#before 1805

[ltwilliammowett]

A Naval Gunners freshwater keg recovered from HMS Belleisle which fought at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805)

[ltwilliammowett]

Spanish naval ensign, before 1805 (x)

This one was captured with the warship, San Ildefonso, 74 guns, by HMS Defence at Trafalgar 1805. It was hung in the crossing of St Paul's Cathedral during Nelson's funeral service on 9 January 1806 and was presented to Greenwich Hospital for display in the former Royal Naval Museum in the Royal Naval College at Greenwich by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's in 1907.

What is interesting here is the size, the flag is 10.20m x 14.60m, which is not unusual. The ensigns of a ship were huge, so they could be seen from far away on the sea. The bigger the ship, the bigger the flags.

[ltwilliammowett]

A framed fragment of HMS "Victory"s Fore Topsail, before 1805

It is an Admiralty grade 2 unbleached piece of canvas, bearing an manuscript inscription in Indian ink "Part of the Fore top sail of HMS "Victory" after the Battle of Trafalgar Oct.21st 1805 ~ England Expects that every man will do his Duty".

[ltwilliammowett]

This is a very nice silver plated brass Mutton Bone Holder, used to secure the joint when being carved, perhaps by the Ship's Captain at an Officer's dinner. It is marked on the side with a naval “Fouled Anchor” under “Acheron”. Date before 1805

HMS Acheron was purchased by the Admiralty in 1803 and fitted as a bomb vessel to serve in the Mediterranean Sea off the French coast. On 4th of Feb 1805 she was leading a convoy from Malta to England with the sloop H.M.S Arrow. Acheron had an armament of eight 24 pdr. guns, and engaged the French frigate Hortense, which with 40 guns was more than a match for the smaller ship. After a battle the Acheron's Captain struck his colors, and the French took the British crew as prisoners and removed the weapons. The Acheron was so badly damaged that the French burnt her, instead of pressing her into service.

[ltwilliammowett]

Silver plated steel, tinder or snuff box owned by John Tart, before 1805

The interior of the lid a very old label has been pasted in stating :

Granduncle - Mother's John Tarts' Tinder Box carried at Trafalgar with Nelson On H.M.S. Victory

And indeed there was an John Tart at the Battle of Trafalgar aboard HMS Victory, he was an ordinary Seaman there.

[ltwilliammowett]

HMS Victory and Agamemnon crusing in company off the coast, before the Battle of Trafalgar 1805, by Timothy Franklin Ross Thompson (1951-)