The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 1 of 6 THE 1805 DISPATCHES Newsletter of The 1805 Club EDITORIAL THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE From The Chairman, Capt. John Rodgaard USN (Ret) The preparation of this TD coincided with the final work on this spring's edition of The Kedge Anchor, which is a Bumper Edition this time. To balance things up (not least my working time) this TD is therefore shorter than it often is. Nevertheless, I hope it is equally enjoyable and/or interesting. Ahoy fellow Tars! This is my final View from the Bridge as your Chairman. I hope it finds you well and, if you live in the northern hemisphere, enjoying the spring weather. I will soon wrap up my term as a trustee and chairman. The provisions of the Club’s Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Constitution state: ‘at every subsequent AGM of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charities trustees must retire, or if one-third of the number is not three or a multiple of three.’ Then, the trustees who have been the longest in office must step down. Well, myself and the Club’s Honorary Secretary, Stephen Howarth were the two trustees that were carried over from the old charity, and we have served the longest since the Club became a CIO. So, at the end of the AGM, we’ll be piped over the side. Hopefully, we’ll not be thrown over the side. In the meantime, there are loose ends, bits and bobs remaining for us to ensure a smooth transition. It will become clear to the membership at the Club’s AGM in May. We do hope many of you can make it to the Army & Navy Club, The Rag, on Saturday 9 May. Speaking of tying up loose ends and taking care of bits and bobs, the Club has undertaken several projects that we hope will come to completion this year. In reverse order we have the unveiling of the ‘Bermuda Board’ at St George’s Bermuda. As you will see in the latest edition of The Kedge Anchor, Judy Pearson and I participated in the annual wreath laying ceremony at the graveside of Midshipman Dale in February. That week, I met with the St George’s Town Manager to iron out loose ends for the board. We have penciled in Bermuda’s Remembrance Sunday, 8 November for the unveiling of the board. By the way, Bermuda’s weather in early November is mild and pleasant. We hope several Club members will attend. In August, one of the Club’s longest standing projects is scheduled for completion. See this link, https:// www.1805club.org/resources/1805_ www4/books/KA-Issue-39-S/. George Forbes was the sailing master of HMS Swiftsure at Trafalgar. A plaque and a bench will be unveiled near his grave in a kirkyard near the hamlet of Logie Coldstone, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Many thanks to Stephen Howarth for his perseverance on this project which has taken us 11 years to complete. I realise it is up north in the Scottish Highlands and a little out of the way for most members. But, it’s the Scottish Highlands and in August! What can you not like? Two of our newest projects, the conservation of HMS DeBraak’s Bell in Lewes, Delaware and the unveiling of a plaque and information board at Brunswick Town, North Carolina are progressing, and we do hope we’ll see them finished this year. Many thanks to Professor John ‘Jack’ Satterfield for shattering the doors of Delaware’s government bureaucracy to ring the ship’s bell, so to speak. Conservation of the bell should begin in earnest during the summer. As for the Brunswick Town project, the Club’s US Secretary, Pete Stark visited with the site manager of the Brunswick The Bark Europa https://www. barkeuropa.com/en/ tall-ship-bark-europa
The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 2 of 6 Town and Fort Anderson State Park to sketch out particulars for a historic plaque and information board. The plaque will recognise the graves of Royal Navy officers buried in St Philips Anglican Churchyard. The information board will commemorate the presence of the Royal Navy at Brunswick Town’s Harbour during the colonial period through the American War for Independence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Brunswick_Town,_North_Carolina. Additionally, Pete was informed that the harbour holds wrecks of two Royal Navy warships of the same period. Now let’s move on to upcoming Club events, which are detailed in these pages. Besides the upcoming AGM in May, on 1 June, our Secretary, Stephen Howarth has organised a lecture and reception at the House of Lords River Room to commemorate the Battle of the Glorious First of June and to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the victor of the battle, Admiral of the Fleet, Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe. The prize-winning lecture is by our own Natacha Abriat. Keep a sharp eye for the formal announcement. Also in June, for members living in the greater Washington, DC and Baltimore areas, our US Secretary Pete Stark and I are organising a group visit to see the Tall Ships visiting Baltimore 24-30 June for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. https://www.sail250md.org/copy-ofvisiting-ships These are just two events that will occur this summer through the autumn months. Do check out the enclosed events diary. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, there will be a change in your Club’s leadership. Per the Club’s Constitution, Trustees have a three-year tenure and my three years are up at the conclusion of this year’s AGM. We, the trustees, are still in the process of transitioning my responsibilities. Although I will no longer be one of the trustees, I anticipate remaining engaged in the Club’s operations. More on the transition will be announced during the AGM. Looking forward to seeing many of at the AGM. If not, certainly we’ll be in contact along the digital waterfront. Yours aye, VFTB Continued CAWDOR PARISH CHURCH, SCOTLAND On Saturday 28 March 2026, our departing Secretary Stephen Howarth visited Cawdor Parish Church, at Cawdor near Inverness in northern Scotland, to check on a special grave: that of Assistant Surgeon Niel Smith, Royal Navy, who worked with Surgeon Beatty in HMS Victory, tending Nelson in his final hours. Back in 2001, in partnership with the Pilgrim Trust, The 1805 Club worked to conserve the monument and its vital text. A quarter of a century later, how was it all looking? The full story (including a stand-up row) will follow in the next edition of The Kedge Anchor. (See photos below.) (BTW 'Niel' was how he spelt his name.)
The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 3 of 6 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. 12 = Average; 18 = Good; 24 = V Good; 25+ = Amazing! Answers on last page RECRUITMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 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. As a CIO the Club has an urgent need for two important honorary positions to be filled. One is for Treasurer and the other is for someone to determine Club policy on marketing, fundraising and advertising. The Treasurer role is predominantly one of advising the Club on essential accountancy and tax matters, and he/she is supported by a very capable assistant. The Club must demonstrate to the Charity Commissioners that its members are contributing to the Club’s charitable projects, and are not simply enjoying the benefits of being a member. This means that fundraising must be even more seriously addressed than hitherto. We therefore invite members with experience of these matters (and some spare time, as well as the wish to actively help!) to put their names forward for possible inclusion in a voluntary committee with the power to reorganise such Club activities. This invitation is open to all members, because under our new Constitution, members and Chairs of such committees do not have to be Trustees of the Club. For further information on the Treasurer position, please contact Nicholas Ridge via email: treasurer@1805club.org for the marketing position 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 finding 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 main website: http://1805club.org/ or use these links: For the Flagship Fund go to http://bit.ly/ 1805ClubFlagshipFund or for The Trafalgar Way go to http://thetrafalgarway.org/ For our shop, try https://www.1805club.org/shop, or click on one of the images opposite . . . Nelson Portrait At His Desk on Victory £100 Used Books £10 each Past copies of Trafalgar Chronicle £15 each The Trafalgar Way Official Storymap £19.99 Club Ties £35 each Nelson Portrait No.2 £100 (Both portraits by Jessica Turgoose) SOLD OUT
The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 4 of 6 Remember that there is a whole treasure trove here https://www.facebook.com/The1805Club/ And there is another whole treasure trove here https://www.instagram.com/the1805club 'NELSON AT TENERIFE: A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE' On the 17th of March, at the Real Club Nautico de Tenerife, a talk took place on "Nelson at Tenerife: a geographical perspective", between the geographer Dr Constantino Criado, Universidad de La Laguna, and the historian Dr Agustin Guimera (a long-standing Vice President of The 1805 Club, right in top image). Dr Criado has already worked on the influence of geographic factors in the battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The outcome of the event, favourable to the Spaniards, was partly the result of the assailants' poor knowledge of the terrain, the meteorological conditions which did not facilitate the manoeuvre of Nelson's squadron, and a swell from Southern Atlantic which complicated the landing. Numerous local public attended the event. Here are some images from the event.
The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 5 of 6 EVENTS DIARY EVENT DATE EVENT TITLE EVENT DESCRIPTION CLUB LEAD Sat 9 May The 1805 Club AGM Army & Navy Club (The Rag), Pall Mall, London, 1000-1530 Stephen Howarth Mon 1 Jun Admiral Lord Howe dual commemoration: 300th birthday and Glorious First of June Lecture and reception in the River Room, House of Lords, 1800-2000: lecture presented by Natacha Abriat (Club member) based on her recent prize-winning new research. Stephen Howarth with The Earl Howe (direct descendant and Club member) Sat 25 Jul Visit to the former Royal Hospital, Haslar Private Visit to the former Royal Hospital, Haslar, Hampshire Stephen Howarth and Mark Trasler MBE, Chairman, Haslar Heritage Group (and Club member) Sun 26 Jul Visit to Buckler's Hard, Bealieu Visit to Buckler's Hard, Bealieu, Hampshire, with river trip, personal updates on the archaeology and guided tour by Mary Montagu-Scott, 1000-1700 Stephen Howarth and Mary Montagu-Scott DL, Director, Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum (and Club member) Wed 19 Aug The George Forbes Project Unveiling and completion of the George Forbes project, Logie Coldstone kirkyard, Aberdeenshire Stephen Howarth 21 Oct Annual Wreath-laying at Nelson's Tomb Annual Wreath-laying at Nelson's Tomb, St Paul's Cathedral 1100-1200 Stephen Howarth Sat 24 Oct Trafalgar Night Dinner HMS NELSON WARDROOM, Portsmouth, 1800-2230+ Stephen Howarth TBD Visit to Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company Visit to Woodbridge Riverside Complex. Four venues. TBD The sharp-eyed among you may have noticed that the Club Lead for every one of the events in the UK is Honorary Club Secretary Stephen Howarth. You will know that ‘Honorary’ means the job is entirely voluntary, and your Editor respectfully suggests that it is too much to expect one person to bear the total load of organising events. The 1805 Club is widespread, and would welcome any suggestions for relevant local events that could be of interest to other local members, and that could be organised by those local members. The Club would be happy to assist, and to publicise, any such events.
The 1805 Dispatches #26.02 April 2026 6 of 6 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 beginning 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 him of that fact. All copy is welcome, but not all copy may be used! 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 sailingnavy 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 Shelton, Notts, UK Email: secretary@1805club.org 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, Editor of The Kedge Anchor Aldeburgh, Suffolk, UK Email: ka.editor@1805club.org Telephone: +(44) 7903 251008 Eyke, Suffolk, UK Preventer, reverent, eventer, evernet, enerve, evener, nerver, peever, preeve, revere, revert, tevere, veneer, venter, ventre, verner, eeven, erven, event, evert, nerve, never, peeve, perve, preve, reeve, revet, verne, veter, eevn, erev, even, ever, evet, neve, perv, tver, veep, veer, vent, vern, vert TO SLING YOUR HOOK This has two meanings, the first being when a ship weighs its anchor is drawn up to the cathead and then fastened into slings, on the ship's side. It has come to mean 'leave'. The second meaning is that hammocks were slung from clew hooks, so sailors would say, "I'm going to sling my hook", in preference to the more correct 'I intend to sling my hammock', meaning, I'm off to bed. NAVAL TERMS THAT HAVE ‘COME ASHORE’ SHIP’S WORD WHEEL ANSWERS CAPE ST VINCENT LUNCH On 7 February 2026, a dozen US East Coast members of The 1805 Club braved a blistering cold day to meet for lunch at Vaso's Greek restaurant in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. The warmth of friendship, good food, and good conversation provided respite from below-freezing temperatures and an icy wind (windchill minus 10 degrees C). It was also an occasion to welcome our newest member, Tom Duffy (CDR USN Ret) who lives in Alexandria. He is also a member of the National Capital Commandery of the Naval Order of the US, as are five other Club members who attended. US Secretary Pete Stark organized the event and Club Chairman John Rodgaard presided. During the meal, John and Pete informed the gathering about upcoming Club projects, particularly the effort to install an information board in St George, Bermuda to tell the story of the 1815 Battle between USS President and HMS Endymion. Judy Pearson mentioned the upcoming 'soft' opening of the Nevis Maritime Museum in March. Miniature ships formed the table's center piece, depicting the formation of the Battle of Cape St Vincent. After the meal, John Rodgaard explained how the battle took place, describing Nelson's role. Pete Stark donated a bottle of tenyear-old port for a raffle, which he purchased on a holiday in Portugal last year. The raffle raised $150 for The Club! Hooray! Nathan Bein (CDR USN Ret) won the raffle, feeling quite happy to carry his prize home wearing his authentic US Army Air Corps flight jacket gloves, and hat.
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