Home » Blog » diary » Celebrating or commemorating?

Celebrating or commemorating?

Let us spare a thought for all those men in both fleets at Trafalgar on the 21 st October 1805.

The battle of #Trafalgar was as much about a culture clash as anything else, the opposing sides both felt strongly, they represented freedom and a civilised way ahead.

A close examination of what they wrote, including French and Spanish documents, shows all behaved with bravery, gallantry, discipline and loyalty during and after the battle.

Trafalgar Dawn, you are on board HMS Victory at 06.05.
Trafalgar Dawn, you are on board HMS Victory at 06.05.

In the Combined fleet several ships were unable to engage, not though reluctance, because their crews were to inexperienced.

No ship has ever been fought with more determination than by Captain Jean Jacques Étienne Lucus and his crew in the Redoutable.

All three flagships were reduced to wrecks.

The French commander, Vice-Admiral Villeneuve watched as half his men were killed, many more wounded and said “where is a bullet for me?” HMS Victory lost almost all her upper deck men, Lucus men even boarded Victory albeit briefly.

Those Britons taken prisoner after the battle (as a result of the storm that followed the battle) were treated with the utmost courtesy by their Spanish captors, this despite the Spanish losses,  and returned to Gibraltar.

The battle saved Britain from invasion.

Napoleon had a fleet of transports and 350000 men ready to go.

Trafalgar Dawn” we have a few copies available, a fine art print on canvas for the look and feel of the original painting, signed, numbered, from £147. including post and packing.

Contact Us

T: + 44 (0)1865 52 2435  Mobile 00 33 (0) 6 10 66 19 26

or Skype ‘gordonfrickers’

Email: artistfrickers at gmail.com