21st October 1805 The Battle of Trafalgar

On this day 1805 the British fleet under the leadership of Admiral Lord Nelson defeated the combined force of the French and Spanish fleets commanded by Admiral Villeneuve. Had they not succeeded Villeneuve's plan was to relieve the French naval forces blockaded by British squadrons giving Napolean Bonaparte control of the Channel. Bonaparte had amassed invasion barges and needed control of the Channel for only one hour in order to effect the invasion of Britain. Nelson's fleet prevented that invasion.

Out numbered and out gunned Nelson's fleet approached the French and Spanish line head on. It was an unorthodox and dangerous tactic, particularly as the wind was light and his ships could barely make headway. By sailing directly at the enemy line the British ships were exposed to the full broadsides of the French and Spanish but were unable to bring their own guns to bear. The lead ships took a terrible amount of fire.

Nelson's genius was that he trusted his captains to act independently and knew the fate of the battle lay in the hands of every British sailor. Conventional naval stragegy relied on top down command which in the midst of battle usually broke down. Nelson's advice that no captain could go far wrong if he laid his ship close to that of the enemy proved to be decisive. Having broken through the line of ships the British guns were able to inflict much greater damage than the conventional exchange of broadsides.

We usually host a Trafalgar Dinner this day but cannot do so this year. But maybe you will raise a glass this day to honour "The immortal memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell alongside him."

A few years ago my oldest offspring in her role as dog-robber for some admiral organised a Trafalgar Night dinner on HMS Victory. Apparently it was rather good.