst them all they found a naked woman (!) and a pig!!!!!

I've often mulled over the fate of the poor creature, presumably terrified by the battle, swimming for life in the sea and rescued by the crew of the 'Euryalus' - the resuce was short lived as the pig joined the crew of the British frigate as chief guest for dinner

So raise a glass to Nelson, those who fell in battle - and the pig from the 'Achille'.

Geoffers

[AnnB]

British ships sent boats to look for survivors picked up over 200 crew from the sea. Amongst them all they found a naked woman (!) and a pig!!!!!

Geoffers

Never mind the pig, Geoffers, what happened to the naked woman - or perhaps I shouldn't ask

Best wishes
Ann

[Geoffers]

Never mind the pig Geoffers

Oh! - Poor pig

[QUOTE=AnnBwhat happened to the naked woman - or perhaps I shouldn't ask[/QUOTE]
The lady's name was Jeanette and it turned out that she was the wife of a French seaman, and had stowed away on the Achille. The British crew gave her clothes, the Captain had a petticoat made from two shirts; after a few days it was found that her husband had been one of those rescued from the sea and they were reunited.

Though I do wonder why she was naked? Perhaps the Frenchman, thinking that the end was about to come decided to spend his last few minutes...........

Geoffers