October 21 is the anniversary of the most decisive naval battle under sail in British history – Admiral Lord Nelson’s triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 .
The anniversary also marks the death of Nelson when he was fatally wounded during the action.
The hoisting of the Colours (Union Jack and White Ensign) and Nelson’s signal ‘England Expects’ marks the start of the commemoration on HMS Victory.
A team of ratings and staff from HMS Victory hoisted the 32 flags in sequence on Victory’s three masts at 8.00 am.
The central act of the commemoration consisted of the laying of a wreath on the spot where Nelson fell by Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC.
Further wreaths were also be laid on the Orlop deck where Nelson died by Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Buster Howes, and the ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Oscar Whild Royal Navy.
Following the ceremony, Vice Admiral Montgomery, said;
“When I was laying the wreath, I had a very powerful sense of history and a sense of Nelson’s lasting legacy to our nation which is still felt today.
“Not only did he give us victory at Trafalgar, which decimated the only other naval powers at the time and paved the way for end of the Napoleonic war, he enabled us to build an empire which lasted 150 years – the wealth of which still gives us our status in the world today.”
[mappress] Source: royalnavy, October 24, 2011