Personnel undertake Trafalgar Day commemorations
By Marie Arnott
ROYAL NAVY personnel from HMS Collingwood gathered within Fort Nelson last Wednesday (October 21) to mark the 221st anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar; which remains a key part of the country’s history and is a key date for the service that is commemorated every year.
Due to inclement weather the service was held inside the Fort and the party later moved to the Lord Nelson Monument, where Commander Steve May laid a wealth representing HMS Collingwood’s Commanding Officer, Captain John Cromie RN. There was also contributions from buglers and Band members throughout the commemorations.
The ceremony is held every year to remember the leadership, courage and sacrifice of those who secured victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets, a triumph that helped shape Britain’s maritime future.
Commander May said: “Today was a powerful reminder of Admiral Lord Nelson’s inspirational leadership and enduring legacy. Gathering at a monument funded by his officers and sailors offered our young sailors a valuable opportunity to reflect on the significance of the Battle of Trafalgar, its impact on the Royal Navy and Britain, and the values of courage, leadership and service that Nelson embodied. He remains one of our nation’s greatest naval leaders and a figure respected throughout the world.”
The monument stands in honour of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and the sailors who fought alongside him on October 21, 1805. Funded by subscriptions from the officers and men who served under him, with its foundation stone laid in 1807, just two years after his death, it remains both a memorial to Britain’s most celebrated Naval Commander and a navigational landmark overlooking Portsmouth Harbour.
More than two centuries after Trafalgar, the annual ceremony gave today’s sailors the chance to pay their respects and connect with the generations of Royal Navy personnel whose service continues to inspire the Naval Service.
Readers can read more information about HMS Collingwood by visiting this link; which further includes regular updates from across the training establishment in Fareham.
PICTURED BY KEITH WOODLAND: Commander Steve May salutes the Trafalgar monument during commemorations at Fort Nelson last Wednesday (October 21).
