"For England's courage flames The fiercest in defeat, And in the day she stands at bay Most dangerous to meet."[136]
This third Union Jack flew at Aboukir when Abercrombie drove Napoleon out of Egypt; with it were won the triumphs of Wellington, from Assaye in India, through Badajoz and Spain, to the crowning victory at Waterloo. It was the flag which floated in the "white ensign" on all the ships at Trafalgar,[137] and on the Victory when Nelson sent aloft his British watchword:
"England expects every man will do his duty."
The halo of that signal shone around it at Balaclava, when the heroes of the valley-charge proved it was
"Theirs not to reason why, Theirs not to make reply; Theirs but to do and die";
and again above the Birkenhead, at sea, when five hundred steadfast men went down beneath its folds, inspired by its duty-call.
52. The Union Jack and Shackleton at Farthest South.
(From a photograph taken at the spot.)
In Africa, Melville and Coghill wrapped it around their bodies at Isandula, and won death to save it from the foe; for it the forty mounted riflemen of Matabeleland died in their tracks, singing "God Save the Queen," and yet again at the call of the race the sons of the Flag from all around the world hastened to help it to hold its own upon the veldt.