Trafalgar Night Talk by WO1 Mick Gentry RN

Little Ship Club

Trafalgar Night talk by WO1 Mick Gentry RN

The Battle of Trafalgar took place on 21st October1805, during the war with Napoleon of France, at sea off of the port of Cadiz.

The combined Spanish and French fleets had taken refuge in the port and had been blockaded by the British Fleet; it was only a matter of time before the fleets, out of necessity, would have to sail and encounter the might of the Royal Navy in open water - warfare is 98% waiting and 2% frightening action!

The British Fleet comprised some 27 ships of the line against a numerically superior force of 33. Measured in size by the number of guns they carried, the British Ships ranged from 12 to 100 guns, with schooners like HMS Pickle as the smaller and the likes of HMS Victory as the capital vessels. Made of Oak and crewed by drilled and highly-trained crews, the Royal Navy Warships represented a formidable foe!

HMS Victory had been chosen by the Fleet commander as the ship in which he wished to fly his flag; unlike the ADLS and LSC where the Flag Officer has her or his own vessel, Victory remained in the command of her Captain, Thomas Hardy; Admiral Lord Nelson, with his staff (committee) embarked in HMS Victory and commanded the Fleet.

Nelson’s correct title is rather long-winded and therefore abbreviated to Admiral Lord Nelson; his recognised title is ‘Horatio, Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronte and Vice Admiral of the White’.

Much of the commemorations today are centred around the Battle; it is recognised as pivotal in naval warfare, strategically and tactically; it was usual and expected of the time for opposing fleets to line up parallel to each other and literally run the gauntlet, each column firing broadsides as ships came to bear. Nelson developed, what was at the time, a totally innovative approach; he divided his fleet into two columns and attacked the enemy column at right angles, effectively separating his enemy into three groups and removing Villeneuve's command and control; a problem that he didn't have as he gave autonomy to his column commanders "No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy". A bold move that changed naval warfare doctrine.

Nelson, at the time of Trafalgar, was a famous person much akin to film and football stars today; women wanted to touch him for luck, people would queue in their thousands to see him, his courage and leadership was total and the faith of his crews in following him unquestionable - this of a slightly built man, just over 5 feet in height, sightless in one eye, missing an arm, and continually seasick! He wouldn't have got into the Royal Navy today!

So - to dinner....

In Royal Navy Wardrooms Officers dine to a specific meal and in between courses dispatches are read detailing the unfolding of the battle and the action that took place, the final despatch culminating in Nelson’s death, ‘thank god, I have done my duty’. Chocolate galleons are paraded to a single drummer beating ‘Lilibulero’ accompanied by much table banging, we don’t applaud in Royal Naval messes don’t ya know! Cannon balls (Maltesers) are thrown across the room (a chance to target that guy who Rembrandted you recently?) and several toasts complete the ceremony. The meal usually consists of a hearty broth, A Beef roast (usually Beef Wellington), and a steamed duff or baked tart to finish. All suitably named: ‘broth broadside’, ‘Fillet of Beef Nelson’, ‘Dessert au Victory’ for example. French cuisine titles! Wine is consumed of course....., mainly French! Mess members are entertained before dinner with a Royal Marines ‘Corps of Drums Mess beatings’ and during the meal by a string quartet or similar.

In 2005 Her Majesty The Queen dined with her Senior Royal Naval Officers in HMS Victory’s Great Cabin to Mark the 200th anniversary of the battle and, across the nation, Trafalgar 200 was widely celebrated. By contrast, the 100th Anniversary was a far more subdued affair; the government of 1905 had recently established an entent cordiale with the French and did not wish to upset them! There was, however, a gala evening held in the Royal Albert Hall, which concluded with the singing of both the National Anthem and the Marseillaise! It is of note that Lt Laponetiere of HMS Pickle was of French descent; the Trafalgar way was opened in 2005 to mark his epic journey.

In Royal Navy Senior NCO’s messes Pickle Night is celebrated, a week after Trafalgar...well we couldn’t have the entire command of the Royal Navy making merry at the same time could we - what an opportunity that would afford our enemies!

Pickle night is a more wholesome affair but no less formal; messes are decorated with bunting and tables are set up for dining in groups of twelve, much like the gun crews would have dined in warships of the era.... tonight our gun crews are sadly dispersed as we engage with a very different foe! Diners eat off of a square wooden platter where the whole meal (except the broth!) is served without shift or change. Dispatches cover the battle and culminate with Lt John Richard Laponetiere’s epic journey to Falmouth in the schooner HMS Pickle and his post-Chaise ride to the Admiralty in Whitehall bearing dispatches from the Battle and news of the death of Nelson. Dinner is similar to the Wardroom but, reflective of the time, more basic; Vegetable broth, Beef stew, steamed duff, all suitably named also, washed down with lashings of ale! It is common for diners to be entertained with Mess members dressed as sailors dancing the hornpipe and there is usually an ‘up spirits’ tot that precedes the dinner.

It is common today, in combined messes and maritime clubs, to hold a Trafalgar night that combines aspects of both dinners; Mess beatings, members wear Mess dress, eat a Pickle night menu, chocolate galleons paraded, despatches read; yet the Pickle Night lives on in many messes, and especially in the Senior Rates Mess in Gibraltar - not to be outdone, they have a ‘Pickle Weekend’!!

Both dinners, of course, culminate in the Loyal Toast; both messes are afforded the privilege of taking the Loyal Toast seated, a tradition from the days of sail when deckheads were low and standing was precarious!

On the occasion of Trafalgar and Pickle Nights there follows a short speech about Nelson, anecdotes of lesser known facts, or perhaps reminding members that the leadership and spirit of the time remains with us in the Fleet today; with other examples like Dunkirk Spirit and the spirit of clubs like our Little Ship Club embodying the history and spirit of our nations maritime past.

Following this short anecdote a toast to Nelson is made and mess members stand to toast ‘The Immortal Memory’, we have the privilege of being seated for the loyal toast, but not for any others. It is usual to repeat the toast as glasses are raised, .... this toast, apart from the proposal of it, is taken in complete silence.

And that’s my cue to offer you silence, or silence from me anyway! Madam Commodore, Esteemed members of The Little Ships Club, pray charge your glasses with your best Port and join me back at your screens.

By Madam Commodore’s leave, will you all please stand, raise your glasses and drink, in silence:

‘To the Immortal Memory of Horatio, Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronte and Vice Admiral of the White, and all who fell with him’

Madam Commodore, it has been an honour to join you this evening , please may I wish you and our gathered company ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’.

Today, together, and as a nation, we face a very different fight; across the breadth of the entire world all are joined together to fight an invisible foe, may we all soon enjoy the equivalent enduring success that Nelson achieved on that historic day.