Transactions

OF THE

BANFFSHIRE FIELD CLUB.

THE STRATHMARTINE BanffshireTRUST Field Club

The support of The Strathmartine Trust toward this publication is gratefully acknowledged.

www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk 59 understand why they had to be restrained when with grandpapa. Nothing pleased him more, however, than their intelligent interest in and eagerness about the ships and craft upon the river; and their questions about his own adventures; and. provided his books were carefully handled and restored to their proper places on the shelves, he liked them to amuse themselves in his room with his books. He was very considerate to his servants and dependants; and, although quick and hasty in speech, he was never unreasonable or severe in action. "Until the last few years of his life he was an early riser, and at one time he used to read a great deal before leaving his bed- room. In this way, he read through the whole of Matthew Henry's Commentaries on the Bible. He occasionally played a rubber of whist, but never for money; and chess he gave up. as he thought it excited him un- warrantably. He was an inveterate snuff taker; he disliked the practice theoretically, but he never gave it up, and it was always a sign of illness with him if the snuff box was neglected. He had many presents of boxes of all sorts from messmates and friends, some of the more valuable of which were given as mementoes of him after his death. Those he used were plain wooden ones made at Laurencekirk, and given to him by Sir Edward Paget, who supplied him regularly as they wore out. Of his portraits, none was ever deemed wholly satisfactory by his family. It was no doubt difficult to catch the expression of his countenance, which was so attractive and beautiful."

A BANFF OFFICER WHO FELL AT TRAFALGAR. The Chairman said in view of the nature of Mr Bulloch's paper and of references it contained, it had been suggested that there should be included in the Transactions a paper which he (the Chairman) had prepared in October 1905 in connection with the Tra- falgar centenary. It was as follows— In the Old Churchyard of Banff there may be read these inscriptions on different stones: "In memory of James Duff. Esq. (fourth son of the first Alexander Duff of Hatton). who died 19th November 1804, aged 75." "Sacred to the memory of Alexr. Dirome,

Banffshire Field Club 60 Esq of Muiresk. obiit January 21, 1788, aet, 62." The former records the death of the father of a Banff officer who fell at Trafalgar; the latter commemorates the death of the father of the lady whom the officer married. From Imlach's History of Banff we learn that "Mr James Duff's town residence was the large quadrangular building on the street leading to the harbour with tlhe arched gateway. He was Sheriff-Clerk of Banffshire, and was in high position from his family connection. His eldest son was Captain George Duff, who commanded the 'Mars' at Trafalgar. His lady was the amiable and beautiful Sophia Dirom, daughter of Provost Dirom of Banff, distin- guished for her virtues and feminine graces; and their son was the late Admiral Norwich Duff, who was on the deck of his father's ship' bravely fighting when the fatal bullet put an end to his father's career. Their daughter was married to Mr Tayler of Glen- barry The only surviving daughter of the above James Duff is Mrs Anne Duff, widow of the late Mr Walter Biggar, who died lately in Edinburgh." To that may be added that Mrs Biggar died at Edinburgh in 1877. The remains of six of her brothers and sisters, with those of her father and mother, are- buried in the Banff Churchyard. Mr Alexander Dirom. father of Captain George Duff's wife, was laird of Muiresk, and occupied a town-house in Banff, on the site of which the North of Scotland Bank is built. He had also the farm of Sandlaw—as a re- creation more than anything else. Mr Dirom was brought up as a solicitor in Edinburgh. He married and settled in Banff. Mr and Mrs Dirom had four children—one son. Lieut- General Dirom, of Mount Annan, Dumfries, and three daughters It was the second daughter. Sophia, who became the wife of Captain Duff. Mr Dirom was himself a lead- ing personality in the town and district, and had long the chief influence in the manage- ment of the town's affairs. Captain George Duff was born in 1764. He had an instinctive genius for the sea. As a boy he was foumd in the hours of play either among the shipping in the harbour of BanffshireBanff or in boats on thFielde Deveron. At thClube babyish age of nine, such was his love of the sea. that he concealed himself on board a small merchant vessel, in which he actually sailed to a neighbouring port. The skipper, on finding him aboard, sent the boy back to his father, who then became sensible that his- 61 son's inclination could not be counteracted, and wisely agreed to his going into the Royal Navy. He had been educated at home by a private tutoi—the Rev. David Milne, after- wards minister at Edinkillie-who was now directed to turn the whole attention of his pupil towards studies most connected with his- intended profession. Two years later he was sent to ioin his grand-uncle, Commodore (afterwards Admiral) Robert Duff. Who com- manded at Gibraltar, with his flag on board the Panther, of 60 guns. Before he was six- teen years of age, this young sea-dog had been in thirteen engagements—in the American war. in the Mediterranean, and in the West Indies —and in consequence of his gallant services, he was at that early age made a Lieutenant. In October 1780 he was serving on the Mon- tagu of -74 guns when that vessel was blown out of St Lucia in a great hurricane, totally dismasted, thrown upon her beam ends, and in the greatest danger of being lost. Upon that occasion his manly exertions were said to have been very conspicuous- By the falling of one of the masts he unfortunately got a contusion on his right leg. wihich was healed with great difficulty, -and was often trouble- some to him during the rest of his life, par- ticularly in tropical climates. He was in the sarnie ship in 1782 when the largest ship in the world the Ville de Paris, was, with other French vessels, captured and brought to Jamaica. , ,. Upon the general promotion in the Navy, which took place in April 1804. Captain Duff was appointed to the command of the Mars, of 74 guns, and immediately proceeded to join her off Ferrol. He cruised off that port, and successively off Rochefort and Brest, as one of the Channel Fleet., till, in May, he was detached to Cadiz under Vice-Admiral Colling:- wood. whose small squadron of four ships of the line afterwards increased to eight, con- tinued to keep their station off that Port unawed by the arrival of the combined fleet, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, having in the end of September returned from England to re- sume tihe command upon that station, made a disposition of his increased force into twe divisions, one of which was to be led by him- Banffshireself and the other bv Vice-AdmiraFieldl Colling -Club wood. Rear-Admiral Louis having been de- tached to the Mediterranean with seven sail of the line. Captain Duff had the honour upon his departure, though there were senior captains in the fleet, to be appointed com- modore of the advanced squadron of four sail 62

of the line bv the recommendation, no doubt, of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, who selected the Hare to be second to himself in his division of the fleet. On 21st October, in the battle off Trafalgar. Captain Duff acted with such judgment and intrepidity that, though has ship sailed ill and there was little wind, he was the third in action, and was one of four ships which, owing to an unfortunate calm, had to maintain the conflict for a considerable time with the leeward division of the enemy's fleet. He continued to exert himself with the most undaunted heroism, having at one time to contend with no less than four of the enemy's ships till he was struck dead by a cannon shot one hour and five minutes after the commencement of the battle, about the same time that the companion of his youth, Captain Cooke was killed in the Bellerophon. and that their Commander-in-Chief, Lord Nel- son, was mortally wounded on board the Victory. „ Captain Duff was a man of fine stature, strong and well made, above six feet in .height, and had a manly, open, benevolent countenance. During thirty years service, he had not been four years unemployed. Al- though he went early to sea he lost no oppor- tunity of improving himself in the theory, as well as in the practice, of his profession and acted the part of an instructor and father to the numerous young men who were under his command. By his wife, he had five children. His son, thirteen years of age. had joined him as a midshipman on 19th Septem- ber. and. soon after his arrival on board the Mars, wrote exultingly to his mother that his father's ship had been put in the post of honour, next to Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in his division of the fleet. This spirited youth, who commenced his career in so interesting a manner, was, after the victory of Trafalgar, removed by Admiral "Lord Collingwood, with the kindest attention from on board the Mars to the Euryalus frigate, which was soon after Bent with despatches to England. The Hon. Captain Blackwood, the distinguished officer who commanded that, ship, undertook, in the handsomest manner, to continue to take Banffshirecharge of the son of hiFields respected frien Clubd Oaptain Duff, than whom, he was pleased to Say. "His Majesty's service could not boast of a letter or more gallant officer." In the Navy he was called Worthy Duff. The cannon shot that killed Captain Duff killed also two seamen who were immediately behind him. The ball struck the Captain on 63 the breast, and carried off his head. The body fell on the gangway, where it was covered with a spare colour, a Union Jack, until after the action. The Mars continued engaged during the whole of the action, fre- quently with fresh ships; but suffered from none so severely as she had done from the Fougueux—a raking fire from which killed Captain Duff—and that vessel continued to drift to leeward until she was engaged by others of our ships and finally captured by the Temeraire. When the battle had ceased, and it was generally known in the Mars that t'heir gallant Captain was killed, there was scarcely a dry eye among the crew. Every- one felt that he had lost his friend and bene- factor, and many exclaimed, "We shall never again have such a commander." We are in a position to follow the course of the Mars during the great contest. The vessel on her way down astern of the Belle- isle, suffered severely from the heavy raking Are of the ships ahead of her. tihe San Juan Nepomuceno, Pluton, Monarca. and Alge- siras. She attempted to break the line between tlie first two, but was driven in front of the San Juan by the Pluton, who followed and engaged her. Having already had her rigging and sails greatly damaged, she nearly ran on board the Santa Ana, and was raked by the Monarca and Algesiras, but was relieved of them by the Tonnant. She was them en- gaged by the Fougueux (who was at the same time firing into the Belleisle on the other side). and raked by the Pluton. An hour and a quarter after going into action her log records that "Captain Duff was killed, and the poop and quarter-deck almost left destitute, the carnage was so great." After this the Mars must have passed to leeward up the line into Nelson's battle, but her log is silent until the entry, nearly three hours after- wiards, that "the French Commander-in-Chief. Admiral Villenueve. with Captain of the Fleet -and retinue, came on board from the Bucen- taure, she having struck her colours." Thev were received by Lieutenant William. Hennah, who had succeeded to tie command of the Mars. The task of breaking the news to the widow Banffshirein Banff fell on the first FieldLieutenant of th eClub Mars, William Hennah. whose letter was in these terms:— "His Majesty's Ship Mars, off Cadiz, Oct. 27, 1805. "Madam,—I believe that a more unpleasant task, than what is now imposed upon me, can 64 scarcely fall to the lot of a person whose feelings are not more immediately connected by the nearer ties of kindred; but from a sense of duty (as first Lieutenant of the Mars) as being myself the husband of a beloved partner, and tihe father of children; out of the pure respect and esteem of the memory of our late gallant Captain, I should consider myself guilty of a base neglect should you only be informed of the melancholy circum- stances attending the late glorious, though unfortunate victory to many, by a public gazette. The consequences of such an event, while it may occasion the rejoicings of the nation, will in every instance be attended with the deepest regrets of a few. "Alas! Madam, how unfortunate shall I think myself should this be the test intima- tion you may have of the irreparable loss you have met with! what apology can I make for entering on a subject so tender ana so fraught with sorrow, but to recommend an humble reliance on this great truth, that the ways of Providence, although sometimes in- scrutable, are always for the best? "By this Madam, you re inll probability, acquainted' with the purport of my letter. Amongst the number of heroes who fell on the ever memorable 21st inst. in defence of their King and country, after gloriously dis- charging his duty to both, our meritorious and much respected Commander, Captain George Duff, is honourably classed: his fate was instantaneous: and he resigned his soul into the hands of tihe Almighty, without a moment's pain. "Poor Norwich is very well. Captain Black- wood has taken him on board the Euryalus, with the other young gentemen that came with him and their schoolmaster. "The whole of the Captain's papers and effects are sealed up, and will be kept in a place of security until proper persons are appointed to examine them. "Meanwhile. Madam, I beg leave to assure you of my readiness to give you any infor- mation. or render you any service in my power. "And am, Madam, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and most humble servant, BanffshireWILLIA FieldM HENNAH. " Club Rear-Admiral the Earl of Northesk also wrote to the widow of his grief that "my much- lamented and dear friend. Captain Duff fell in the action of the 21st, in the arms of victory, covered with glory." He knew what the widow must feel, "but my dear madam. 65

the consideration, of the sorrows of this life and the glories of the next, is our best support." Captain Duff was in the practice of writing- from day to day to hie wife in Banff. and despatching his letters as the opportunities occurred. Each time however on his return home, he always asked for his letters and destroyed them, thinking they were too bulky, and not of sufficient importance to be pre- served. Thus there were preserved only those letters sent during his last absence. Most of them were to his wife, but a few were to his brother-in-law. Colonel Dirom, then Deputy Quartermaster-General in North Britain. One to the latter reads— "I have frequently had to thank you for your kindness and attention, but never more than lately, since I have been ordered away. I beg my best wishes to all your family, and I hope you will make Sophia keep up her spirits." That was dated 7th May 1804 The same month he wrote to Mrs Duff—"I am glad to find our little George is better, and that, you have got into your new house. Many happy days 1 hope we shall enjoy in it together. In July he again wrote to Banff— "Yesterday was a great day with the Frenchmen, being the coronation of their Emperor. They saluted at sunrise. at noon, and at sunset; and all their ships were- finely dressed out with colours; but I hear they do not much like the dignity he has assumed. Yesterday, they say, was likewise the day they were to land in England; if so not a few of their heads will be broken by this time; but they will take a little longer to consider before they set out. In August' he wrote to his brother-in-law con- gratulating him on his promotion to tne posi- tion of Brigadier-General— "I congratulate you most sincerely on your promotion, and I hope you may long enjoy all yourgoo d things in health and happiness. It is not yet determined what they mean to do with our ship. I think she must go into Banffshiredock; but it is not certai Fieldn whether that ma Cluby be here or at Portsmouth. Many thanks for your attention to Norwich (Captain Duff's son). I hope, poor fellow, he will do well; he has not much to look forward to but what he must make for himself." In October he wrote home to his wife—"I am 66 sorry to hear such bad accounts of my father. I fear he has much failed, and that I have not much chance of seeing him again." This letter of March 1805 is surely affecting— "The French fleet have gone out of Brest Harbour and are anchored in Bertheaume Bay. We were within four or five miles of them, our in-shore ships just out of gun-shot. We are all clear for action, but it depends entirely upon them to come to it, or not. If they do. I trust we shall be victorious, and have a Lasting peace. They are at present four sail of the line more than us; but if we do our duty I think we shall give a very good account of them. Should I unfortunately fall, I hope that our friends will take care of you and our dear little ones. I have done all, my dearest Sophia, to make you and them comfortable, that our small funds would allow; but I am sorry to say they are very small indeed. I regret much you never would allow me to speak of making a settlement, nor would look at the one I had made. In May he wrote "I long much to be with you all and to see our young Miss Anne [born since his departure]. We are now very old married folks; this day fourteen years was the first time I could claim you as my own, and we have had very little of one another's society since we have been married This war must soon have an end, when I hope to re- main with you altogether: for we are now be- come rather an old couple, and do mot wish for a change. Indeed I do not think it ever was our wish. I may say, since we first knew each other. I frequently recollect with plea- sure our playing together when at school, at my father's. In short, it requires everything here to keep one's spirits up. so far from those we love." In the same month he again wrote his wife— "I have taken a prize to-day! About two o'clock a cask went close to us, and as I could easily get into my station again, I sent after it when at last we got it on board with a good' deal of trouble. It proved, I think, to be a hogshead of claret, which from the state of, and the number of barnacles upon, the cask, must have been at least several Banffshireyears in the water. The winFielde is quite. sound ,Club and I hope when settled will turn out well. I wish it was in Castle Street, such as it is; of course it is very thick at present, but a little time will let us know what our prize is." He could send a joke, too, from Cadiz to Banff, as witness this letter of June— "I have heard that the Spaniards expect a 67 line-of-battle ship and a frigate home with money; so we must keep a good look out for them. I hope, therefore, to be able to desire you to look out for a country house, and to order a carriage to be built for us." In September, his son. the future Admiral, arrived at the fleet— "My dearest Sophia will readily believe how much I rejoiced on Saturday last to see our boy. He is very well, and has not been in the least sick. All tihe rest are also well, though they have been sick during the pass- age. It was very fortunate my meeting with the Aurora, as I was ordered by the Admiral to speak a frigate off the Gut, before I went to Tangier; and in doing so, I fell in with our boy. and got him out. otherwise it might have been some weeks before he had joined me. I have for the present taken him into the cabin, to mess and sleep. He seemed very well pleased with his choice of a profession, and I hope will continue so." The yearning for home was strong. "I hope," he wrote on 1st October, "the Austrians and Russians will make quick work with Buona- parte, and let us get to our homes once more; when I expect to be an Admiral before I am called upon again." On the same day, the midshipman Norwich Duff wrote home to his mother that "we lead the lee line of the fleet, which, is the next best post to the Admiral." On October 17 the Captain sent to his wife in Banff "a moorish plaid, or whatever you may call it," the last gift she received from her attached husband. His last letter to his wife was written on the day of Trafalgar— "Monday Morning, Oct. 21, 1805. "My dearest Sophia,—I have just time to tell you we are going into action with the combined fleet. I hope and trust in God that we shall all behave as becomes us, and that I may yet have the happiness of taking my beloved wife and children in my arms. Har- wich is quite well and happy. I have. How- ever. ordered him off the quarter-deck. "Yours ever, and most truly, Banffshire Field"GEORGE DUFF. " Club And then after that a sad letter came to the widow in Castle Street. Banff— "My dear Mamma,—You cannot possibly imagine how unwilling I am to begin this melancholy letter. However, as you must un- avoidably hear of the fate of dear Papa. I write you these few lines to request you to 68 bear it as patiently as you can. He died like a Hero, having gallantly led his sihip into action, and his memory will ever be dear to his King, 'his Country, and his Friends. It was about fifteen minutes past twelve in the afternoon of the 21st of October when the engagement began, and it was not finished till five. Many a brave Hero sacrificed his life upon that occasion to his King and his Country. You will hear that Lord Viscount Nelson was wounded in the commencement of the engage- ment, and only survived long enough to learn that the victory was ours.—"then,' said that brave Hero. 'I die happy since I die victorious,' and in a few minutes expired. "We are now all on board the Euryalus, with the Hon. Captain Blackwood, and. in compliance with the wish of Admiral Colling- wood. are now on our way to England, that we may have an opportunity of more readily knowing your wishes respecting our future conduct. Captain Blackwood has indeed been. very polite and kind to me, and has requested Mr Dalrymple to let my uncle know, that on account of his acquaintance with my Papa, he will feel verv happy in keeping me on board his ship. "My dear Mamma,—I have again to request you to endeavour to make yourself as happy and as easy as possible. It has been the will of Heaven, and it is our duty to submit — Believe me, your obedient and affectionate son, "NORWICH DUFF." In St Paul's Cathedral there is a monument by Mr J. Bacon, .jun., sculptor, with this in- scription:—"Erected at the Public Expense to the memory of Captain George Duff, who was killed the xxist day of Octr. M.D.C.C.C.V., com- manding the Mars in the battle of Trafalgar, in the forty-second year of his age and the twenty-ninth of his service." Thus in the capital of tJhe empire are commemorated the services of the seaman who as a little boy amused himself among the shipping at the harbour of Banff or among boats in the river Deveron, and whose thoughts were ever re- curring to the loved ones he had left in our Banffshiretown of Banff. Field Club It should be added that among the tributes laid at the foot of the Nelson Column in Lon- don on October 21, 1905. was a laurel wreath bearing the inscription, "To the memory of Captain George Duff, killed at Trafalgar in command of H.M.S. Mars, and of his son. Admiral Norwich Duff, .present at the battle 69 as a midshipman in his father's ship." It was sent by two grand-children of the latter. Norwich Duff, Captain George Duff's only son was aged thirteen years two and a half months at the date of Trafalgar, being, as far as is known, the youngest officer, and pro- bably the youngest person, present. He was on board the Ajax in February 1807 when that vessel, taking part in the expedition to Con- stantinople, was completely destroyed by fire off Tenedos. nearly three hundred persons being lost. The young midshipman, who was among tihe saved, was in the Active in various actions off the Turkish coast between 1807 and 1811, and in the latter year he passed as Lieutenant in Malta. In 1814 he was promoted Commander and appointed to the sloop Espoir, and took part in the expedition up the Chesa- peake and the destruction of Washington and the disastrous attack on New Orleans. In 1822 he was promoted Post-Captain. and retired in the same year. He became A.D.C. to the Queen in 1849; in 1852 he was placed on the reserve list of Rear-Admirals, and became Vice-Admiral in 1857. He died in Bath, April 5. 1862. and there is a window in Bath Abbey dedicated to his memory. Mr Bulloch and Mr Barclay were cordially thanked for their papers.

Banffshire Field Club