FAITH MATTERS

The Parish Magazine of St. Faith, Havant with St. Nicholas, Langstone

OCTOBER 2005 (Internet Edition)

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From the Rector

Have you ever noticed yourself really hating something about someone or being thoroughly niggled by someone’s irritating habits?  And have you sometimes discovered, to your intense annoyance, that after all, it is your own character trait or habit that you have come to hate because you first recognised it in someone else?  If so, then don’t worry, because such a thing is very common.  In psychotherapy this is known as projection, because we often project our own ‘stuff’ onto other people.

A common projection of non-church goers, for example, is to think that those of us who go to church are pious, good or holy people, or at least we think we are.  And, furthermore we are supposed to think we’re better than everyone else.  Of course this is completely untrue (right?) because we know fully well our own inadequacy and going to church is mostly an expression of our dependence upon the grace and forgiveness of God.  But if a part of this projection is that those of us who go to church know all there is to know about God, the church and the Bible, then I am sure we would all quickly admit this is far from the truth.

Indeed just lately it has been impressed upon me how much of a thirst there is for clear, informed teaching about the Christian life and for the opportunity to discuss what the faith means for us in daily living.  If you think about it, even if the Sunday sermon is interesting or provocative, how often do you have the chance to discuss it with someone?  Or if you find yourself challenged by the ways of the church or distressed by the news, for example, when can you talk this over with a trusted friend?  More and more people seem to want to have a little time in busy and hectic lives to reflect upon the meaning of life, faith, the Bible and the big questions of living.

So it’s time we provided you with some space and time to do so.  Now one of the crucial ingredients for making discussion groups work is that you feel comfortable with those in your group.  Another is that you feel you are all there for the same reason.  It’s no good going to a cookery class if you want to learn to arrange flowers or a gym if you want to be a mechanic.  So we are setting up three new groups to complement the existing Men’s and Women’s groups already in existence.  They each have a different focus, venue and time for meeting.  Some focus upon the Bible, one is more systematic, looking at the various doctrines of the church and the other plans to be responsive to topical issues, such as how do we make sense of the disastrous effects of the Tsunami or Hurricane this year.  Hopefully there is something for most people, but if there are gaps, we will look at forming other groups.

Here is a list of the groups, starting with the existing two, with contact details.  If you would like to know more, please contact the relevant person.
Men’s Group: When – meets every 2^nd Friday in the evening.  Where – venue varies.  What for – physical activity (such as clearing the churchyard or 5-a-side football), discussion on a given topic, quizzes, trips and social time.  Contact: Simon Creasy - 9249 8828.

Women’s Group: When - meets every 2^nd Tuesday at 7:30pm.  Where - at 4 Pine Grove.  What for - Bible based discussion group.  Contact: Carmen Stuart – 9247 0335.

New:

Topical Issues:  When - starts on Monday 17^th October, early evening.  Where - at 21 Mavis Crescent.  Contact - hosted by Joan Medley – 9261 4045, led by Revd Charles Keay – 9247 0817.

Afternoon Bible Study Group.  When - started 28^th September, meets at 2pm.  Where - at 26 Snowberry Crescent, Denvilles.  Contact - hosted by Ken and Mary Bracher – 9248 0608, led by Trevor Hopkinson – 9246 2350.

Theological Discussion Group.  When - started 27^th September, meets every 4^th Tuesday in the evening.  Where - at 8 Fairfield Road.  Contact - hosted and led by Ivan Morley – 9248 2430.

I hope that these groups give you the time and space to reflect upon ideas, thoughts or concerns you may have.  Please make use of them but let me know if there is nothing that ‘scratches where you itch’!                                                                                                                                                    David

About The Parish

The Royal Navy is well represented in our congregation, so there is only one suitable topic for this month - The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805.  As far as I know, there is no one here who actually fought in the battle, although I have not had a chance yet to ask Bill Sagrott, Bill Skilleter or Colin Warlow.  Our Editor, Colin Carter, confirms that he was not there because he was at Fratton Park.  (I seem to remember seeing him that day in the North Stand!)

There has always been this paradox of the Church and its attitude to war.   Clearly, it is against killing and yet chaplains on both sides bless men going into battle.  Both pray for victory, albeit to end the strife.  Many of the great commanders have been the sons of clergymen.  Field Marshal Montgomery's father, to whom he was devoted, was Vicar of St Mark's Kennington in London, where Monty was born.  His father was subsequently Bishop of Tasmania.  Nelson's father was the Vicar of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk, where Horatio was born.  So they were both born in vicarages.  Monty was one of six children but Nelson was one of eleven, three of whom did not survive childhood. 

Both were Christians and this is reflected in their exultations to their men before decisive battles.  Nelson's prayer recorded in his diary before the Battle of Trafalgar contained the words, "May the great God whom I worship grant to my country and for the benefit of Europe in general a great and glorious victory."  Before the decisive Battle of El Alamein, Monty's message to his troops concluded with the words, "Let us all pray that the Lord mighty in battle will give us the victory".  Monty commanded men from many nations on D-Day, but it is less well known that Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar was manned by British, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Swiss and even (take note, Susan!) American seamen.  There were other similarities between the two men.  After his great victory at El Alamein Monty invited the captured Commander of the Afrika Korp, General Von Thoma, to dine with him before going into captivity.   Admiral Nelson after the Battle of the Nile also dined with his opponents - six French Captains and all wounded!  The French Admiral Brueys was unable to be present having been cut in half by a cannon ball during the engagement!

 When Joy and I visited our grand-daughter, Melanie, in Gibraltar, we were surprised to find a Trafalgar Cemetery.  Following the battle, many wounded were taken to Gibraltar and those who did not survive were buried in this small cemetery.  One Headstone was particularly poignant, even after 200 years:  

                Lieutenant William Forster                 Late of His Majesty's Ship Colossus

                Died of the Wounds he Received in the Glorious Battle off Trafalgar

                The 21st Day of October 1805           Aged 20 Years

This is my memory of Trafalgar.                                                                                          Roger Bryant

End of Summer Party

The third end of summer party on Saturday 10^th September was held in the Church Hall instead of the Rectory because of the uncertainty of the weather.  Heavy showers had been forecast for the afternoon and the rain came just after the scheduled end!

Around 70 adults and children enjoyed good food, good refreshments and good company.  A bouncy castle was erected in the hall which the children enjoyed.

Rt Rev Kenneth Stevenson – Bishop of Portsmouth

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bishop who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, and with his family.  He will be out of action for up to six months while he undergoes a course of treatment.
 

Edna Gomersall

November 2005 will figure large in the diary of Edna Gomersall.  Not only will she reach the remarkable age of 90, but she will also step aside from the management of St. Faith’s very own charity shop, The Coach House.  Edna has agreed to answer a few questions as we reflect over the past years and look forward to the future.

When did you first become involved with the Coach House?

It was in May, 1975 that Canon Brown and I met in the place that was to become The Coach House.  “Could you run a shop in here?” he asked.  I suppose I must have said yes!

Had you done anything like this before?

Oh yes!  Right from the time when Canon Duke Baker was rector we had organised shops throughout the town, using vacant premises for a few weeks at a time, mostly to raise money for some particular purpose or other.  Before that, we were involved in two bazaars every year  here in Havant, and two at what was to become St. Albans, as well as countless jumble sales.

Is there a history of shop keeping in your family?

My mother kept a shop in Thernscoe, near Rotherham, and my grandmother Polly had shops in Low Valley and Selby in Yorkshire.  As a young girl, I worked in all of them, for more hours than would be allowed today.

How did the first Coach House shop perform?

It was a struggle!  The place was bare and we had to make or appeal for all the fixtures and fittings. Some of them are still there today.  I remember travelling all the way to Southsea to collect a garment rail, only to find it didn’t come apart, and was far too big to fit in the car!  Can you believe we actually borrowed our coat hangers from Chapman’s Laundry in East Street.  Now we have more than we know what to do with!  However by September we were able to open and we traded for about seven weeks.

What do you say to those who claim there are now too many charity shops?

People have always bought second hand goods, some because they want to, some because they had to.  It may be called recycling today, but it’s always been here.  Anyway, I know the Coach House not only sells goods that are needed but also acts as a drop in centre for many elderly and lonely people who enjoy a kindly word and a bit of company.

What are the biggest changes you have seen over the years?

As time passes, fewer and fewer people can find the time to help and many that do are growing older.  I look back and remember so many dear friends who are no longer with us.   But it’s lovely when we have a new face on the scene, and I appreciate all the more the faithful service my present helpers give.  The other thing is the changes in the law that tells me what I can and cannot sell: electrical goods are particularly difficult.

What was the most unusual item that you have had on sale? 

Some years ago, the convent of St. Annes at Emsworth decided to close and the community returned to the United States.  Amongst the things they gave us before leaving was a fine china container, the purpose of which was the relief of the sisters, who at times were called upon to remain in the chapel at devotions for up to four hours!  The container was apparently passed along the pews and used by the sisters beneath their habit!

In purely financial terms, just how well does the parish benefit from the shop?

We contribute about eleven thousand pounds each year from sales, plus income from letting the shop premises to others.  We used to do a little better, but the fire at Waitrose has had an effect on the number of customers, and as I said, we have problems in dealing with electrical products now.

Just how much help have you had from Tom over the years?

Without Tom’s help and support it would all have been impossible.  He’s collected, repaired, built, painted and delivered all manner of things.  He has regularly helped decorate, clean and repair the shop, and in years gone by, grown plants and flowers in the garden.  He not only cooks our meals, but when I’m working in the shop, he opens up for me in the morning, locks up at tea time, counts the cash and does the banking.  I would have been lost without him, God bless him.

What then of the future?

I hope to be able to continue to help in some small way, but my health is not as good as it was.  I should be pleased to offer any advice that I can, but only if and when I am asked!  Many of my dearest friends are to be found at the shop, and I could not imagine not being able to see them. 

Any advice for those continuing the good work?

Always remember the two “P”s.  Pricing and Presentation, and above all, be courteous not only to the customers, but also to each other.

As we finish our conversation, I notice that Tom is busy in the shed, there are goods waiting to be priced in the breakfast room, and the car is loaded up ready for tomorrow’s early morning trip to the hall.  Plainly there remains much to be done between now and that big birthday in November.

 Ivan Morley

Fairs have been held in the churchyard and streets around the church since the 1400’s – the ancient Fairs were held on St. Barnabas Day, 22^nd June.  The Fair is now held on the last Saturday in August – this year on 27^th – the stocks were back in place as it would have been in past times.

The church bells rang as the Mayor, Cllr Cyril Hilton, declared the Fair open while our Town Crier, Roger, was busy in West Street.

Many thanks to everyone who helped or donated – the Mayor, bell ringers, musicians, Scottish dancers, the Air Training Corps, stall holders and helpers, voluntary organisations, Havant Liveability Board, local shops who gave so generously and the market traders who held a collection on the day.

Particular thanks this year to Mike Dodsworth who took on the Grand Draw and made it so successful and to all those who set up the Fair and cleared away.

After expenses, the Fair raised £4,660 for the Restoration and Redevelopment Fund.  The largest contributors were the Grand Draw £1,200, Bottles £600, Books £415 and Tombola £360.

If you would like to join the committee or have any suggestions for the next Fair in 2006 please contact us.

Ann, David, Joan, Roger, Sandra & Sarah

Do you agree with The News headline in their 5 September edition which reported on the Fair - “Cash injection for outdated church”.  A more appropriate headline I suggest would have been “Cash injection for historic church”.

From the Registers - September

17^th Baptism of Adam John Gibbs

25^th Baptism of Hannah Frost

T R I O “Now where have I seen that before?"

Stop scratching your heads: all will be revealed.

Two years ago? Mmmm maybe.  St. Faith's Stewardship Campaign? Of course!

That's what you were going to say, wasn't it?  You will remember it was expanded to read:  The Responsibility Is Ours.

It was a reminder that what we do with our time, talents and money is up to us, but if we are sincere in our membership of the Christian Faith and Church we need to consider carefully how we use those three gifts.  Time, Talents and Money, which God has freely given to us, in his service.  Two years ago we had a very satisfactory response, and many members of the congregation offered their time and talents in various ways.  Many also increased their giving through the Envelope Scheme.  All well and good, you may say, so why is it cropping up again now?

The Diocese of Portsmouth, of which we are part, has asked all parishes to invite their congregations to review their Stewardship commitments.  You may already be doing much in the Church's service, and giving generously to the work, for which we are most grateful.  All we are asked by the Diocese to do now is to look again at our commitments and giving.  Are we satisfied that we are doing our best?  Could we just manage to squeeze in that little extra time to extend our service?  Have our financial circumstances changed in any way?  Is the amount we give each week, month or year still a fair proportion of our income, taking into account our necessary commitments?

We shall be launching this Review with a special service at the 9.30am Eucharist on Sunday, October 23^rd.  Please do your best to be present on that occasion.  Every one will be receiving an individual letter with the information about it, and a Response Form to be returned showing any changes or additions to your Stewardship which you feel you can make.  Please read and consider it very prayerfully, then see that your Response Form is returned within the following few weeks.

When the people of Israel had given towards the building of the Temple, King David began to praise God, and said, "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering?  For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you."  Remember that God gave the very best to us, his Son Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving; we must surely give of our best to him.

The whole Review will culminate in a Service of Thanksgiving at the Eucharist on Sunday, November 20^th at 9.30am.  We look forward to seeing you all there! Trevor Hopkinson Stewardship Campaign

"War of the Worlds - The Crusades"

For two centuries the worlds of Christendom and Islam were at war in a conflict which embraced men of all religions and races.  This War of the Worlds started at a time of great change.  The western world was emerging from the blanket of the dark ages to be confronted in the East by the massive, but declining, civilisation of the Byzantium Empire, which had itself replaced the old Roman Empire, which like all great empires had perished from within.  Western Catholics hated Byzantium Christians of the Orthodox Church, and were in turn detested by them.  The world of Islam confronted both the Western World and the Byzantium Empire.  Within the Islam World, Arabs opposed Turks and Sunnites opposed Shi'ites. Throw into this cauldron the peoples of the lands through which armies were to march and fight and you have a powder keg ready to set the Middle East ablaze.  

Our narrative starts in 1055 when the Seljuk Turks, nomadic shepherds from the Steppes of central Asia who had converted to Islam, had entered Baghdad at the invitation of the Caliph.  They were great warriors and in the next 15 years they spread across the land to form a vast empire stretching to the borders of the Byzantium Empire.  In 1071, they confronted and destroyed the Byzantium Army at Manzikert (now in Eastern Turkey) thereby closing the routes of Western Christians to the Holy Land.  The choice for Western pilgrims was simple; either visit the Holy Land by sea or defeat the Turkish Army.  The bulk of the Byzantium people spoke Greek and lived in the "Invincible City" - Constantinople.  But the heartland of the Byzantium Empire, the rich and fertile steppes of Anatolia, was in the hands of the Turks.  Many pleas for help went out from the Byzantium Emperor, Alexius I Comnenus, but there was no response from Pope Gregory or the West.   

When Urban II became Pope, he set out to improve relations with the Christians of the East and he and Alexius became friends.  In 1095, Pope Urban called his first Great Council at Clermont in France.  Urban was a great orator and before a huge audience, including 300 bishops, he announced a crusade to drive the Turks away from the Holy Land.  He demanded that his audience should not waste their lives in sin and misery here, when they could be finding happiness in this world and salvation in the next by being soldiers of Christ in the land where Christ had lived and died.  He told them that God would lead them.   There and then he promised them absolution and remission of all their sins!  A massive response spread across France and all the Western countries, with priests and monks raising crowds to fever pitch demanding a holy war against the Turks. 

One monk, known as Peter the Hermit, emerged as the leader of the First Crusade.  He was described as a small, middle aged man, with a long and unsmiling face, who always rode a donkey.  His only clothing was an appallingly dirty monk's habit and cloak, his bare feet had not been washed for years and he would not eat bread or meat, preferring fish washed down by wine.  He had developed a hatred of Turks when they refused him entry into the Holy Land.  Peter assembled in Cologne an undisciplined army of 20,000, drawn from all over Western Europe.  Tired of waiting for Peter, an impoverished French knight, named Walter Sansavoir, set out with several thousand Frenchmen up the Rhine and into Hungary, where they were welcomed.  On they went until they reached the Byzantium border where things went horribly wrong in a small Hungarian border town.

The Crusaders were hungry and started to rampage and pillage the countryside until Hungarian troops were sent to restore order, in the process of which many of the French were killed.  Some fled across the border but those bringing up the rear were disarmed and stripped before being sent across the border naked to join the rest.  The Byzantium authorities treated the French very well.  They were fed and escort by the Byzantium Army on to Constantinople.  Meanwhile, Peter the Hermit and his troops were on the march but when they reached the same Hungarian frontier town they found the bodies of the French Crusaders hanging from the walls.  Peter's army set upon the local Hungarians, killing 4,000 townspeople and looting the town of everything they could carry.  All in the name of Christ!  They then sped across the border and made their way to Belgrade.  News of the atrocity in Hungary had reached the townspeople and they had fled to the mountains, leaving Belgrade an open city.  Peter's troops sacked the city, set it on fire and left heavily laden with food looted from the markets.

The Crusaders marched through the Siberian forest until they reached Nish, where the Governor allowed them to buy food, requiring only that they provide hostages to guarantee good behaviour.  All went well until they were leaving, when some of the German Crusaders decided to set fire to some mills.  The Governor sent a small detachment of troops to restore order but then Peter's undisciplined troops rashly decided to attack the town.  This brought them into battle with professional and disciplined soldiers in fortified positions.  The Crusaders were slaughtered in their hundreds and Peter and a remnant of 500 fled the battlefield, minus his money-chest.  Fortunately, thousands more joined him, having run away during the battle, and he was able to assemble a reasonable force to move on without further trouble until they reached Constantinople and Emperor Alexius.  All this and they were yet to fight the Turks.  But that comes next month and with devastating consequences for Peter and his Crusaders!

                                                                                                                                          Roger Bryant

A Misleading Headline.  A farmer's wife is best shot. (Fiona beware!)

From the Editor

This year we have been celebrating two significant dates in our history, the 60^th anniversary of the ending of World War Two and the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar.  If we had not had outstanding leaders at the time, Winston Churchill and Horatio Nelson, and things had turned out differently, we could all have been speaking German or French.  If this had been the case, there may not have been a Church of England and you would not have the pleasure of reading “Faith Matters”!

Roger Bryant starts a series on “The Crusades” beginning in the year 1055 which shows the worlds of Christendom and Islam in conflict.  950 years later, what has changed?

My nephew and his wife renewed their wedding vows last month and invited Beryl and I to attend the ceremony at St Mathews Church in Wigan, so we took the opportunity to spend a few days in the Lake District.  It is such a beautiful and peaceful part of the country.  One of our favourite spots is Tarn Haws near Hawkeshead.                                                                                                                   Colin Carter

The Rowans Hospice

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Refreshments, Hospice Calendars, Cards, Diaries, Local Craft, etc.

PLEASE DO COME ALONG

Why Do We Shake Hands at The Peace?

{I found this amusing article in a country parish magazine - reprinted by kind permission of the editor of “Glenside”, Castle Bytham - JPS}

Offering one another a sign of peace, by shaking hands, is the modern equivalent of the ancient Christian custom of exchanging the kiss of peace.  But the hand shake is not by origin a symbol of peace, although it has certainly become that; it is a relic of our violent past.

The practice of shaking hands began in the days when it behoved a gentleman to walk with his hand on the hilt of his sword in order to defend himself at all times.  However, when he met someone towards whom he felt no mistrust he would hold out his hands palms facing upwards, to show he had no weapon and to imply the person he met didn't need one either.  Regrettably, trusting only went so far and eventually, to ensure neither man could suddenly draw his sword, the habit of clasping hands developed.  Initially this was all four hands but, as most people used a sword in their right hand it became just two.  Thus the hand shake came into being.

Certainly no one wears swords these days, I'm sure it's against the law except on ceremonial occasions, and I haven't seen anyone wearing one to church since I left the army.  However I do recall vividly an experience from my Service days that has always made me slightly nervous when visiting a church where the exchanging of the Peace takes place.

I was in North America on a military exercise with one of the Royal Anglian Regiments, we were in Washington State, just south of the Rocky Mountains, where we were the guests of the US Rangers.  On Palm Sunday I was invited to remove my uniform, put on ceremonial robes, and preach in the garrison church.  The Americans love a parade and so we assembled half a mile from the church and processed, led by the choir, to the church.  It was during the service that my host turned to me and said, "We exchange the peace in this church, try and forget you are a reserved Englishman".  Eventually the moment of truth arrived and the priest duly said to the congregation "The Peace of the Lord be always with you", and said to me, "Come on, we go down and join them".  This we duly did while everyone in that packed church streamed out of the pews and went around hugging each other.  I was stood just below the chancel step, feeling and no doubt looking rather bemused, when this very large black lady marched up to me, threw her arms around me and proceeded to lift me off the floor.  She then bounced me up and down on her very ample bosom while exclaiming "Peace be with you baby". When finally released I recall not so much a feeling of peace but seasickness!

Rev Bryan Bennett, Lincolnshire, Oct 2003

Archdeacon John Gibson

Some parishioners may remember John Gibson who was an assistant priest to Canon Derek Brown in 1974 and during his time at St. Faith’s he married Sandra & Sammy Haggan.  He lived at 5 Grove Road in Havant, which was then a property owned by the church.  John is now an Archdeacon and lives in Riverina, Australia, and flew to the UK with his wife Narelle for the wedding of his nephew, Gareth, in the Chapel of the Royal Agriculture College in Cirencester in May.

The Battle of Trafalgar - 21st October 1805

Early morning of the 3^rd September 1805 Admiral Nelson was at his home at Merton, after chasing the French and Spanish Fleet under the command of Admiral Villeneuve, all over the Mediterranean and the West Indies and back, a voyage of 14,000 miles, when he received news that the enemy fleet was at Cadiz (south west Spain).

On the night of 13^th September Nelson travelled to Portsmouth and boarded the HMS Victory on the afternoon of the 14^th, weighing anchor on Sunday 15^th, arriving off Lisbon on 25^th, and sent messages to the British Consulate to keep his arrival a secret, and to Vice Admiral Collingwood, not to hoist his colours on his arrival.  Nelson and Victory joined the fleet off Cadiz on 28^th September.

Two days after his arrival it was Nelson’s forty-seventh birthday, when he entertained his flag officers and captains to dinner, and laid his plans for destroying the enemy.  To maintain the fleet off Cadiz required him to send ships to the Straits to reprovision and water.  The first detachment of six sail of the line left almost immediately, leaving Nelson with only twenty six sail of the line.  Nelson moved his fleet fifty miles out into the Atlantic, where he could guard against surprise from the north and control the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar.  The task of watching the enemy was left to the frigates and a linking division of the faster seventy four gun sail of the line, which maintained hourly communications by flag and gun.  By withdrawing, Nelson hoped to tempt Villeneuve out, but unknown to the British, Villeneuve was preparing for sea.  On the 28^th September Villeneuve had received orders from Napoleon to sail for Cartanga and Naples, but on the 2^nd October just as they were about to sail, rumours reached Cadiz of Nelson's arrival.  Immediately the port was in a tumult and the order to sail was suspended.  All hands were diverted to arming the harbour guard with gunboats.  With Villeneuve’s failure to sail, hopes for a fight fell very low in the fleet.  In the meantime HMS Royal Sovereign arrived from England after a refit. 

On the 9^th October after new orders reached Nelson, he issued instructions to his flag officers and captains, the plan already outlined to them verbally, in the two evenings in his cabin and committed them in writing.  Knowing that the usual battle was carried out with the ships in line ahead, Nelson proposed to attack the French and Spanish Fleet from abeam (approaching them at right angles) - one column to break the line at the twelfth ship in line, the other column to break through the rear section.  Intelligence forced Villeneuve’s hand, and on the 18^th October, two factors favoured him making a break - the wind was in his favour and he was to be superseded as Commander -in-Chief.  Captain Blackwood in HMS Euryalus observed the unmistakable signs of the French and Spanish ships preparing for sea and he sent a signal to Nelson. 

By the morning of the 21^st October, the combined enemy fleet of thirty three ships of the line was at sea, and had been in sight since dawn, silhouetted against the early light.  At 7.20am Nelson ordered his ships to form two columns as planned and to sail on the given course of east-north-east, and a little later the signal was given to "prepare for battle".  There were concerns about Nelson’s safety and it was suggested that his flag be transferred because Victory was so well known as his ship and would be a target for every gunner and sharpshooter who would pack the rigging.  It was also suggested that he should change his coat to conceal the orders on his chest but he said there was no time.  Shortly before 11am Nelson went below, after measuring the distance to the enemy, who were very close, he wrote in his diary his prayer.

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 my self 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 and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.

Amen.  Amen.  Amen

Back on the quarterdeck, Nelson recognized that the first ranging shots would soon be fired.  He said to his signals officer, Lieutenant John Pasco, that he wished to amuse the fleet with a special signal and it would read "England confides that every man will do his duty".  With little time left, it was suggested that it be changed to "England expects that every man will do his duty", as “confides” would need eight separate flags to spell it out, but a single code-flag existed for the word “expects”.  The two divisions were like two spears still heading east-north-east at the four mile long enemy line about ten miles off the Spanish coast.  For most of its length the line was no line at all with as many as three ships abreast of each other.  At 11.30am it was clear that Collingwood's southern division would strike first.  Nelson's flag was seen in the van of the enemy line before smoke blanketed the identity of all but the nearest vessels, four of the enemy ships fired at the Victory as she sailed towards them with all sails set, gun ports open and guns run out.  As the Victory closed on the line of ships, the range was established and half a dozen of the enemy ships began to fire broadsides, not all accurately.  In a moment, Victory's mizzen top mast was down and trailing rigging across her deck, the tiller ropes were cut and the wheel was smashed.  Eventually they smashed through the enemy line between the Bucentaure, Villeneuve’s flagship, and the Redoubtable.  In passing they fired a broadside, which blew the stem in, killing and disabling at least one-third of the Bucentaure's crew.  Victory drifted slowly away still clutched by the Redoubtable, firing starboard broadsides into her and a port broadside into Santissima Trinidad - both enemy ships giving the Victory a pounding.  The Redoutable's Captain did not believe in gunnery duels and closed all his gun ports, favouring pikes and cutlass supported with grenades.

The close engagement meant devastating fire from aloft, an armed party with grappling irons ready for boarding the Victory.  At about 1.15pm Nelson and Captain Hardy were still pacing the Quarterdeck, when a single sharpshooter identified a small man in a tricorne hat and glittering orders through the smoke - he took aim and squeezed the trigger.  The ball struck Nelson on the left shoulder, pierced his chest and lodged in his spine, with a fragment of epaulette gold braid adhering to it.  As Nelson slipped to the deck, Hardy noted his absence - he turned and saw Nelson had fallen on his right side - few men had witnessed the tragedy.

He was taken to the sick bay at the bottom of the ship by two seaman, with his faced covered so he would not be recognised.  Nelson kept asking for Hardy, but received a message that Hardy would come at the first opportunity.  Hardy visited an hour after Nelson was wounded and informed Nelson that they had twelve or fourteen ships in their possession and then left, returning later to tell Nelson that they had won a great victory.  Nelson, in almost his last words "In a few minutes I will be no more", his speech was very soft, and said to Hardy "Don’t throw me overboard".  Hardy was on his knees when Nelson asked him to kiss him, and said "Now I am satisfied.  Thank God, I have done my duty".  At 4.30pm with the British victory complete Nelson died.  Now there was no holding back from the Fleet the news of the loss of their beloved Commander-in-Chief.                   William Sagrott

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