Trafalgar

Our club "Dinning In Night", which is reported on our Club Meetings page, coincided with Trafalgar Day and fittingly Rotarian, Past President Bernard Mallion PHF who had served in the R.N. gave an overview of the battle. On 21^st October 1805 off Cape Trafalgar 33 French and Spanish ships lined up against the British fleet of 20 ships of the line. Drifting towards one another in light winds the British ships were raked by enemy cannon during which Victory flew the now famous signal

"England expects that every man will do his duty"

Training proved to be the decisive feature of the battle with the ability of the British to reload their cannons six times faster that the Spanish and French vessels. Nelson was sadly killed but the battle was still won which heralded a 150 years of the British domination of the waves and Britain becoming the biggest trading nation in the world.

Bernard then led us in Nelsons Grace.

"MAY THE GREAT GOD, whom I worship, grant to my country 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