Sailors mark anniversary at Nelson Monument

HMS Collingwood held a commemorative service at the Nelson Monument on Portsdown Hill today, Friday, October 21, to acknowledge the 217th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and in remembrance of the Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell with him.

Commander Terry Tyack, Collingwood’s executive officer, laid a wreath on behalf of the commanding officer.

The event was also attended by a small contingent of naval staff and trainees from the Fareham establishment’s Victory Squadron, with the service led by base chaplain, the Rev Jon Backhouse.

Cmdr Tyack said: “Today allowed us to come together to honour the nation’s greatest Naval leader. It was really important for our young sailors to be here and for them to understand how significant the Battle of Trafalgar was in both the history of the Royal Navy and Britain. Admiral Nelson was highly regarded around the world.”

The monument was constructed by Nelson’s “companions in arms” following the Battle of Trafalgar as a memorial to him, but also serves a practical purpose as it can be seen by ships offshore where it is used as a seamark to bring them safely into Portsmouth Harbour.

An inscription on the monument reads: “Consecrated to the memory of Lord Viscount Nelson by the zealous attachment of all those who fought at Trafalgar to perpetuate his triumph and their regret MVCCCV (1805).”