“OLD IRONSIDES” AND THE THIRD IN COMMAND

“Britannia Victrix”

The 100-gun three-decker Britannia, was the flagship of the third in command at Trafalgar, Rear-Admiral the Earl of Northesk. In honour of the part that the Britannia took in the battle Lord Northesk was created a Knight of the Bath, and was granted by George the Third the right to place the name “Trafalgar” on his coat-of-arms, with special heraldic augmentations. Ever since 1805 the supporters of the heraldic shield of the earls of Northesk have each borne a staff with a Rear-Admiral of the White’s flag on it bearing the inscription, “Britannia Victrix.”

“Old Ironsides” was the Britannia’s every-day name in Nelson’s fleet, due to the fact, it is said, that the Britannia was the oldest man-of-war in the fighting line of the Navy. The veteran three-decker on the 21st of October, 1805, had been afloat just forty-three years and two days. She was our second Britannia, and the first three-decker launched in George the Third’s reign, the launch taking place at Portsmouth Dockyard on the 19th of October, 1762, in the presence of twenty thousand spectators, “who all had the pleasure of seeing as fine a launch as ever was seen.”

Trafalgar was the Britannia’s fifth battle. She had had her first meeting with the enemy as flagship of the Second in Command in the “Grand Fleet” under Lord Howe, which achieved the relief of Gibraltar in 1782—a feat that nowadays perhaps we think little of, but which was thought enough of at the time for such a personage as Frederick the Great to write an autograph letter of congratulation on it to the British Admiral. After that she had taken part at Lord Hood’s occupation of Toulon, in Admiral Hotham’s two actions off Genoa and off Hyères, as commander-in-chief’s flagship, and on the 14th of February, 1797, “Glorious Valentine’s Day,” as flagship of the second in command in the battle off Cape St. Vincent.[20]

At Trafalgar the Britannia went into action as the fifth or sixth ship astern of the Victory. She had three of the enemy’s ships firing on her as she ranged forward into the battle under full sail. She broke the enemy’s line, firing both broadsides as she drove through, after which she engaged an 80-gun ship and promptly dismasted her opponent. A little later, we are told, a French officer “was seen to wave a white handkerchief from the quarter-deck in token of surrender.” Leaving another of our ships to take possession, the Britannia passed on forthwith to deal with others of the enemy, and was constantly engaged, we are told, sometimes with two or three ships of the enemy at once and fighting on both broadsides.

This is how the Britannia’s log records her part at Trafalgar, in the dry, matter-of-fact style usual with such documents:—

“12.50. We began to engage three of the enemy’s ships, having opened their fire upon us while running down. 1.10. Observed the ship we were engaging on our larboard quarter totally dismasted, continued our course in order to break through the centre of the enemy’s line, engaging on both sides in passing between their ships. At 3 passed through the line. 4.30. Hauled to the wind on the larboard tack per signal. 5.30. Ceased firing. Observed the Achille, a French line-of-battle ship, on fire, which soon after blew up.”

Fortunately the log is not all that we have to rely upon for the story of the Britannia’s doings at Trafalgar. Some of the officers wrote down their experiences and impressions, from which we get a remarkably interesting idea of how things fared on board during the battle. Says, to begin with, Lieutenant John Barclay in his journal:—

“½ past 12. Vice-Admiral Collingwood, in the Royal Sovereign, commenced the action, by an attack upon the whole of the enemy’s rear, in the most gallant manner, and without any immediate prospect of support, from being so far ahead of the lee division. Took in our studding sails. About ¼ before 1, Lord Nelson, after having sustained a most galling fire in running down, opened both sides of the Victory on the headmost ships of their centre division. He was close followed up by the Téméraire, Neptune, Conqueror, Leviathan, and this ship, and pushed through their line about the 14th from the van. Several raking shot called forth exertions about 10 minutes after our noble chief. Here began the din of war. It became impossible to trace farther except at intervals, when the smoke cleared away a little. At ¼ past 1 the masts of the ship we were most particularly engaging (larboard side) fell by the board: supposed to be the Bucentaure, but without any flag observed flying. Continued edging on slowly, for there was very little wind, and our main topsail in particular was shot almost entirely from the yard. At 3, got to leeward of their line and hauled up a little on the larboard tack. Until ¼ past 4 kept up a heavy fire occasionally on both sides on every French or Spanish ensign flying near us, when we hauled to the wind on the larboard tack per signal. ½ past 5, all firing ceased except from the Achille, a very fine French ship—wrapt in flames. The cutters instantly repaired to her assistance, and saved the crew, soon after which she blew up with a tremendous explosion.”

Signal-Midshipman John Wells, in a letter home, written during the week following the battle, has this to say of what he went through and witnessed:

“I am very happy to say that the Britannia was certainly a very fortunate Ship during the whole time, as we had not above 10 killed and 41 wounded although we were the fourth Ship in Action and the last out of it, and I doubt not that it will be found that she does honour to all who belong to her, as our fire was not directed to One particular Ship, but as soon as one had struck to us we immediately made to others and at one time had five ships blazing away upon us, but we soon tired them out. As I told you before, I was stationed at the Signals and Colours in the time of Action and being on the Quarter Deck I had an opportunity of seeing the whole of the Sport, which I must own rather daunted me before the first or second broadside; but after then I think I never should have been tired of drubing [sic] the Jokers, particulary [sic] when my ship mates began to fall arround [sic] me, which in the room of disheartening an Englishman only encourages him, as the sight of his Country Man’s blood makes his heart burn for revenge.

“I am very sorry to inform you that my worthy friend our signal Lieutenant was knocked down by a double-headed shot close by my side and immediately expired, much lamented by his brother Officers and every one in the Ship; I had several very narrow escapes from the Enemy’s Shot, but thanks be to the Lord he [sic] has still spared me thro’ his great goodness.

“Too much credit cannot be given to Lord Northesk and Captain Bullen for their gallant Conduct during the Engagement, indeed it was the case with every Officer and Man in the Ship. Immediately the Enemy had struck I went on board one of the French prizes to take possession of her, and when I got there I may well say I was shocked to see the sight as I believe there was not less than 3 or 400 Bodies lying about the Decks, cut and mangled all to pieces, some dying and others Dead. We took the remainder of the men that were alive on board of our own Ships, at which they seemed very glad. And from the Information that we can get from them they really came out of Cadiz with an intention of fighting, not thinking us to be above 17 sail of the line and them under the command of Sir Robt. Calder (but he was not with us at all), and that Lord Nelson was in England sick. So they thought they were an equal match for our 17 with there [sic] 37—and in fact made themselves so sure of taking us into Cadiz that several Private Gentlemen came out of Cadiz as passengers on purpose to see the Action and have the pleasure of towing us in, but they were once more deceived in our Wooden Walls. Amongst the prisoners in our Ship there are 5 or 6 of these Gentlemen of pleasure, and I think they are in a fair way for seeing an English prison before they return to Cadiz again.”

Another of the Britannia’s officers, who made use of his opportunities for seeing what was going on round him, was 2nd Lieutenant L.B. Halloran of the Royal Marines. He noted this down in his private diary from his own personal experiences and observations:

“We piped to breakfast at eight o’clock, and the ship being clear and ready about nine o’clock, we went to quarters. The Fleet then formed in two lines, standing slowly and steadily, with every sail set, before the light breeze, with ensigns and colours flying. Our ship, the Britannia, was the third from the Victory, which led the Larboard or Lee line; we were next the Neptune, 98 guns. For some time after the men were at quarters, before the firing began we heard many of them amusing themselves with nautical jokes, or reciting scraps from a Prologue which I had spoken at one of our last Dramatic performances. Among the lines repeatedly quoted the following seemed the favourite:—

We have great guns of Tragedy loaded so well,

If they do but go off, they will certainly tell.

“About 11.30, the Royal Sovereign, Admiral Collingwood, which led the Starboard or Weather line, after sustaining for nearly half an hour severe firing from the enemy as she approached without returning a shot, opened her tremendous Broadsides close alongside the Sta. Anna, a Spanish Admiral’s ship. Our people were highly amused, and passed many jokes on seeing the Sta. Anna, almost immediately dismasted and falling out of line with her colours down. We had not much time to admire the gallantry of the Royal Sovereign and the ships succeeding her, for it was our turn to commence, and in passing we poured a most destructive fire (the guns being double-shotted) into the Bucentaur, which ship had already received the first fire of the Victory and Neptune. Her masts were at once swept away, and her galleries and stern broken to pieces; her Colours being shot away, some-one waved a white handkerchief from the remains of the Larboard Gallery in token of Surrender.

“We then encountered the Santisima Trinidada, 240 guns [sic] on four decks (the largest ship then known). We passed under stern of this magnificent Ship, and gave her a Broadside which shattered the rich display of sculpture, figures, ornaments, and inscriptions with which she was adorned. I never saw so beautiful a ship. Luffing up alongside her four-decked side, of a rich lake colour, she had an imposing effect.

“We proceeded, and now got into the middle of the Action, where the denseness of the smoke, the noise and din of Battle, were so great as to leave little time for observation. Nearly about this time, between one and two o’clock, a shot struck the muzzle of the gun at which I was stationed (the aftermost gun on the larboard side of the lower deck), and killed or wounded every one there stationed, myself and Midshipman Tompkins only excepted. The shot was a very large one, and split into a number of pieces, each of which took its victim. We threw the mangled body of John Jolley, a marine, out of the stern port, his stomach being shot away; the other sufferers we left to be examined. The gun itself was split, and our second lieutenant, Roskruge, who came down at that moment with some orders, advised me to leave the Gun as useless. He had scarcely left us, when he was brought down senseless with a severe wound in his head: he breathed, but continued senseless until nine o’clock, when he died.

“The Battle continued until five o’clock. Seeing no signal from the Victory, and also missing Admiral Collingwood’s flag, we were in much uneasiness on Board. The scene presented a strange contrast to the morning; twenty-one or twenty-two sail of the Enemy’s Line, Prizes and dismasted, one (L’Achille) burning furiously, which soon after blew up, the sky lowering in the distance, a heavy sea rising, and an awful kind of pause succeeding the crash of falling yards and masts and the roar of the guns.

“Having sent a boat to the Victory, we ascertained the death of Lord Nelson, our Commander-in-Chief.

“With hearts fraught with blended feelings of sorrow and of triumph, we set about putting the ship to rights. The evening was fine, though a storm seemed to be coming up, and around us as the darkness closed in the scattered and forlorn wrecks lay floating in disorder, while the conqueror’s ships were repairing damages, shifting prisoners, or making sail. It was a scene of desolation, helpless prizes and dismantled victors rolling heavily, as the sea began to roughen with the breeze....

“The whole night was occupied in receiving prisoners, and preparing for stormy weather, which was coming on.”

This is from the letter that a seaman on board the Britannia, James West, an A.B., wrote to his parents at Newhaven in Sussex:—

“I am sorry to inform you that I am wounded in the left shoulder, and that William Hillman was killed at the same time: the shot that killed him and three others wounded me and five more. Another of my messmates, Thomas Crosby, was also killed; they both went to their guns like men, and died close to me. Crosby was shot in three places. Pray inform their poor friends of their death, and remind them that they died at the same time as Nelson, and in the moment of glorious victory. Remember me to all my relations and friends; tell them I am wounded at last, but that I do not much mind it, for I had my satisfaction of my enemies, as I never fired my gun in pain I was sure to hit them; I killed and wounded them in plenty. Should have written you sooner, but the pain in my shoulder would not let me.”

During the week following Trafalgar the Britannia received 381 French prisoners on board: 48 from L’Aigle, a captured seventy-four; 140 from the recaptured Berwick, a former British seventy-four; the rest from the captured Intrépide, another seventy-four. The names of all the prisoners are carefully entered in the Britannia’s books, and among them appears the name of a Turk, mentioned also by Lieutenant Halloran as being received on board—Abdalla Fadalla, a prisoner from the Intrépide.

According to the ship’s books these were the officers, in addition to Lord Northesk, serving on board the Britannia at Trafalgar:—

Captain—Charles Bullen.

Lieutenants—Arthur Atchison; Francis Roskruge (killed); John Houlton Marshall; Charles Anthony; Richard Lasham; William Blight; John Barclay; James Lindsay.

Marine Officers.—Captain—Alexander Watson. Lieutenants—William Jackson; L. B. J. Halloran; John Cooke.

Master—Stephen Trounce (wounded).

Surgeon—Allen Cornfoot.

Purser—James Hiatt.

Chaplain—Rev. Lawrence H. Halloran.

Gunner—Michael Aylward.

Boatswain—(not joined).

Carpenter—John Simpson.

Master’s Mates and Midshipmen—John Adamson; Thos. Goble; James Sudbury; Silvester Austin; James Rattray; Henry Canham; Em. Blight; John Lang; William Snell; John W. Pritchard; William Grant (wounded); Francis D. Lauzun; William Geikie; Josh. Thorndyke; John Coulthred; Andrew Parry; Charles Thornbury; James L. Peyton; John Brumfield; George Hurst; George Morey; Charles Pitt; James Robinson; Radford G. Meech; Richard Molesworth; Charles Wilson; John Bidgood; John Lawrence; William Pinet; Richard B. Bowden; Benjamin Sheppard; William Pyne.

Surgeon’s Mates—John Evans; John Owen Martin.

Clerk—Richard Whichelo.

First-class Volunteers—James R. Sulivan; Bowkum Tomkyns; Josh. Bailey.

A glance at the composition of the ship’s company of the Britannia, according to the muster book, shows that the foreigners among the seamen on board numbered 53 in all. Of that total 18 were Americans, 11 Germans, 6 Danes, 4 Frenchmen, 1 Swede, 4 Dutchmen, 1 East Indian, 2 Africans, 2 Italians, and 4 from the West Indies. Ireland contributed 189 seamen ratings (the total number of seamen on board the Britannia, as mustered by the ship’s books on Sunday morning, the day before the battle, was 599); Scotland, 42; Wales, 25; the Isle of Man, 6; the Channel Islands, 5; and the Scilly Isles, Shetland, and Skye, 1 each. The full total of all ranks and ratings on board the Britannia at Trafalgar, as mustered on the 20th of October, numbered 31 officers, 599 seamen ratings (petty officers, able seamen, ordinary seamen, and landmen), 28 boys, 126 marines, 5 supernumeraries, and 8 “widows’ men,” making 797 in all. The ship’s official complement as a first rate was 837, so that the Britannia was really 40 men short in the action.

One incidental fact that we learn from the Britannia may be added. It throws a useful sidelight on life and ways at sea in the navy of Nelson’s day, dealing as it does with the relations that existed between officers and men on board while waiting off Cadiz for the expected battle. It proves for one thing also that Lord Northesk’s flagship quite deserved the designation of a “happy ship.” This was their favourite way of passing the time off duty, according to Lieutenant Halloran’s journal.

“August 22nd. Heard that enemy had gone into Cadiz. We steered direct for that port. Here we remained blockading the place until the arrival of Lord Nelson in the Victory. During this time the officers and ship’s company amused themselves with dramatic performances. Our first drama, acted in the Admiral’s cabin, was as appears in the following playbill:—

This evening, September 4th, 1805, will be performed a drama called

‘LORD HASTINGS.’

After which will be performed a drama called

‘THE TRIUMPH OF FRIENDSHIP;
or,
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.’

Doors to be opened at 6.30. To begin at 7.

“Wednesday, September 4th. Off Cadiz. The ship’s company also performed two or three plays on the main deck, one of them called ‘Miss in her Teens’: very well done.

“Thursday, September 12th. We acted another play, called The Siege of Colchester, in which Rattray, Wilson, Bowden, and I took part. Between the acts I recited the romance of Alonzo and Imogene. On this occasion, the Admiral’s fore-cabin being found too small to hold stage and audience both, the fore bulk-head of the cabin was taken down, and the cabin itself turned into a stage, leaving the two side doors for the stage exits, and the cabin open to the main deck. The stage being decorated with colours, festoons, wings, etc., with front lights, had a very pretty effect. The main deck, fitted up with seats, made a capacious theatre, and all the officers and ship’s company attended. All the future performances will be represented in the same manner.

“September 27th. Another party of the officers, under Lieut. Blight’s direction, performed (with the addition of some good scenery, painted by Mr. Adams, master’s mate) The Mock Doctor. Characters taken by Messrs. Pitt, Laurence, Johnstone, Geikie, Martin, and Peyton, with Masters Lauzun and Snell as Dorcas and Charlotte. The ship’s company, whose theatre was amidships, near the main mast on the main deck, also performed The Tragedy of Pizarro and at the end of the first act was recited The Soliloquy of Dick the Apprentice.

“Wednesday, October 9th. We had the play of Columbus; or, A World Discovered, and Rattray, Thorndyke, Wilson, Hurst, Pitt, Austin, Bidgood, and myself acted, the character of the High Priest of the Sun being taken by Wichelo, and ladies by Midshipmen Pinett and Pyne, Priestessess by Masters Shepherd, Bowden, Lever, Jones, etc. On the playbill it was announced, ‘In the course of the Performance will be two splendid Processions—a view of the Interior of the Temple of the Sun, with a Grand Altar burning Incense, etc. Grand Hymn of the Priestesses, etc. Towards the close of the Play the Destruction of the Temple by an Earthquake accompanied by Thunder, Lightning, and Hail-Storm! with the rescue of Cora from the Ruins by Alonzo!!

“Catherine and Petruchio was the last performance, a few days before the action of Trafalgar, together with a Play called The Village, which I wrote.

“It was on the evening of the 19th of October—Saturday—while I was with some officers in my cabin in the Gunroom, where we were preparing for another Play for the following Monday, and we were rehearsing, when one of the Midshipmen came to inform us that a Frigate was joining the Fleet, with signals flying ‘That the Enemy were at sea.’ We immediately broke up our theatrical conference. That night was partly passed in the bustle of preparation, while we stood under easy sail towards Cadiz.”[21]

We have in addition the text of a prologue to one of the midshipmen’s plays, presented before Lord Northesk and the officers. It gives one the best possible idea of the magnificent self-confidence with which the British Fleet anticipated the issue of Trafalgar.

Address.

[Spoken on board his Majesty’s ship “Britannia,” off Cadiz.]

My Lord and Gentlemen,—Alas! off Cadiz,

How hard it is we can’t address the ladies,

For “if the brave alone deserve the fair,”

Britannia’s sons should surely have their share!

But, since their valour, tho’ upon record,

Like other merits, is its own reward,

Tho’ female charms inspire us not—again

We welcome you—my Lord and Gentlemen!

You, too, brave fellows! who the background tread,

Alike we welcome—jackets blue or red;

And humbly hope that while we give our aid

“To cheer the tedium of a dull blockade,”

To banish ennui for a few short hours,

However feeble our theatric powers,

Our well-meant efforts to amuse awhile,

Will meet the wish’d reward—your fav’ring smile.

For tho’, while thro’ our parts we swell and pant,

We stun your ears with mock-heroic rant;

We trust “to pay their suff’rings through your eyes,”

By the bright splendours of the gay disguise

In which our heroes (nor let critics grin),

Bedight in robes of “bunting laced with tin,”

As kings or emperors, with mimic rage,

Strut their short hour upon this “floating stage.”

In times of yore, as grave old authors write,

Poets possess’d a kind of “second sight,”

And could (tho’, entre nous, ’twas all a hum)

Inform you clearly of “events to come.”

Oh! could the Bard, who, to amuse your time,

Has manufactur’d all this “doggerel rhyme,”

From mortal mists clear his desiring eyes,

And pry into your future destinies:

He would foretell (nor ask you, as a charm,

Like other soothsayers, “to cross his palm”)

What—yes, he sees!—must on your courage wait,

“An happy fortune, and a glorious fate!”

Yes!—he foresees—confirm his prospects, Heav’n,

“Yon coop’d up boasters,” to your wishes giv’n;

Sees their proud ensigns from their standards torn,

Their vanquish’d navies in glad triumph borne;

Sees added laurels grace our Nelson’s brow,

And Victory hovering o’er his glowing prow;

His conqu’ring banners o’er the waves unfurl’d,

And Britain’s thunder rule the wat’ry world.

If aught of prescience to the Muse belong,

Soon, soon, the scenes that animate her song,

In glowing colours shall salute your eyes,

And Heav’n shall bid th’ auspicious morn arise;

When France and Spain shall be again subdued,

And your “brave leader’s” victories renew’d.

Then, to reward your persevering toils,

With honours crown’d—enrich’d with hostile spoils—

(Her bravest sons—her guardian sailors’ friend)

“Your grateful country” shall her arms extend,

To greet your glad return with conscious pride,

And in her bosom bid your cares subside.

And, while our fam’d “Britannia” shall resort,

In awful grandeur to her wished-for port,

Her loveliest daughters shall with pleasure meet,

And bless “the heroes of the British fleet!”

Your wives, your children, and your friends shall come,

With tears of joy to bid you “welcome home.”

Nor storms nor battle more your bliss shall mar,

But “Peace and Plenty crown the toils of war!”

At this point we may fitly end the story of “Old Ironsides” at Trafalgar—and this book.