1 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 THE 1805 DISPATCHES THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE From The Chairman, Capt. John Rodgaard USN (Ret) Fellow 1805 Club members, from my view outside of our kitchen window here in Northern Virginia, I can see our daffodils are in full bloom and the surrounding trees are bursting with pink and red blossoms; spring has arrived at last in this part of North America. Change is definitely in the air, and that can be said for our Club as well. You will see on the following page that our Club is looking to recruit from you, our members, for positions with the Club’s Trustees and Council (see page 2. Ed.). It is certainly an opportunity for you to become more engaged in your Club. You will note that our position for Clerk to the Trustees is a position that provides an honorarium. If you have any questions about these positions, do contact me directly at chairman@1805club.org Club events started off well during the first two months of the year. In January, myself and Dr. Judy Pearson met with Canon Carlisle Vyphius, the Rector of The Parish of St. George’s and St. John’s Anglican Churches, Nevis, and his Vestry to brief them on the current status of the St John Figtree Parish Register’s conservation. We also met with the President of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS), Mr Richard Lupinacci, and briefed him on the register and the Nelson uniform display case. Mr Lupinacci took us to tour the historic Bath Hotel, which the NHCS is in the process of restoring. The Bath Hotel was where the newly married Nelsons held their wedding reception. You will see in these pages that February was an active one for the Club. Thanks to our US Secretary, Pete Stark for organising another successful Battle of Cape St. Vincent luncheon, which showcased the little ships. Later in the month, fellow club members, the Honorable Jarion Richardson, MP and Captain Alan Brooks, RN Rtd, represented the Club at the annual Midshipman Dale Commemoration Ceremony at St. Peter’s Church, St Georges, Bermuda. Mr. Richardson presented the Club’s wreath. Thank you Jarion and Alan. I hope to be with you next year. With regard to the Nelson uniform display case, I am happy to report that EXPLUS, the company The Club has contracted to construct the case, has begun building it. EXPLUS anticipates completing it by 1 April (see page 3. Ed.). However, we are approximately $4,000 dollars short. You will note in this edition, our Flagship fund-raising programme. But, if you are not in a position to enhance your membership via the three levels, you can donate specifically for the display case. Every little bit helps. Speaking of shortfalls, I am pleased that we have received a flurry of members renewing their membership since January. However, many of you renewed at the old rate of £40.00, when it is now £45.00. Our Club would greatly appreciate it, if those who renewed at the old rate would go to www.1805club.org and click the ‘Join the Club’ button, where you will see on the lower right the donate button. You can either donate via PayPal our use your debit or credit card. While you are at it, add another fiver. Finally, I want to thank many of you for your well wishes, especially the suggestion that I should have a parrot. The surgery for repairing the ruptured right patella tendon was a success. I am hoping that I will be out of this massive leg brace by the time I attend our AGM on 25 May. Yours aye, aka Peg Leg Johnny At the time of writing this, I am very relieved and happy to have today approved the final proof of the book, The Cornwallis Memorial Decade, produced and published by The 1805 Club and the Milford-on-Sea Historical Record Society (MoSHRS) to recognise the effort that has been contributed by both organisations towards the successful installation of the nation’s first memorial to Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, in June of last year. The CMD book will be issued to all members of the Club, as it is being dispatched with the Spring edition of The Kedge Anchor, due out in late April. I am pleased with how the book has turned out, so I hope you like it. Elsewhere in this TD you will find news of the Nevis Project, the Dale Commemoration in Bermuda, a Cape St Vincent Lunch in Virginia, some murals in Brixham, Devon and a very busy looking Events Diary on page 6. But most importantly, you will also find the chance of a job for our Club, on page 2! EDITORIAL Newsletter of The 1805 Club An English 74-gun ship (Detail) By J J Baugean Image from John Harland’s book, Ships & Seamanship, The Maritime Prints of JJ Baugean Chatham Publishing 2000 ISBN 1 86176 143 0
2 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 IMPORTANT JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS Founded in 1990, The 1805 Club is an international charitable organisation that commemorates and educates about the history and heritage of the age of sail, during the Georgian era (1714-1837), and the influence this period has played on the maritime world up through the present day. It is registered to the Charity Commission for England and Wales as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), number 1201272. The Club’s activities encompass: events, publications, projects, research and education about naval history and the lessons to be learnt from it in today’s world. The Club owns a number of valuable databases relating to ships, mariners and monuments of the era and has ambitions to create a single, authoritative virtual museum to house and display its numerous and growing collection of online exhibits – articles; talks; original digital material, including its databases. Through the museum, people across the globe will be able to explore and learn about the topic, and academics will be provided with valuable source material. There will be commercial benefits too, which will support further maintenance of the Club’s resources and provide funding for new projects and research. RECRUITMENT OF CLERK TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE 1805 CLUB Following the Club’s recent transition to a CIO and in the context of its plans for development, the trustees have decided to recruit a Clerk with an interest in the charity itself and its objectives; experience and knowledge of charity law and regulation, and an under-standing of committee work. The Clerk’s duties will include: 1. advising the trustees about the Club's constitution and charity rules and regulations; 2. assisting the Chairman in drawing up the agenda and papers for trustee meetings; 3. preparing minutes and maintaining the minutes register; 4. maintaining the formal registers of trustees and trustees' interests; 5. liaising with other trustees and officers, in particular the Membership Secretary and the Treasurer; 6. organising the order of business for the AGM; 7. filing required documentation to the Charity Commission for England and Wales; 8. keeping a register of the Club’s main contracts and formal correspondence. The Club’s trustees usually meet every two months via Zoom. The post will be of great interest to the right person. The budget contains provision for an annual honorarium of £500. For further information please contact the Treasurer via email – treasurer@1805club.org RECRUITMENT OF A COMMITTEE OF MEMBERS TO DETERMINE CLUB POLICY ON MARKETING, FUNDRAISINGANDADVERTISING As has been mentioned elsewhere, the Club has to demonstrate that the members are contributing to the Club’s charitable projects, and not simply enjoying the benefits of being a member. This means that fundraising has to be more seriously addressed than perhaps it has been hitherto. To this end, we intend to identify members with experience of marketing, fundraising and/or advertising and appoint those suitable, and with some spare time, to a committee with the power to reorganise such Club activities. 1. Marketing refers to publicity for raising membership and for promoting events. 2. Fundraising refers to encouraging donations and finding new income streams. 3. Advertising is double-edged, and refers to both advertising of the Club to the outside world and whether or not the Club’s publications should accept advertising from outside bodies. 4. There is also the matter of how to organise the giving of advice to members, or others, seeking the Club’s expertise in selling their artefacts, such as heirlooms. For further information please contact Kathy Brown via email – kathy.1805club@gmail.com The 1805 Club is a club, the clue is in the name. But what all of us must remember is that the Club is a charity, originally created to find memorials to past naval personnel of the long Georgian period and to try our best to ensure that they be properly remembered. To further this end we also encourage and support research into naval history and find ways to improve its education. None of this is cheap if it is to be done well, and ‘done well’ is the only way to do things. In common with all other charities, we can only fully carry out our promises if we can raise enough funds to do so. In future publications you will see a reminder that there are ways to make a donation, whenever you might find a bit of surplus cash, together with ways to purchase merchandise and secondhand books that have been kindly donated to the Club for the very purpose of fundraising. Give at our website: http://1805club.org/ or use these links: http://bit.ly/1805ClubFlagshipFund or http://thetrafalgarway.org/
3 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 ‘CAPE ST VINCENT’ LUNCH UPDATE ON THE NEVIS PROJECT On Saturday, 10 February 2024, US East Coast members of The 1805 Club gathered at the Hummingbird Restaurant in the Hotel Indigo in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia to remember Nelson's victory at the 1797 Battle of Cape St Vincent. After lunch and lively conversation, Chairman John Rodgaard gave an update on Club projects. Then all participated in a brief re-enactment of the battle, with miniature ships. Hip, Hip, Huzzah to US Secretary Pete Stark for organising this event! Top: Round the table: Left to right: John Rodgaard, Peter Pennington, Mary Frances Jetton, Pamela Prevar, John Prevar, Pete Stark, Chris Kutz, John Schneider, Nathan Bien, Judy Pearson, and Katherine Lincoln. Bottom: Left to right: Chris Kutz, Nathan Bien, Pete Stark, Peter Pennington, John Rodgaard, Katherine Lincoln, Judy Pearson, John Schneider, John Prevar, Pamela Prevar, and Mary Frances Jetton. Photos by Judy Pearson PS: FYI Pamela Prevar and Mary Frances Jetton are spouses. The Nelson Uniform Project is reaching another milestone! On 15 March, The 1805 Club Chairman John Rodgaard, US Secretary Pete Stark, and Judy Pearson made a field trip to EXPLUS, the company in Sterling, Virginia that is crafting the display cabinet for the replica of Horatio Nelson’s captain’s uniform that will be shipped to the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society for placement in the soon-to-beopened Nevis Maritime Museum. By way of background, The 1805 Club maintains a special interest in Nevis in the West Indies because that is where then Captain Horatio Nelson patrolled the waters in HMS Boreas to reinforce the Navigation Acts, and where he met and married Frances Nisbet in 1787. In the early 1990s, The Club arranged with master tailor, Keith Levett, of Henry Poole and Co., Savile Row, London, to fabricate a replica of Nelson’s captain’s uniform as a gift to the Nevis Nelson Museum. The old uniform became worn in the humid climate, the tailor found it contained some inaccuracies, and the museum closed just before the Covid pandemic. Last year John Rodgaard retrieved the old uniform and returned it to Henry Poole & Co. at their request. Some years ago, Keith Levett having found that the uniform was not accurate, began work on a new uniform and tricorn hat, based on Nelson’s measurements and using materials that would have been used for Nelson. The ensemble was unveiled at the 2023 AGM, much to the delight of everyone in attendance. Since that time, the uniform and hat have resided at the Pearson-Rodgaard home in Virginia, awaiting the manufacture of an environmentally-controlled display case that will hold the uniform when it is on display at the Nevis Maritime Museum. John, Judy, and Pete took the uniform to EXPLUS and put it on a mannequin to get a preview of how it will look on exhibit in the Nevis Maritime Museum. They met with Project Manager Matt McDermott and Preservation Specialist Tessa Lawson on the factory floor. They estimate that the display case will be ready for shipment in sixty days. Look for more information about this project in the Spring edition of The Kedge Anchor, out in April. For the photo from Judy Pearson, of four people, they are left to right, Tessa Lawson, EXPLUS Preservation Specialist, Matt McDermott, EXPLUS Project Manager, John Rodgaard, The 1805 Club Chairman, and Pete Stark, The 1805 Club US Secretary.
4 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 The annual Midshipman Richard Sutherland Dale Commemoration took place on 24 February 2024 in St Peter’s Church in St George’s Bermuda. The ceremony recalls Dale’s death, at the age of 20, following the battle between HM Frigate Endymion and US Frigate President on 14 January, 1815. After President’s surrender, both ships were dismasted in a storm and made their way to Bermuda. During the battle, Dale was wounded, shot in his leg. En route to Bermuda, his leg was amputated. Upon reaching Bermuda, Dale was housed at the Stennet Hotel, where he died. He was buried in the graveyard behind St Peter’s Church. Dale was the last US Navy officer to die in the War of 1812, ironically weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed. His is the only known US war grave on Bermuda. The commemoration of his death began in1 1932, initiated by US Navy Captain Scarritt Adams. The afternoon event, hosted by Friends of St Peter’s Church usually takes place on the town square with a procession to the graveyard. This year’s ceremony, however, was held inside the church due to rain. First, under the guidance of Lt Commander (SCC) Michael Frith, the TS Admiral Somers Sea Cadets lined up for inspection by Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie, Governor of Bermuda. Joining Governor Lalgie in the official party were The Worshipful Quinell Francis, JP, Mayor of St George; US Consul General Karen Grissette, and fellow Club member, The Honorable Jarion C. Richardson, JP MP. The officiants were Reverend Marie Loewen, Interim Rector of St Peter’s Church and The Reverend Canon John Mark Stow, of The Friends of St Peter’s Church. 1805 Club member Captain Alan Brooks RN, Retd also attended. The ceremony consisted of Bible readings, prayers, and the singing of the UK and US national anthems. Governor Lalgie laid a wreath of white passion flowers on the altar on behalf of King Charles. She also represented Mrs. Louise Hall Reider for the Dale family, in honour of her deceased father, Captain Scarritt Adams USN. Consul General Grissette laid a wreath on the behalf of the American People. The Honorable Jarion Richardson laid a wreath on the behalf of The 1805 Club. Photos and Captions 1: The TS Admiral Somers Sea Cadets stand at attention. (BerNews) 2: A Sea Cadet Salutes Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie, Governor of Bermuda. (BerNews) 3: A Sea Cadet salutes MP Jarion Richardson. Photo courtesy of Alison Outerbridge. 4: The officiants at the altar with wreaths. (BerNews) Inset: The wreath for The 1805 Club. Photo courtesy of Alison Outerbridge. 3 2 1 4 MIDSHIPMAN RICHARD SUTHERLAND DALE COMMEMORATION By Dr Judith E Pearson SHIP’S WORD WHEEL Take a ten-minute break and find as many words as possible, using the letters in the wheel. Each must use the hub letter and at least 3 others, used only once. No plurals (if only made by adding an ‘s’ or ‘es’), no foreign words not in common usage in English, nor proper nouns. There is at least one nine-letter word to be found. 30 = Average; 45 = Good; 65 = Amazing! Answers on last page Remember that there is a whole treasure trove here https://www.facebook.com/ The1805Club/ Here is a reminder from your Editor that among its many other virtues, The 1805 Dispatches newsletter exists in order to give Club members an opportunity to tell everyone else their news. We are a Club of people with interest in eighteenth-century naval history, but we are more than that, as experienced by anyone who has been able to attend any of our events. With such like-minded people real friendships can often develop. Look now at the Events Diary on page 6, to avoid missing a chance to meet up. Please tell us about the things you enjoy, particularly if they involve the Club or similar activities.
5 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 Devon member of The 1805 Club, Jenny Ridd sent us an article from the Torbay News, by Julian Barnes, which it is hoped you will enjoy. Below is an extract from the full article which can be seen at: https://www. torbayweekly.co.uk/news/home/1408447/brixham-set-to-receivestunning-new-murals.html Brixham is set to receive a splash of colour after new murals were designed to showcase and celebrate the town and the local community. Over the last few years, the walls, gable ends and alleyways of Brixham that may usually go unnoticed have been transformed into enormous painted murals, depicting various parts of the Brixham's rich cultural heritage. Brixham Future, a community interest company that works on ‘microregeneration projects’, is the organisation behind many of the murals around town. With funding from Brixham Future's lottery and a recent National Lottery grant, the streets of the town have become a treasure chest of hidden art pieces. All murals are created by artists local to Devon. Now, Brixham Future is in the process of commissioning another set of murals, this time linked to the Poetry and Literature Trail. Three have already got funding in place. “They are all still very much linked to the local area,” Sasha explained. “One celebrates Fish Town and Cow Town, one is just to show how difficult and dangerous it can be to be a fisherman, and another commemorates Horatio Nelson, who was stationed here in 1801 when the fleet used Brixham as a base to prepare for the Battle of Copenhagen. He wrote a letter to his lover Lady Hamilton from Brixham on the birth of their lovechild.” After the recent consultation is reviewed, it’s hoped that all the new murals will be ready for the summer. See the new designs shown here. But, be warned, these clever images look real, but the murals may not all have been completed when you get there. Hunt the mural, with your fingers crossed … BRIXHAM’S MARITIME HERITAGE ON SHOW
6 of 6 April 2024 The 1805 Dispatches #24.02 THE 1805 CLUB Founded in 1990, the Club: ・Promotes research into and education about the Royal Navy, merchant maritime service and other state navies of the same era; and ・Promotes and engages in the preservation of monuments and memorials relating to the Royal Navy and seafaring people of the later sailing-navy era; and ・Organises relevant cultural, historical and social events. The Club is charity No. 1201272, registered in England and Wales. Individuals desiring further information may contact: Stephen Howarth, Hon. Club Secretary, The 1805 Club Nottingham, UK Email: secretary@1805club.org Telephone: 07973 717618 For a membership application form please contact: Dr Sue Carr, Hon. Membership Secretary, The 1805 Club London, UK Email: membership.secretary@1805club.org Or: Harold E (Pete) Stark, Hon US Secretary, The 1805 Club Annapolis, MD, USA Email: the.americas.membership.secretary@1805club.org Telephone: 410-269-9760 (mobile) Or: Mark Billings, Hon Canadian Secretary, The 1805 Club Montreal, Quebec, Canada Email: canadian.membership.secretary@1805club.org Telephone: 1-514-296-1641 Peter Turner, Hon. Editor of The Kedge Anchor and The 1805 Dispatches Aldeburgh, Suffolk, UK Email: ka.editor@1805club.org Telephone: 07903 251008 The Newsletter for Anyone Interested in The 1805 Club PURPOSE. The purpose of this newsletter is to support and advance the Club’s objectives. The newsletter provides anyone who is interested with brief items of news about the Club and its activities, in the hope that the it can help the Club attract wider interest in naval history and new members. Much of the content will be a précis of articles that will appear in The Kedge Anchor, the six-monthly club magazine. EDITORIAL POLICY. The Editor has full editorial responsibility for the newsletter. Views expressed in the newsletter are those of individual authors, unless claimed by the Editor. Articles which appear do not express the official position of The 1805 Club on any subject unless specifically noted as such. Content of contributions to the newsletter may be edited for grammar, space allocation, or to better serve the purpose of the newsletter. Contributors wishing to be alerted to editorial decisions should notify the Editor at the time that their contribution is submitted. Otherwise the submission will be published within the scope of the editorial policy. ISSUE AND COPY DATES The proposed issue dates for The 1805 Dispatches are: February, April, June, August, October and December. Anyone wishing to contribute an article or news item to the Editor for inclusion in the newsletter should do so by the middle of the month preceding the issue in which it is to be inserted. Any articles that are not time-specific can be submitted at any time, with a note advising the Editor of that fact. All copy is welcome, but not all copy may be used! Messenger, emerges, geneses, negress, nemeses, reneges, egress, emerge, emerse, emeses, germen, greens, greese, meneer, menses, mergee, merge, renege, reseen, resees, seemer, serene, sneers, emeer, emerg, geese, genes, genre, germs, gerne, gesse, green, grees, grese, mense, merge, merse, mesne, neese, reges, remen, resee, reses, seems, seers, semee, semen, senes, sense, seres, serge, smees, sneer, snees, erne, esne, esse, gene, gens, gere, germ, gree, meer, mene, meng, mere, mese, mess, neem, ness, reen, rems, rens, seem, seen, seer, sees, segs, seme, sene, sens, sere, sers, sese, smee, snee SHIP’S WORD WHEEL ANSWERS Taken Aback has nothing to do with keeping your library books too long, but is said at sea of a vessel or sail having a sudden wind against the forward side so as to prevent forward motion. Ashore, it has come to mean shocked by something unexpected. NAVAL TERMS THAT HAVE ‘COME ASHORE’ EVENT DATE EVENT TITLE EVENT DESCRIPTION CLUB LEAD 25 May 24 Club AGM and Members’ Day AGM and Members Day at Army and Navy Club (The Rag) London. Expert Lecturer – Paddy Rodgers, CE Royal Museums Greenwich Stephen Howarth 28 May 24 Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire Private view of three solid silver Patriotic Vases Stephen Howarth 1 Jun 24 Battle of the Glorious First of June Celebration of the 230th Anniversary of the Battle – at Langar Hall, Nottinghamshire Stephen Howarth 15 Jun 24 Tour of Nelson exhibit items, Mariners Museum, Newport News, VA Tour of those items not currently on display at the Mariners Museum dealing with Lord Nelson Pete Stark Jul 24 Visit to Haslar RN Hospital and Buckler’s Hard Museum Club visit to these fascinating historical sites Stephen Howarth 3 Aug 24 Battle of the Nile Commemoration Luncheon or Dinner to commemorate the Battle of the Nile Pete Stark Mar 25 Return of St. John’s Figtree Parish Register, Nevis Ceremony jointly held by The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and The 1805 Club Richard Lupinacci Stephen Howarth John Rodgaard & Pete Stark Mar 25 Presentation of Nelson’s captains uniform Ceremony jointly held by The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and The 1805 Club Benedict Ryan, John Rodgaard & Pete Stark 19 Oct 2024 Trafalgar Night Dinner Trafalgar Night Dinner at HMS Nelson Wardroom, Portsmouth Stephen Howarth 20 Oct 24 Trafalgar Night Dinner Country Club of Fairfax, Virginia Mess Dress/Black Tie (Limericks essential) Peter Pennington EVENTS DIARY This is a schedule of some forthcoming 1805 Club events, so please put the dates in your own diaries.
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