Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2016 | Page 44
T
Local history
Remembering the
Battle of Trafalgar
On the duver at St Helen’s stands the
tower of St Helen’s Old Church. At about
eye height near the base of the tower is
a smallish plaque. It reads:
‘On Saturday 14th. September 1805,
Admiral Lord Nelson boarded HMS
Victory lying anchor off St. Helens
near to this spot. HMS Victory with
HMS Euryalus in company, sailed the
following morning, Sunday 15th.
September, to join the Fleet off Cadiz
prior to the Battle of Trafalgar. 21st
October 1805.’
At this time of year my thoughts
always turn towards the great Battle
of Trafalgar, Nelson’s victory at which
marked Britain’s dominance in world
affairs for the next two hundred years.
The plaque is also a reminder of the
very close links that exist between
the Royal Navy and the Island. The
Current Second Sea Lord, for example,
is Island born and bred. Recently I was
honored by being appointed one of a
small number of Honorary officers in
the Royal Navy and this has brought
home to me even more strongly the
connection that exists.
Very recently there was a moving
ceremony to mark the centenary of
the Battle of Jutland on Ryde seafront.
44
Guest writer Mark
Fox continues with
his series looking
at different places
of interest on the
Island
In Nelson’s day great ships of the line
would anchor in the lee of the island, the
purser would land and obtain provisions
and water for the hundreds of mouths
that needed feeding. Shore parties
would come and press local men into
service, many of whom would never see
their families again.
Nearer our own time a designated
point off the south coast of the Island
was the central meeting point for the
D-Day landing craft to meet before
making passage to the Normandy
coastline. For a long time Cowes was
a centre of naval ship building and
maritime innovation.
Then, as now, the Island provided a
welcoming sight to returning sailors.
For Nelson’s navy sight is all they would
have had because often they were not
allowed to leave their ship for fear that
they would not return. In more recent
times sailors often catch a ferry across
from Portsmouth for a day out or come
and make their home among us.
The modern Royal Navy still anchors its
ships in the lee of the Island, welcoming
the protection it affords and reminding
us that there remains a strong bond
between us and the Senior Service.
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