Arms: Or a cross patonce Sable surmounted by a bend Gules, thereon another bend engrailed of the field, charged with three hand-grenades of the second, fired proper, a chief of augmentation wavy Argent, thereon waves of the sea, from which issuant in the center a palm tree, between a disabled ship on the dexter and a battery in ruins on the sinister, all proper.
SOURCES, NOTES & CREDITS: “The Double Tressure”, 2005, No.28, The article “Nelson’s Captains” by the late Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick on pages 41-66 for background text and paintings by Mark D. Dennis. The Wikipedia article on Admiral Nelson for additional text adaption. Additional information from BP, 106th Ed., 1999. We were really planning a short caption here, but since we are dealing Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, he gets more space.
Additional note: Nelson was created a Knight of the Bath (KB) in 1797. The Order of the Bath was then a single class Order with Knight Companion (KB). Then in 1815 the Order was reconstituted as a three class order with Knight Gland Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Companion (CB) in two divisions, Military and Civil. By 1815 Nelson was long dead. Most of Nerlson’s Captains ended as Admirals and as Knights Grand Cross and the DT article author, Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, did not want his achievement to appear inferior to those of his surviving captains. Peter goes on to say “They are therefore, given the insignia of a Grand Cross. If you know the rules you can break them.” This in reference to Nelson’s achievement as painted by Mark Dennis.
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson of the Nile, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB 29 Sep 1758- 21 Oct 2005 was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought about a number of decisive British naval victories, during the Napoleonic wars. He was wounded several times, losing sight in one eye in Corsica at the age of 36, and most of one arm in the unsuccessful attempt to conquer Santa Cruz de Tenerife when he was 40. He was fatally shot by a sniper during his Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Nelson chose unusual tactics for the era, he decided to split his fleet in two with the two columns to attack at right angles to the enemy and to split the French/Spanish fleet into three parts. There was a twenty minute period where the British could not answer the enemies fire taking serious damage to sails, spars and masts but as they broke thru the enemy line the British subjected the French and Spanish warships to the terrible trained & practiced broadsides of the Royal Navy which raked the enemy ships fore and aft sweeping their decks of men and overturning their cannon.
Only then did the British ships put themselves alongside the French and Spanish ships exchanging broadsides and boarding the enemy ships. Unfortunately, one of the French ships attacking Victory had trained snipers aboard stationed in their rigging and crow’s nests. This was the French ship Redoubtable whose captain, Jean-Jacques-Etienne Lucas, the only French officer to train his men in marksmanship and these sailors and marines were stationed in the masts and rigging of his ship. One of them fired the shot that killed Nelson.
The artwork is a painting by Mark D. Dennis.
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