The 1805 Dispatches #26.01 February 2026 2 of 7 This article, by Freddie Webb, of Iconic Media Group, appeared in The News in Portsmouth. A historic Union Jack which was flown during the Battle of Trafalgar could be lost overseas - with a campaign being launched to keep it in the country. The battle-scarred flag attached to HMS Royal Sovereign in 1805 may be sent abroad if a large sum of money can't be raised. It was at the centre of Lord Nelson's fleet that faced the ships of Napoleon and Spain. The government has placed an export bar on the Union Flag to allow time for a British buyer to be found and raise £450,000. Campaigner James Trotman has set up a fundraiser to support the cause.He said his family's deep connection with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines spurred him on to set up the campaign. "It's an iconic part of our history." he said. "I'd hate to see it go overseas. "I just thought there seems to never be any crowdfunding for these sorts of campaigns, so thought I'd set up my own. I'm probably not going to raise £450,000 individually, but any money will be sent to the institution that's leading on the fundraising through the Arts Council. "I have strong familial connections with Portsmouth. I'm not a fundraiser normally, but I thought it would be nice to raise some money to keep it in the country." James' father Michael served as a Sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy before transferring to the Royal Marines. He got married to his wife in the officers mess at the Royal Marines Barracks in Portsmouth, proceeding to service on HMS Ark Royal and various other vessels. The Union Jack flag is believed to have been made and maintained by sailors aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, making it entirely unique. It is constructed from hand-stitched wool bunting with a weighted edge - bearing bullet holes from the battle. HMS Royal Sovereign was the first vessel to engage the French and Spanish as part of a headlong charge into the enemy. Roughly 4,500 sailors lost their lives, including Lord Nelson. The British victory is recognised for establishing British naval supremacy across the following century. Mr Trotman hopes the flag can find a new public home and be preserved for future generations. He added: "Every schoolkid knows about the Battle of Trafalgar. It was a make or break fight. With Nelson's column in central London, the history reverberates around the country. "I'd love it to go somewhere connected with naval history and heritage, either at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or the National Maritime Museum in London, where it can be put up in pride of place." The export bar, in place until March 16. was implemented by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). Culture minister Baroness Twyeross said: "Few symbols in our country are as evocative as the Union Flag, and this flag in particular is an extraordinary representation of Britain's history and national identity." The fundraiser can be found at: crowdfunder. http://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savethe-battle-of-trafalgar-union-jack ROYAL WILLIAM YARD, PLYMOUTH HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN'S BATTLE-SCARRED FLAG Royal William Yard's landmark 200 Exhibition is open to the public, bringing together an extraordinary collection of original artefacts, historical documents and personal stories to celebrate the bicentenary of Plymouth's most magnificent industrial monument, which is the largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings in Europe. The free exhibition at Melville Corner showcases treasures from The National Archives, Devonport Naval Heritage Centre, Plymouth Proprietary Library and acclaimed local historians Chris Robinson and Richard Fisher, alongside captivating submissions from the public. Visitors can now explore two centuries of hidden history through this carefully curated collection. The display reveals the remarkable scope of Royal William Yard's operations, from feeding a global empire to the personal experiences of those who worked behind its monumental stone walls. https://royalwilliamyard.com
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