The Newsletter of The Nelson Society Of , Inc. January 2009

The Australian Naval Cadets’ new ‘Dirk of Leadership’

Program of Events

All meetings begin at 7pm for a 7.30 start unless otherwise stated. St Michael’s Church Hall, Cnr The Promenade & Gunbower Rd, Mt Pleasant Please bring a plate for supper.

*Sun. 25 January. 11am — Annual Service Commemorating Admiral Nelson’s Funeral St Micheal’s Church, Gunbower Rd, Mt Pleasant

*Mon. 9 February. 7pm — BYO Picnic at Wireless Hill Park. Talk by Ted Pitts ‘Air Warfare v U Boats in the Atlantic in Early Years of WWll’

Mon. 9 March. 7pm — AGM. Talk to be arranged.

* See enclosed Notices for further details

Page 1. The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter. Jan 2009 Our celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Nelson’s Birthday 29 September 2008 at the RAAF Association, Bullcreek

Admiral Nelson and Captain Hardy!!

Chairman Mike Sargeant cuts the cake with a Trafalgar Sword Ayusha from Aboukir Bay. Nelson would have approved!

Capt. Brett Dowsing and Commodore David Orr Kiss me Hardy!! Jan Wilkie, Lilian Toomer and Jane Toomer

Cdr.Phillip Orchard RAN (Rtd) proposes the Toast. David Bennett Roger Pipe John Caskey and Bob Woollett

Page 2 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter. Jan. 2009 NELSON IN BRITAIN 2008 by David Shannon

Barely had the dust settled on the momentous bicentennial The service was attended by the county’s Lord Lieutenant events of 2005, when a fresh round of commemorations was and the Mayor of Norwich. organised to celebrate His Lordship’s birth in Burnham However I decided to give the event a miss and concentrate Thorpe on 29 September 1758. We are therefore officially on the following day, Monday 29 September as this was the into the sesqui-bicentennial (250th) period of Nelson’s life, sesqui-bicentennial day itself. I predicted many years ago which begs the question of whether the 250th anniversary of that I would be in Burnham Thorpe that day and what a day it Trafalgar in 2055 will be commemorated on the same scale was! Starting in the Lord Nelson inn in the village, some 60 as three years ago. Let’s hope so. members of The Nelson Society gathered for lunch. The day after I landed in UK, I attended the 1805 Club’s As I walked in I spotted many old friends whom I hadn’t seen Collingwood Years’ conference (13 September 2008), in, for a decade. After lunch, we all strolled across the green to appropriately, HMS Collingwood, the navy’s warfare All Saints for a service of celebration for the birth of Britain’s establishment in Fareham, Hampshire. greatest hero. We heard a number of experts taking us through the key The Nelson Society laid its floral display and then I laid our events of Collingwood’s post Trafalgar years in the Society’s, a creative arrangement of laurel and oak leaves, Mediterranean until his death at sea just five years later. The red, white and blue flowers and lavender, surmounted with a political and military manoeuvrings of each of the countries laminated miniature placemat from the Society’s dinner in involved were complex and even today interpreted Mount Pleasant on 29 September. In fact I was probably differently, but they were expertly unravelled by Professor laying the tribute at about the same time as you were toasting Eric Grove, a great presenter and communicator. Max the Immortal Memory! The significance of the floral Adams, who wrote the recent Collingwood biography was arrangement was as follows: laurel for the hero, oak for his also a speaker, and his analysis of Collingwood’s life was wooden walls, the flowers to represent the national colours much appreciated. Collingwood was not Nelson’s dour and lavender, the flower of Norfolk. Lavender also has a understudy as he had often been portrayed, but in many Nelsonian meaning. When at home in Burnham Thorpe ways he was the better seaman and administrator. during the ‘Peace of Amiens’ his uniform was washed and The conference ended with a black tie dinner and an spread over lavender bushes in the garden to dry and to opportunity to network with other writers and historians. I acquire a natural scent – a delightful story, full of meaning to was placed on a table with an American who had also just those present in the church, bringing home the humble flown in, on the basis that we could keep each other awake! background of Nelson. In the afternoon, we were all I had the opportunity of having breakfast the next morning entertained by the children of the village dressed as little with the best-selling naval author, Captain Richard Horatios! That evening, in the Lord Nelson, there was a Woodman, and a copy of our 2005 Nelson Yearbook celebratory dinner, at which, at the last moment (literally as I impressed him; when next in WA he promises to get in walked in the door!) I was asked to be the main speaker of touch. the evening. This I did, mentioning The Nelson Society of A fortnight later The Nelson Society held a black tie dinner Australia of course. It also gave me an opportunity to explain on board Victory. The 26 September dinner was chaired by that the toast to the ‘Immortal Memory’ was traditionally drunk outgoing Chairman Dr Nick Slope, and the entertainment in total silence and as is customary in HM ships, seated. This was provided by the Portsmouth Shanty Men. was appreciated by the three serving uniformed Chief Petty At 10pm I was called upon to make the presentation of The Officers who were at the dinner who told me afterwards that Nelson Society of Australia’s commemorative medal to Mrs in all circumstances they would remain silent and seated. It Anna Tribe, the senior direct descendant of Lord Nelson and was refreshing to have them at the dinner and proves that at Lady Hamilton. Mrs Tribe was very moved that she should all levels in today’s modern navy, the name of Nelson is still be so regarded by us, and thanked the Society most very much to the fore. sincerely. Her two children, Raglan and Mary have over the Also that evening some miles away in Great Yarmouth, last few years increasingly taken on speaking engagements Martyn Downer, the man who discovered the Davison and appearances at Nelson related events, and it is a tribute archive, gave a talk on the priceless Nelson material that he to the family that the Nelson name will continue to be led in had found whilst working for Sotheby’s. At that moment I was this way. in Burnham Thorpe at the dinner, so the report on page 10 The weekend of 27 and 28 September was fully occupied by was kindly penned for us by Derek Hayes the Vice President members of The 1805 Club, when they visited Norfolk and of The Nelson Society. Burnham Thorpe. A full service was held at All Saints The next series of events that I attended was The Nelson Church where Nelson’s father had been the incumbent for Society’s Annual General Meeting held in London. many years. The weekend kicked off on the Friday evening on a river

Page 3 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 cruise dinner. The riverside buildings have all been refurbished But Nelson events had not finished! On the Monday, over the years and, well lit at night, are a stunning sight, the Chichester branch of the Royal Naval Association especially the Houses of Parliament, the old County Hall and held its annual Trafalgar Dinner to which I was invited. Tower Bridge. I was surprised to find that the Paras Association also The AGM was marked by the departure of Nick Slope as turned up in force and many were Falklands veterans Chairman and the welcoming of Dr Keith Wood, who was who had been transported on board the RNA’s warmly greeted. Marianne Czisnik (author of the recent Nelson, carriers in 1982, where they had acquired a taste for A Controversial Hero) gave the customary talk, her subject naval tradition, Nelson in particular. Needless to say, being an analysis of Nelson’s letters. It has always been known it was the RNA’s contingent that dominated that Nelson was a prolific letter writer, but it is still surprising to Remembrance Sunday on 10 November and the next find that the bulk of his letters as a commander were day in Chichester Cathedral’s naval chapel, which is administrative. The traditional Trafalgar Dinner in the evening incidentally dedicated to the memory of Sir George was attended by nearly 200 at the Union Jack Club in Murray, one of Nelson’s trusted captains. Waterloo. The next morning, the Sunday, we all moved off to St Paul’s Cathedral for a special Trafalgar service and a laying of Well, that concludes the report. a tribute at the foot of Nelson’s tomb in the crypt below. All in Now it’s down to business and writing my next book. all, a fantastic weekend, far surpassing expectations.

Speech at the Presentation of the Nelson Society of Australia’s 250th Anniversary Medallion to Mrs Anna tribe JP OBE. Delivered by David Shannon on board HMS Victory, 26 Sept. 2008

"Lieutenant-Commander Whilde, Vice Presidents, Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, G'day! In the city in which I live, the main street through the business district is called St George's Terrace. A walk along the terrace past St George's Cathedral towards the cricket ground will eventually bring you to Wellington Street and Waterloo Crescent. A city in England perhaps? But wait - it gets better! Waterloo Crescent connects with Trafalgar Road, Nile Street, Horatio Street, Nelson Crescent and Nelson Avenue and finally Bronte Street. We have a magnificent new bell tower which contains the old bells of St Martins in the Field - the very bells that we believe rang to news of Trafalgar in November 1805. I should also tell you that in many suburbs one in three people have a British accent. You would all feel at home in this city. Where do I live? I live in the most isolated and remote capital city in the world - Perth, Western Australia, founded by a Royal Naval officer, Captain James Stirling 180 years ago. It is hardly surprising therefore to find that a Nelson Society should exist here. Created in 2001, The Nelson Society of Australia meets quarterly to hear a guest speaker, has an annual Pickle Night dinner and organises a Trafalgar service in St George's Cathedral every year. It produces a quarterly newsletter and it awards the 'Sword of Excellence' to a serving officer of the Royal Australian Navy who has demonstrated Nelsonian qualities in the previous year. It had good relations with the Royal Naval Association of which there are four branches in the area, and other naval, historical and patriotic societies. Members attend the RNA's flagship event of the year, the Trafalgar Dinner. There is a widely held view in Australia, to which I subscribe, that had it not been for Nelson's brilliance and personal sacrifice at Trafalgar, Australia today may be a French speaking colony. The Nelson Society of Australia's principal objective is to perpetuate the name of the hero of Trafalgar, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson. We are constantly seeking ways in which to do this. One recent project has been the striking of a medallion to commemorate the anniversary of His Lordship's birth 250 years ago. These medallions will of course be offered for sale to The Nelson Society here in Britain, but we felt that the very first one should be presented to a person with a special link to the past, and in particular to Lord Nelson himself. That person is of course Mrs Anna Tribe, Justice of the Peace, Order of the . Anna as you know, is a direct descendant of Nelson and Lady Hamilton and their daughter Horatia, not only that, but she can claim to be the senior descendant, having descended from the first born of the first born etc all the way back to Nelson. Anna has never shirked from doing her duty for The Nelson Society, she is always ready to give talks about her illustrious ancestor, to represent the society, and to do as we do, to help perpetuate the Immortal Memory. Therefore in recognition of her service, and of her unique position in the Nelson family, The Nelson Society of Australia would like to present this specially boxed 250th anniversary medallion to Mrs Tribe."

There followed a sustained round of applause, and a response by Mrs Tribe, in which she thanked the society for the gift and recognition of her service. She recalled well all of her events and outings with The Nelson Society, especially to Tenerife in 1997 and through Europe three years later, tracing the footsteps of her great great great great grandfather, both of which had been organised by David and Rajini Shannon. She was also proud that her son and daughter had begun to take on some of her 'Nelson' workload, which boded well for the future.

Page 4 The Nelson Society of Aus.Newsletter Jan. 2009 The Presentation at HMS Stirling of the ‘Nelson Sword of Excellence’ to the Winner, Lieut. Commander David E L Graham RAN Monday 13th 2008

The recipient, Mike Sargeant and Rear Admiral Nigel Coates

The Nelson Society visitors Lieut. Commander David E L Graham

Ron Ingham, the recipient, Alan Ingham and Mike Sargeant

Sword and Bottle Display Cases at HMS Stirling

Page 5 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 Trafalgar Day Memorial Service at St George’s Cathedral, 19 October 2008 Address by the Chairman, Mike Sargeant.

“May the Great God whom I worship, grant to my country However while Nelson well understood the necessity for and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and war, he wasn’t the warmonger that some historians have glorious victory; and may no misconduct in any one tarnish made him out to be; nevertheless it has to be admitted that it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant he enjoyed a good fight and he firmly believed that if you feature of the British fleet” ... the now familiar words of had to fight, you should fight fairly and you should fight to Nelson’s prayer, written on the morning of 21st October win! 1805, as the British fleet cleared for action against the And his plea for “humanity after victory” confidently combined fleets of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar. foreshadows the incredible, almost Herculean efforts made The prayer has been described as an example of almost by the British fleet to rescue as many enemy seamen as perfect English prose, and it’s certainly very eloquent, but they could in the terrible storm that raged for the best part more than that, it perfectly summarises Nelson’s values of a week after the battle, during the process of which many and beliefs. British lives were lost. Indeed, if it could be It captures the strength of Nelson’s faith in said that the British fought magnificently at God and his belief in the justice of the cause Trafalgar, their efforts following the battle with which he was entrusted. I think we were no less valiant, although of course sometimes forget that despite his reputation they had no way of knowing Nelson’s as a great warrior, Nelson was also a devout wishes; rather this was their response to Christian, a conviction that he maintained the age-old convention of the sea - that in throughout his life and to which he turned for the struggle against the elements, reassurance and support, particularly in humanity takes precedence over enmity. times of adversity and most notably, at the The prayer concludes: “For Myself, time of his death. Individually, I commit my life to Him that Although the combination of aggression and made me and may His blessing light upon religious fervour may seem a little my endeavours for serving my Country incongruous to many Christians today, faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the Nelson saw no contradiction between his just cause which is entrusted to me to faith – that preached peace on Earth – and defend" - and it is the manner of his his patriotism – that demanded an dying – his personal ‘crossing of the bar’ if aggressive defence of his country; indeed with the you will - that reveals his tremendous moral courage, exclusion of the church and the monarchy from French indeed the true measure of the man. national life, he perceived war with Revolutionary France Nelson knew, as he had known before every battle, that the as being not only a fight against a radical political risk of being killed was extremely high, and long before ideology, but also as a struggle for his faith, a struggle for Trafalgar he’d reconciled himself to the prospect of death in which he was quite prepared to make - and indeed made - action. It’s been suggested by some that he had a death the ultimate sacrifice. wish and that he deliberately set out to make himself an Perhaps no finer example of this combination of religious obvious target at Trafalgar. More extreme theories have devotion and patriotic zeal can be found than when Nelson even suggested that he was suffering an acute guilt held a service of thanksgiving in his flagship, VANGUARD, complex because of his very public affair with Emma on the afternoon following the battle of the Nile, an act that Hamilton and that as a result, he was suicidal! was followed by every ship in the fleet to the amazement Various arguments have been put forward in support of of the French prisoners who were mightily impressed that, these ideas, chief among them being the fact that he despite the need to secure their ships and prizes against insisted upon walking openly on the quarterdeck of possible counter-attack, the British could find time to give VICTORY during the action wearing a uniform emblazoned thanks to the Almighty for a victory gained. with medals and decorations. His wish that victory at Trafalgar should benefit “Europe in But it was accepted that admirals and captains should general”, reflects Nelson’s exceptional grasp of military remain on the quarterdeck during battle in full view of the strategy and geopolitics, and the call for the victory to be enemy; furthermore it was customary for them to do so in free of “misconduct” by all parties indicates a desire that full uniform. Once battle was joined there was often not the fight should be fair and in accordance with the much more that an admiral could do but observe, and he generally accepted rules of war that then obtained. was expected to set a good example by showing complete

Page 6 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 indifference to gunfire and the possibility of injury or death. More than two hundred years after his death the And far from being suicidal, Nelson wrote to Emma before tributes continue to flow, but let the final words rest with Trafalgar saying that he was looking forward to settling two of his closest associates; first from his chaplain, Dr down at Paradise Merton with her and their daughter, Alexander Scott who wrote of Nelson the man: Horatia, after the battle, and to resuming the life of a country “Let the country mourn their hero; I grieve for the loss squire - he even alluded to the possibility of them having of the most fascinating companion I ever conversed grandchildren! with — the greatest and most simple of men — one of But when faced with the certain prospect of a slow and the nicest and most innocent — interesting beyond all, painful death, neither his courage nor his faith deserted him. on shore, in public and even in private life. Men are not His major concern, apart from the outcome of the battle, always themselves and put on their behaviour with their was for the future wellbeing of Emma and Horatia. Although clothes, but if you live with a man on board a ship for in great pain, he was not at all anxious for himself; while years; if you are continually with him in his cabin, your expressing a desire to live a little longer, he knew that he mind will soon find out how to appreciate him. I could was about to ‘meet his pilot face-to-face’ and he was for ever tell you the qualities of this beloved man. I confident that he would acquit himself well in the court of have not shed a tear for years before the 21st of heaven. As he said to his chaplain, Dr Scott, “Doctor, I have October and since, whenever alone, I am quite like a not been a great sinner” and his last words, “Thank God, I child.” have done my duty” suggest grateful acknowledgement for And finally from his great friend Cuthbert Collingwood a life of service and fulfilled potential. who expressed his innermost feelings, writing after the The news of his death brought forth a huge outpouring of battle to his wife of Nelson the warrior: national grief on a scale never previously seen in Britain, “His loss was the greatest grief to me. There is nothing indeed some thought victory had been bought at too high a like him left for gallantry and conduct in battle. It was price. He was given the largest and most elaborate funeral not a foolish passion for fighting, for he was the most that London has ever seen; the procession was over two gentle of all human creatures and often lamented the miles long and included 31 admirals and 100 captains. cruel necessity of it, but it was a principle of duty which 8,000 invited guests crammed into St Paul’s for the funeral all men owed their country in defence of her laws and service which began at 2 pm and lasted for more than three liberty. He valued life only as it enabled him to do hours - but it was 9 o’clock that evening before the last of good, and would not preserve it by any act he thought the mourners left the Cathedral. He was buried under the unworthy… he is gone, and I shall lament him as long crossing of Wren’s great masterpiece; surely no greater as I remain.” ‘Amen Amen Amen’ honour could have been bestowed upon this son of a Norfolk parson who’d achieved immortal fame as perhaps his country’s greatest hero. Horatio Nelson was a complex character, of that there can be no doubt, but the overwhelming impression that one gets is of an incredibly resourceful individual with an incisive mind and a real concern for those around him - a born leader who knew instinctively how to get the best out of people. At the same time we shouldn’t be blind to his faults; as with all great characters from the past, the historical truth is often submerged in a sea of myth. In Nelson’s case, some of the myths were contemporaneous, but many of them were the product of Victorian efforts to sanitise the memory of A Marine Naval Cadet from England Nelson – to mould his image into a form that was socially acceptable to them. However, in doing so they debased Nelson and his many achievements, and we do his memory no favours if we forget that in spite of his many great qualities, Nelson was still a man and like all men he had his faults. Only by seeing him ‘warts and all’ can we pay proper tribute to his immense moral and physical courage, his acute sense of duty to God and his country and above all, his unparalleled leadership – and it’s encouraging to see that modern scholarship has gone a long way to retrieving the real Nelson from the mythological Victorian folk hero. Gillian Mead reads a Collect.

Page 7 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 At the service there was a Dedication and Presentation of the ‘Dirk of Leadership’ to be awarded annually to the midshipman Australian Naval Cadet who in the preceding twelve months has displayed a degree of leadership consistent with the standard set by Vice Admiral Lord Nelson. It will serve as an incentive to future midshipmen to strive for excellence in the leadership qualities they display in discharge of their responsibilities. The Dirk will be kept at HMS Cresswell, Jervis Bay and awarded at the conclusion of an annual training course for Australian Naval Cadets.

Congratulations to our member, John Ashworth, who thought up the idea and followed it through, and to the Australian Defense Credit Union for their sponsorship of the project.

Captain Brett Dowsing, CO HMS Stirling reviewing the Cmdr Angela Reeves, (English Naval Cadets) Australian and English Naval Cadets. The English cadets were Cmdr. Geoffrey Hurren, (Australian Naval Cadets) on tour in Perth for three weeks. They were especially selected from groups in South West England and paid their own fares to Australia, with some assistance from fund raising events. Their presence made the day very memorable for all concerned.

Page 8 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 Lt Col Graham Perkins Australian Navy Chaplain The Bugler Convenor Steve Gunther RN L/Cpl David Scott Richard Savage

Ready to toast the ‘Immortal Memory’ Perth Cadets

Cmdr.Geoffrey Hurren and Graham Perkins Canon Tony Murray Feist and the Rev. Joe Newbold

Ms Kaye Sewell and Commodore David Orr The United States Contingent

Page 9 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter. Jan. 2009 The Royal Naval Association Nelson’s Purse Trafalgar Day Dinner Norfolk Nelson Museum 29 September 2008 It was again a great success but it may be the last evening dinner as age is encroaching on its members and it will be The Nelson Decade produced much new Nelsonian easier to have a luncheon event. material but a dominating event was the discovery in Bavaria by a Sotheby's auctioneer, Martyn Downer, of a red morocco dispatch box and treasure trove, inherited from the Alexander Davison estate. It included Nelson's scimitar, medals, porcelain, his purse and, above all, correspondence between Fanny and Alexander Davison which showed new light on Fanny's character. To mark the 250th anniversary of the Admiral's birth, the Norfolk Nelson Museum in Great Yarmouth invited Martyn Downer to give an illustrated talk on his finds and the atmospheric Green Room in the museum was packed to capacity. The pleasure of the evening was enhanced by a glass of grog and Nelson cake, and all were grateful to the curator and Friends of the Museum for a most enjoyable evening. For those wishing to learn more, Mr Downer's book Nelson's Purse is now published in a Corgi edition Angela Cole Kennedy (Admiral Kennedy’s daughter) cuts the (ISBN 0 552 15085 1) and is recommended reading, Trafalgar Day Cake with Ivan Hunter standing by. written in an interesting style. Derek Hayes, The Saving of HMS Victory Vice President, The Nelson Society (UK) In the last edition of the Newsletter, mention was made of the near destruction of Victory in the early 1830s ('The Fate of HMS Victory' by Ann Coates). Ms Coates is not wholly correct in saying that "in October 1831, First Sea Lord Thomas M Hardy refused to sign the order for the old warship's disposal." In fact Hardy had signed the order to destroy Nelson's Trafalgar flagship, but the real saviour of the ship was Hardy's wife. He seems to have casually mentioned it over dinner one evening, and she was moved enough to convince him to rescind the order. The following is from John Gore's Nelson's Hardy & His Wife (London 1935) page 147: “It is a family tradition that one of his first official acts [as First Sea Lord] was to order the breaking-up of the Victory; and that he made the announcement to Lady Hardy at dinner; ‘I signed the Victory's death-warrant to-day’ and that it was her passionate pleading which secured the reprieve." One of our members received this first day cover from I can only add 'bravo Lady Hardy!' David Shannon with coinage and stamp celebrating Nelson’s birth.

Scotland Role in Nelson’s Time Scotland has a strong maritime past and contributed significantly to the . Five of the 27 Captains of the fleet’s warships were Scottish. In addition, Scotland’s industry contributed through timber products, sails from Baxter’s of Dundee, iron cannons from Falkirk and, most importantly, almost 30% of the 18,000 crew members hailed from Scottish towns and fishing villages together with Nelson’s doctor and the woman who embalmed his body when he died. In addition, Scottish children as young as 10 years old served as crew during the Battle – the youngest being a cabin boy from Leith, . Trees played a vital role in the Battle of Trafalgar. The fleet of 27 warships contained timber from around 50,000 oaks, representing roughly two million years of oak tree growth. Nelson himself acknowledged the importance of trees to the success of the British Navy and, in 1803, wrote to Parliament calling for more trees to be planted to safeguard ship building timber supplies. Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager for the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: “Our aim is to highlight the important role timber played in British Naval history. We want to get people thinking about just how pivotal timber was then, and remains today – not only to the navy but also in everyday life. Scotland’s trees are as important now as they were 200 years ago, and we can all do our bit to protect them, and to plant new ones. Some 39 local men and boys from Perthshire served alongside Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. A searchable crew database can be found at the Woodland Trust’s Tree For All website at: www.treeforall.org.uk/trafalgar/crewlist

Page 10 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 Talk given at the Annual Pickle Night Dinner by Betty Foster. 7 Nov 2008

Ye Mariners of England keep alive the extraordinary life of seaman/warrior That guard our native seas Nelson for generations into the future. Whose flag has braved a While browsing the net for ideas for this talk I came thousand ships across the start of another tradition also in memory of The battles and the breeze those momentous days from another place also called Tonight we have all come Perth. ‘Hundreds of local Perthshire school children will together to remember the famous join the Woodland Trust on Cloan Estate near Battle of Trafalgar and to honour Auchterarder, Scotland, to plant thousands of native vice Admiral Nelson. This is trees, creating the 25-acre Pickle Wood – one of 33 traditionally done at our ‘Pickle’ ‘Trafalgar Woods’ throughout the UK. The wood will be night Dinner. named after HMS Pickle one of the warships of the What makes an event a tradition? Trafalgar fleet, which was captained by a Scot, John The thesaurus says it is practice, Richard Lapenotiere. (We are querying that statement as convention, ritual observance, he was born in England. Perhaps his father was a Scot) unwritten law, habit or usage. Pickle wood will be planted on the Cloan Estate owned The Oxford Dictionary says tradition is the transmission of by the Haldane family, who are direct descendents of customs or beliefs from generation to generation. Admiral Adam Duncan – a famous Naval hero from Hopefully the next generation will maintain the traditions the Dundee and Lord Nelson’s naval compatriot.’ Nelson Society has established - the Annual Services in It seems traditions, in families with antecedents from the Commemoration of Nelson’s Death and Funeral and the Battle, are helping to keep the memories alive in both Pickle Night Dinner. Perthshire, Scotland and in Perth, Western Australia. Some of that generation will be my grandchildren who will Last month some of us were invited to HMS Stirling for have by then become custodians of naval possessions from the handing over to the latest recipient of the Nelson Trafalgar of their GGGG grandfather Cass Halliday. I am ‘Sword of Excellence’ — Lieutenant Commander David already working on the first one. At two she now recognises E. L. Graham RAN. Nelson’s face. It was a fitting choice as he had been in command of one The idea to have a dinner in memory of the ship ‘Pickle’ that of the smallest ships in the Australian Navy — a patrol brought the news to England, began originally in the Royal boat just like Captain Lapenotiere of the ‘Pickle ’in 1805 Navy over thirty years ago by the Warrant and Chief Petty and yet his job still needed the same attributes of Nelson Officers Mess at the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, to to be noticed by his peers. He introduced new methods help in a different way to keep alive the memory of the Battle of crewing these small but very important vessels that are of Trafalgar and to hold a silent toast to the man that made the used to patrol our vast coast lines. The amazing victory possible — Admiral Lord Nelson. coincidence is the recipient’s next posting was to HMS The tradition of Pickle Night dinners quickly spread around the ‘Nelson’, as the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth, Naval fraternity in England and then overseas down under to England, is now known. the Nelson Society in Perth and even to the New York Yacht While arriving at HMS Stirling for the ‘Sword of club. Nelson would be very chuffed to know that after his great Excellence’ presentation we noticed along the main triumph the littlest ship at the Battle— the ‘Pickle’, that never entrance road, separate signs displaying the words fired a shot, should be the reason to help remember his great initiative, integrity, honesty, courage and loyalty. These achievements in the new world 203 years later. For eight were some of the major attributes of Nelson that the years now this dinner has been a permanent date on our hierarchy look for in the recipients of the Nelson sword. calendar. We have continued ‘a transmission of custom’. So the men at Stirling are being reminded daily of these Our society has also started two wonderful new traditions with qualities as they drive into work. the ‘Sword of Excellence’ and the ‘Dirk of Leadership’. This is This man we are about to toast what was he like? Unlike the third year that the sword has been presented to an most country boys Nelson was a sickly child from the Australian Naval officer that has shown many of the start and grew up small and slender and so was not outstanding attributes of Nelson thus following in the footsteps physically fit for the strong role that in later life, as leader of the great man. and a fighting man, he was called on to perform. He The Dirk was blessed last month as an incentive for our young would have had to work on his personality and personal sea cadets to aspire to Nelson’s standards of leadership. dynamism to be noticed. Nelson was not a very Young men need good role models but they are very scarce in handsome man and losing an arm and an eye would not today’s society where film stars, footballers and rock have helped his appearance. So looks and size have musicians are their idols. These two awards will help nothing to do greatness!

Page 11 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 Admiral Nelson was an outstanding and strong nonconformist, because he didn't follow the old and traditional ideas, but creatively made his own way. Most important of all, the way to success was ‘military disobedience.’ and lateral thinking. At times he did not follow orders that he found useless or not according to his own concept. He sometimes lost ships or battles due to his disobedience, but the important battles he won in this way. He also developed new tactics on his own such as Pickle Night Table Setting the ‘Nelson touch’ in the famous and important last battle. He was a popular and well-liked leader in contrast to the usual relationship between English military leaders and their men. He appealed to the pride and feelings of his sailors. His connection to his men, apart from winning the most important sea battle in modern British history, was one more aspect that made him a hero of the common people in England. Nelson was definitely not perfect. Shortly after his dramatic success at the Battle of St. Vincent he undertook an ambitious plan to capture a treasure ship supposedly anchored at Santa Cruz de Teneriffe in the Canary Islands. This ill-conceived and tactically meaningless campaign concluded with him being badly wounded while storming the mole of Santa Cruz, his right arm so badly mangled that it could not be saved. Any other admiral might well have hauled down his flag for good and retired ashore. However Nelson only took long enough to recover from his wounds before he got himself assigned a new flagship. Always a romantic, the young Nelson was quick to fall in Lilian Toomer guarding the raffle prizes love with pretty young women, although his friends were able to warn him off the more unsuitable ones. Another weakness he had was his love of flattery. Lady Hamilton quickly discovered how susceptible he was to it and, like most mere mortal men, he was caught hook, line and sinker. In the years that have passed since the Battle of Trafalgar his reputation has not been surpassed, but rather has grown as the admirals of other navies have looked to his life for inspiration and tactical instruction. Although many admirals have been compared to him, none has ever been set above him. Alison Thomson Cynthia Lyall Hopefully long after we have all crossed the bar the tradition of presenting the ‘Sword of Excellence’ and the ‘Dirk of Leadership’ will continue in the Australian Navy and Nelson’s name and deeds will still be held in awe by its officers and men. Before we stand for our silent toast to the immortal memory I leave you with the words of Longfellow

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us Footsteps in the sands of time.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the Immortal Memory. David Bennett, Ann Penny and Patrick Fison

Page 12 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 Vale Ted Slinger Ted Slinger, an original member of the Nelson MEMORIES Society, sadly passed away in November. During WW11 Ted did 21 tours of duty in escorting the Sitting by the fireside idly watching the TV, Arctic Convoys in which 160 ships were lost. As a Reliving wartime memories from ‘the Victory at sea’; tribute to him, here on the right is a poem written by In came my grandchild, she had just turned four, Climbing on my knee she asked ‘was you ever in the war’. him for his granddaughter who is now in the British Air Force and has just completed tours of duty in I said ‘Yes my darling I served upon the sea Iraq and Afghanistan, keeping alive her As a young sailor to bring us victory grandfather’s sense of courage and duty. With many other sailor boys who would soon grow into men’. ‘Tell me your story PLEASE’, she asked and then….

How do you tell this innocence of the horrors of the war, Colin White and the fate of many countries and the tragic things I saw. It is with regret we record the death of Colin White, How death and destruction bring so many tears and sorrow, one of the leading Nelson authorities of our time Of the many little children who have no tomorrow. and a long standing member of the Nelson Society of UK. How mothers lost their loved ones, their husbands and their sons, How they died for freedom from the bombs, the mines, the guns. Of the horror of the battle and the life upon the sea, Film Evening at the Cygnet Of the ‘Faulknor’ the destroyer, which was my destiny.

For the Society’s last meeting of 2008 on 1st December, Of my shipmates in the ‘Faulknor as we sailed into hell, some 70 members and guests gathered at the Cygnet To fight for the motherland, a job we did so well. Theatre in South Perth to see Baz Luhrmann’s epic Of the battles through to Malta against E. boats, mines and guns, production, ‘Australia’. Although the film was over-long for Never fearing death close by for Britain’s fighting sons. some, it was difficult not to be impressed by the magnificent scenery, the awesome spectacle of the cattle Of the horrors of the convoys on the frightening Russian run. drive to Darwin and the heart warming performance of A shivering boy so cold and wet, as I set the fuses on the gun. Brandon Walters as Nullah, the young Aboriginal boy. Of the bombers and the U.boats as the convoys they did slaughter; The art-deco ambience of the Cygnet Theatre, together Of the wreckage and the bodies in the cold, cold, Arctic waters. with the delayed start and half-time break to change To tell her of invasions of the Isle of Sicily, projectors, made the venue an appropriate one for a film How we fought to put our troops on the shores of Italy; set in the 1940’s and reminded many of us of visits to the How in the Isle Agean, we put soldiers on the shore, pictures in our younger days. In addition to being a useful And the number of destroyers resting on the ocean floor. fund-raiser for the Society, the evening was enjoyed by everyone and maybe is something we should do again in Of the many sailor’s bodies on the bottom of the sea, the future. And the many times I wondered will the next to die be Me. Perhaps we could try to persuade the Cygnet Theatre to I cannot tell this innocence of the tragedies I saw, include one of the films listed below in their Sunday I thought it best to show her another side of war. morning program of old time classics. Our congratulations and thanks go to Lilian Toomer who So I told her of the Faulknor and of her happy crew, suggested the idea and coordinated the arrangements Of the apes that roamed Gibraltar and the Med which is so blue. and to Betty Foster who produced the elegant tickets, Of the wonders of the Alex. and the Gilly Gilly man, surely worthy of an invitation to a Governor's Ball. How the little chickens disappeared saying find us if you can.

I told her of the Dhaisas, of the harbour at Valetta, About the Colossus of Rhodes and how sparks flew from Mt. Etna. *What have these four actresses in Of the icebergs in the Arctic, with the little baby seals; common? How in that vast cold wilderness, there’s a beauty that appeals.

Geraldine James, Glenda Jackson, Corinne Griffith and Vivien Leigh. I told her how the dolphins would swim along the side, Jump clean out of the water then swim away and hide. Answer: They have all played Lady Hamilton. How the weather could be different and the midnight clear and bright 1. Geraldine James appeared in the Of the Aurora-Borealis with its lovely flashing lights. 1982 television series I Remember Nelson. 2. Glenda Jackson in the 1973 film Then I told her how I loved her and how happy I would be: The Nelson Affair. If she could go through life with love not fighting wars like me. 3 Corrine Griffith in the 1929 film To sail the mighty oceans and see this world of ours The Divine Lady. Where every port they berthed her ship, she was greeted there with flowers. 4. Vivien Leigh in the classic 1941 film Lady Hamilton (or to give it its American title by Ted (Ditchem) Slinger ‘That Hamilton Woman’ )

Page 13 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan. 2009 THE NELSON SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA INC Founded 2001 To advance public education in the appreciation of the life and character of Admiral Lord Nelson. Nelson was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar on the 21st October 1805. In the greatest sea battle, involving 60 ships of the line, over 3,000 men were killed, 3,500 wounded and over 1,000 reported missing.

The Nelson Society of Australia Inc Patron: Commodore David J Orr. RAN (Ret’d) Honorary Life President: Graham Perkins Honorary Chaplain: Rev Joe Newbold

COMMITTEE 2008-2009 Office Bearers: Chairman: Mike Sargeant Vice Chairman: Richard Savage Secretary Bob Woollett Treasurer Renee Almond Committee Members: Ron Ingham, Gillian Mead, (Minutes Sec.) Lilian Toomer, John Caskey, Rob O’Connor.

OTHER POSITIONS Newsletter: Betty Foster, (editor), Bob Woollett, (assistant editor) Ted Collinson and Rob O’Connor, (photos) Lilian Toomer. (distribution) Nelson Dispatch Distribution: Gwen Phillips

SUB COMMITTEES Memorial Service: Richard Savage (Chair), David Shannon, Ron Ingham, John Caskey, John Ashworth and Mike Sargeant. Catering: Elsie Paice (co-ordinator) and Renee Almond Pickle Night Bob Woollett, (co-ordinator) Betty Foster and John Caskey Reception: Cynthia Lyall and Ann Penny

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Title……….. Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………...Postcode……………………………………………….

Telephone……………………………………E-mail…………………………………………………………..

Membership Subscription — $30 Cheques to be made out to The Nelson Society of Australia Inc. Send to Membership Secretary, Bob Woollett, The Nelson Society of Australia, 28 Norfolk St, Fremantle, 6160 WA Phone 9335 7451

Page 14 The Nelson Society of Aus. Newsletter Jan, 2009 Printing courtesy of Jim McGinty MLA