Battle of Trafalgar commemoration (Gibraltar)

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by ritsonvaljos, Oct 30, 2016.

  1. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 was one of the key battles of the Napoleonic Wars. It was a bitter-sweet victory for the British fleet under Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson who died at the moment of victory over a combined French and Spanish fleet. Nevertheless, Admiral Lord Nelson's place in history was assured.

    Each year since 2005, on the Sunday nearest to Trafalgar Day (21 October), Gibraltar has held a solemn service of commemoration at the King's Chapel (next to the Governor's residence at The Convent) followed by an act of Remembrance at the nearby Trafalgar Cemetery. I have attended a number of these commemorations in Gibraltar and attached are a few of the photographs I took during the services on 23 October 2016.

    The commemoration service in the King's Chapel was led by Rev. Mike Wagstaff, R.N. Command Chaplain at Gibraltar. Among those attending the service were H.E. the Governor of Gibraltar, Lt. General Edward Davis, C.B., C.B.E., Rt. Hon. Admiral Lord West of Spithead and Rt. Hon. Lord Paddy Ashdown. Admiral Lord West. who was First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, gave the Trafalgar address at the Trafalgar Cemetery.

    There are two Naval officers buried in Trafalgar Cemetery who took part in the Battle of Trafalgar: Captain Thomas Norman, Royal Marine Corps, of HMS Mars and Lt. William Forster of HMS Colossus. They died in Gibraltar of wounds received in the battle. During the ceremony at Trafalgar Cemetery poppy wreaths were placed on their graves, rather appropriately given his name, rank and position, by Commander C.S. Nelson, R.N. C.O. of Royal Navy Gibraltar:
    In memory of those who fought and died at the Battle of Trafalgar.
    "Lest we forget"
    Cmndr. C.S. Nelson, R.N.


    While the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar is primarily a Royal Navy event, there were also detachments from other branches of the Armed Forces. The group of American tourists from a cruise ship in harbour for day got some good photographs. They did not seem to have much prior knowledge about the Battle of Trafalgar or Admiral Lord Nelson although they had heard of Trafalgar Square, London.

    During his stay on the Rock, Admiral Lord West was one of the speakers in the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival (20 - 23 October 2016). Lord Paddy Ashdown also took part in this festival, speaking about his latest book, "Game of Spies: The Secret Agent, the traitor and the Nazi, Bordeaux 1942 - 1944"


    Trafalgar (1) King's Chapel.JPG Trafalgar (2) King's Chapel.JPG Trafalgar (3) White Ensign laid on altar.JPG Trafalgar (4), the choir.JPG Trafalgar (5) RGR.JPG Trafalgar (6) RN Gibraltar detachment.JPG Trafalgar (8) Ceremony.JPG Trafalgar (8) laying wreath.JPG Trafalgar (9) cemetery.JPG Trafalgar (9) ceremony.JPG Trafalgar (10) headstone.JPG Trafalgar (11) poppy wreath.JPG Trafalgar (12) headstone.JPG Trafalgar (13) headstone and wreath.JPG Trafalgar (14) standard lowered.JPG Trafalgar (15) Governor's convoy.JPG Trafalgar (16) Paddy Ashdown convoy.JPG Trafalgar (17) end of service.JPG Trafalgar (18) Nelson's Statue.JPG

    .......................
    Description of thumbnail photographs:
    Photograph No 1 - King's Chapel, Gibraltar (entrance sign)
    Photograph No 2 - King's Chapel (interior)
    Photograph No 3 - The ceremonial White Ensign is received and laid on the altar
    Photograph No 4 - The choir sing "O, How He loves You and Me"
    Photograph No 5 - The Royal Gibraltar Regiment band march to the Trafalgar Cemetery
    Photograph No 6 - A detachment from R.N. Gibraltar line up outside the cemetery
    Photograph No 7 - The ceremonial White Ensign taken into Trafalgar Cemetery
    Photograph No 8 - Cmndr. C.S. Nelson, R.N. places a poppy wreath at the grave of Lt. William Forster
    Photograph No 9 - Admiral Lord West gives the Trafalgar address in the cemetery
    Photograph No 10 - Headstone of Lt. William Forster, of HMS Colossus, died of wounds after Trafalgar
    Photograph No 11 - Poppy wreath at the headstone of Lt William Forster
    Photograph No 12 - Headstone of Captain Thomas Norman, Royal Marine Corps (died of wounds)
    Photograph No 13 - Headstone of Captain Thomas Norman, Royal Marine Corps
    Photograph No 14 - Lowering of the White Ensign during the ceremony at Trafalgar Cemetery
    Photograph No 15 - Convoy of H.E. the Governor departing after the service
    Photograph No 16 - Lord Paddy Ashdown departing after the service
    Photograph No 17 - The R.N. detrachment leaving the cemetery after the service
    Photograph No 18 - Statue of Admiral Lord Nelson across the road from Trafalgar Cemetery
    ..............................
     
    LesEvansLlanelli, RCG, dbf and 4 others like this.
  2. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    Trafalgar Cemetery, Gibraltar commemorative service (Sunday 21st October 2018)
    Photographs from the 2018 memorial service at Trafalgar Cemetery, Gibraltar including laying poppy wreaths at two of the officers who died of wounds after the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805).
    The Gibraltar Regiment band provided the ceremonial music during the service.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  4. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

  5. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Due to be discussed on "In Our Time"...

    BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Battle of Trafalgar

    The Battle of Trafalgar
    In Our Time
    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the events of 21st October 1805, in which the British fleet led by Nelson destroyed a combined Franco-Spanish fleet in the Atlantic off the coast of Spain. Nelson's death that day was deeply mourned in Britain, and his example proved influential, and the battle was to help sever ties between Spain and its American empire. In France meanwhile, even before Nelson's body was interred at St Pauls, the setback at Trafalgar was overshadowed by Napoleon's decisive victory over Russia and Austria at Austerlitz, though Napoleon's search for his lost naval strength was to shape his plans for further conquests.
    With
    James Davey
    Lecturer in Naval and Maritime History at the University of Exeter
    Marianne Czisnik
    Independent researcher on Nelson and editor of his letters to Lady Hamilton
    And
    Kenneth Johnson
    Research Professor of National Security at Air University, Alabama
    Producer: Simon Tillotson
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/features/trafalgar-day
    Trafalgar Day is the most important day in the calendar of HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world. Each year on 21 October a ceremony is held on board Victory marking the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a battle which defined the Age of Sail and which sealed British dominion of the seas for a hundred years.
     
    Owen and timuk like this.

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