Remembrance in 1921 because it grew on the graves of soldiers in France and Belgium. Interestingly, the phenomenon was first noticed during the Napoleonic Wars. It occurs to me that the period between 21 October and 11 November each year is a natural one for a wider sense of Remembrance since it allows us to relate the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars with the war in Afghanistan. In turn, this resonates with Nelson’s call for ‘humanity after victory’ and the traditional version of ‘The Immortal Memory’, which is not for Nelson alone, but for ‘all those who fell with him’. In other words, as Remembrance Day now embraces the latest conflicts, so it seems reasonable to honour those who also served and fell for their country before the First World War. They too fought for our basic freedoms. Moreover, their service, stories and leadership – not least Horatio Nelson’s – continue to inspire those serving in today’s front line. Master Mate Stephen Hilton is one among them. He served aboard the Minotaur at Trafalgar and took two flags after the battle, which have for many years been kept at St Mary’s Church, Selling, Kent. Since my last Dispatch the Club has been closely involved in their future and conservation. The flags concerned are the Minotaur's Union flag flown at the battle, and a flag believed to be from the captured Neptuno, which struck her colours to the Minotaur. The Neptuno flag is actually an Austrian rather than a Spanish ensign. They were preserved by Stephen Hilton and the family, which has long lived at Selling, and for many years furnished the Hilton Chapel at St Mary’s. However, owing to their fragile condition they have not been on display since 1995. In September it was feared that the flags were to be put up for sale on the open market and The 1805 Club together with many other organizations rallied in opposition. The Club helped to establish that the scare was unfounded and arrangements are now well-advanced for the flags to go the National Maritime Museum. The museum has the professional skill, experience and resources necessary for their long term care, and of course means they will stay in the UK. The Union flag will also be on permanent display to millions of people in the new Sailing Navy Gallery that opens in 2013. The 1805 Club has suggested that replica flags be made for the Hilton Chapel. Meanwhile, the Lt William Hick’s uniform, which the Club discovered last year, has been conserved by the conservation experts at the NMM and went on public display for the first time on Trafalgar Day. Eventually it will join the Selling flags in the Sailing Navy Gallery. The Club is privileged to be acting as an informal consultant on the themes and display in the gallery as a whole. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and thank those who have enlisted as Topmen; eighteen so far with more in the pipeline. This is a good start and I hope others will follow so that we can reach our target of 50 Topmen. Enlisted Topmen should have received their certificates by the time they read this Dispatch. A big thank you also to Winston Leese, who has masterminded a wonderful and limited edition bone china plate bearing the Club’s insignia. They are being offered to members at a very fair price indeed as you will see in the notice elsewhere in this issue. The first batch sold out at this year’s Trafalgar Dinner at Newhouse! The dinner was a great success with both a talk by Dr Sam Willis about the huge volume of naval dispatches from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars at the British Library, and a splendid toast to The Immortal Memory by our President, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB DL. May I and the Council of the Club take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Yours aye Peter Warwick The Kedge Anchor (KA), is The 1805 Club’s newsletter for communicating news, announcing events, and providing articles of interest to the club membership. It is published three times a year in March, July and November. Your editors are pleased to accept contributions/submissions from members. If you are interested in submitting news notes or articles you may forward them to the editors by email or post at the addresses listed at the bottom of the front page of each issue. The Kedge Anchor does not sell or provide advertising space. To the side is a list of publication dates and deadlines for submission of contributions. Issue Date Deadline for Submissions MARCH February 15th JULY June 15th NOVEMBER October 15th KA PUBLICATION DATES & DEADLINES
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