The 1805 Dispatches #25.05 October 2025 2 of 8 A plaque commemorating the life of a Cornishman who died at the Battle of Trafalgar 220 years ago has been unveiled in a musical service. Pte Richard Masters of the Royal Marines, from St Tudy, was only 21 when he was killed in action in October 1805 and buried at sea. Organisers said more than 100 people attended the service at St Tudy Church including dignitaries from around Cornwall, the Padstow Sea Cadets and members of the Plymouth Maritime Corps of Drums. Angela Aylward, of the St Tudy Historical Society, said: "He represents all the young men who went to battle for whatever reason and never came home." Ms Aylward, who instigated the honour, said it was a way of "bringing him home". "It's very rare, if not unique, for a man from the ranks and from a lowly background to be honoured in this way," she said. "His body would have been buried at sea in the heat of battle and, as they say, he would have had no grave but the sea, so that's why I was thinking the history group could do a memorial to him." Pte Masters was the son of a labourer and had been a member of the Cornish Militia before he was enlisted in the Royal Marines in Plymouth in May 1805. He saw action on his ship, HMS Thunderer, in the Battle of Cape Finisterre in July 1805, before he was killed at Trafalgar. The 1805 club, which helps preserve graves associated with Georgian era navies, partnered with the historical society to create the memorial. Honorary secretary Stephen Howarth said the plaque's location on the eastern wall of the church was fitting. "The strange thing is that there was a space on the wall where our plaque has gone, and which is grouped by amazing good luck near four family graves of the Masters family," he said. "It's as if that space had been waiting for us to fill it. "Something I found very touching indeed was that this event, which has actually been two years in the making, has resulted in a beautiful plaque which will be there for centuries." SEE ALSO PAGE 3 PRIVATE RICHARD MASTERS This story, by Erin Black, is taken directly from BBC News South West. All the images are by Jude Wilson, Clerk to the Trustees of The 1805 Club. Text from the website for RM Stonehouse: “Stonehouse Barracks is home to the headquarters of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, as well as a number of lodger units. RM Stonehouse acts as the nerve centre of 3 Commando Brigade, providing the command, control, and support infrastructure necessary for the brigade's operations, training, and overall readiness. It plays a crucial role in the organisation, coordination, and leadership of Royal Marines in order to fulfil their mission requirements.” But, RM Stonehouse is under threat of closure. The 1805 Club and the St Tudy Historical Society were invited to a private tour of the barracks, partly as a ‘thank you’ for Pte Richard Masters having been honoured with the memorial plaque at St Tudy church. we were first entertained by both RSM Gary (Charlie) … and Commodore ,,,, who gave us talks on Stonehouse and Richard Masters, respectively, followed by lunch and then a tour of the barracks, including an even more exclusive visit to The Globe – the disused theatre on the barracks, that cannot be used as funds are not available to carry out essential repairs. Sad. The visit was enjoyed by all, and was felt to be a privilege. A personal observation: As I drove into Plymouth, from over the Tamar Bridge, I soon encountered a gate into HMNB Devonport. I then looked at my car Satnav, and it told me there was still two and a half miles to my destination in the base! It brought home to me the size. RM STONEHOUSE
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