2 “Perseverance . . . will most probably meet its reward” Call me a romantic if you will, but I have started writing this issue’s Chairmans’ Dispatch at 6am on Monday, 21st October on the very weekday (Monday) of the 208th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and at the time that the Combined Fleet of France and Spain was sighted by the British fleet! Thomas Atkinson, VICTORY’s sailing master, recorded in the ship’s log, ‘At 6 observed the enemy E by S distance 10 or 12 miles.’ Given that the battle did not start for another six hours. Nelson and the fifty thousand other souls present that day had much time to contemplate their fate. We know that at the climax of his career Nelson was composed and in excellent spirits. He wrote a codicil to his will bequeathing Lady Hamilton and their daughter Horatia to the nation, and then wrote the few lines that are regarded as amongst the finest written by any soldier or sailor about to go into battle. The prose is unfussy and mellifluous and surgeon William Beatty described it as a ‘devout and fervent ejaculation, which must be universally admired as truly characteristic of the Christian hero’. The prayer was written in his personal pocket book and, as ever thinking of posterity, he made a copy of it. It is always worth quoting in full: Monday, Octr 21st, 1805 at day Light saw the Enemys Combined fleet from East to E.S.E. bore away made the Signal for Order of Sailing, and to prepare for Battle the Enemy with their heads to the Southward, at seven the Enemy wearing in succession. May the Great God whom I worship grant to my Country THE CHAIRMAN’S DISPATCH and for the benefit of Europe in General a great and Glorious Victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it, and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet. For myself individually I commit my life to Him who made me, and may His blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to Defend. Amen. Amen. Amen. Meanwhile, in Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood’s Lee Division Captain John Cooke of the BELLEROPHON was careful to ensure that his ‘Reflections on Fortitude’, written a few weeks earlier, were safely in his pocket. Less well known, this is also worth quoting: The Virtue of Fortitude tends greatly to the happiness of the individual, by giving composure and presence of mind; and keeping the other passions in due subordination. Nothing so effectively inspires it, as rational piety; the fear of God, is the best security against every other fear. A true estimate of human life; its shortness and uncertainty; the numberless evils and temptations to which by a long continuance in this world we must unavoidably be exposed; ought by no means to discourage, or to throw any gloom on our future prospects; they should teach us: that many things are more formidable than Death; and that nothing is lost, but much gained, when by the appointment of providence, a well spent life is brought to a conclusion. Let it be considered too, that pusillanimity, and fearfulness, can never avail us anything. On the contrary, they debase our nature, poison all our comforts, and make us despicable in the eyes of others; they darken our reason, disconcert our schemes, enfeeble our efforts, extinguish our hopes, and add tenfold poignancy to all the evils of life. In battle, the Brave is in less danger than the Coward; in less danger of even death and wounds, because better prepared to defend himself; in far less danger of infelicity; and has before him the animating hope of victory and honour. So in life the man of true fortitude is in less danger of disappointment than others are, because his understanding is clear and his mind disencumbered; he is prepared to meet calamity without the fear of sinking under it; and he has before him the near prospect of another life, in which they who piously bear the evils of this, will obtain a glorious reward. John Cooke was killed at Trafalgar and his memorial is next to Nelson’s tomb. It is he and the many others on both sides who lost their lives whom we remember on or close to 21st October when toasting, ‘The Immortal Memory of Admiral Lord Nelson and all those who fell with him.’ When we pay tribute to Nelson’s Immortal Memory every year, we celebrate the man and his deeds as viewed at the end of his heroic life. The way we judge him is based largely on his stunning victories and his bravery in battle, and the final assessment is greatly influenced by his professionalism and leadership during the last two years of his life. At this time Nelson displayed a superb ability to manage a fleet at sea, maintaining it at peak fighting efficiency without recourse to dockyard refits. He played the role of diplomat with the many rulers and allies whose countries bordered the Mediterranean Peter Warwick
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