Brevynym for Episode 6: The West Country[i], the Baltic[ii], one step into Wales[iii] and the modern-day Trafalgar. A brevynym according to my brain, is a sentence that reveals a bigger story using key words of previous stories.
This episode briefly explores journeys in the past that you can click on the above to read more plus an insight to Vice-Admiral Nelson’s victory with a modern comical twist. First, let me also preface this story to give credit to my father-in-law, Ken Clark, who has journeyed on to eternal peace. In clearing out his files in the attic for my mother-in-law, we found an interesting handwritten note titled, “The Modern Day Trafalgar”. Read through the end of this episode to his fictional dialog between Vice-Admiral Nelson and Flag Captain Hardy commanding HMS Victory during the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. If you have some Naval background you may pick up some jargon, find it funny, politically incorrect in today’s world, but also revealing to the man’s talent for storytelling. Enjoy this episode as you journey with me back in time.
I believe when we go back in time, we learn how our present time is shaped by our past, giving us insight, to our future. Let me start with the West Country. From the town of Exeter in Devon through the new forest, where sheep and ponies roam free, you discover the Jurassic coast to find treasured fossils. In Exeter, St Catherine’s Almshouses was bombed during WWII and now serves as a reminder to the brave soldiers who fought for our freedom. Widdecombe in the Moor is a village steeped in history and famous all over the world for Widdecombe fair, Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Sir Francis Drake’s Buckland Abby Barn reveals Andrew Logan’s Cosmic Egg. The story of Francis Drake’s life is extraordinary from a meek farmer’s boy dreaming of being on a ship to a master commander who helped stop the Spanish invasion of England in 1588. He had previously been very successful in Spanish raids as payback for their attack on his vessel in 1567. More than two hundred years later, Admiral Nelson was still fighting for superiority of the seas. As we leave the West Country to make the connections in the Baltic area, know that we are all on our own individual journeys of life. Some roads take us to no end while others take us to a lifetime of memories and perhaps fame in the process of living.
In Belgium the city of Zeebrugge is a gateway to the medieval city of Ghent. Amazingly, this city was spared bombing during World War II, thus sparing the magnificent ancient buildings from destruction. The city is home of a 14th century belfry, St Michael’s Bridge, St Bavo’s Cathedral, and the 15th century artwork called the “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”. The region of Flanders was made famous from 1915 publication of poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae during World War I. From Belgium, next stop is Denmark traveling by sea up to the Oresund Strait separating Denmark from Sweden into the Baltic Sea to Copenhagen and a fishing village called Dragor reminiscent of Viking days. The connection between Admirals Nelsen and Hardy goes back to 1801 and the first battle of Copenhagen. It seems all history somehow eventually intersects. From Copenhagen to Stockholm to Estonia, Russia, Finland through the Baltic Sea back to Poland the connection of historical events continues. None of us are immune from events of history that shapes our existence.
Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. The single step this time is into Wales. The one step reveals the superiority of ship building resulting from the dominance of British Naval might won from the victory at Trafalgar. In Bristol there is an old steel constructed ship called the ”SS Great Britain”. SS stands for steam ship and was a marvelous specimen of engineering designed by Brunel. His designs also included the suspension bridge over the Avon. His ship’s design included first screw propeller which became the standard for proceeding iron ships. It sailed many times to Australia and America before a damaged mast ended her career. She was relocated back to her construction dock after 127 years of service in 1970 and now on permanent display for generations to see. Could the advancement of modern ships have been possible without superiority of the seas? Perhaps, but technology may have been a casualty of concentrated war efforts. The overwhelming victory over the French and Spanish on 21 October 1805 gave the Royal Navy its most famous triumph and confirmed a long tradition of naval supremacy. Now that Britain commanded the seas inventors were allowed to create on behalf of commerce not war. This historic marine conflict was fought off the Cape of Trafalgar, offshore from Cadiz, Spain, with forces from Spain and France clashing with Britain. The Battle of Trafalgar made Lord Horatio Nelson one of Britain’s most famous war heroes. Now 211 years later, the day is still marked every year on October 21. Viscount Horatio Nelson who was shot and died of his wounds at the moment of his greatest victory. Prior to this famous battle, Nelson was already making his mark through many quotes that are now repeated by various leaders on or off the battle fields. Below is a summary of this famous battle.
Napoleon Bonaparte planned to invade Britain in the summer of 1805 but needed to gain control of the English Channel. He ordered the French fleet to create a blockaded at various ports, meet in West Indies and then return as one fleet with Spain to gain control of the Channel. The Spanish left for the West Indies, but Nelson pursued and stopped them in Cadiz, Spain. At the end of September, Nelson took his fleet of 27 ships, split them into two columns and planned to break through the enemy line.
On 19 October the Franco-Spanish fleet was trying leave the harbor and head for the Mediterranean, so the chase was on. By dawn on 21 October the British fleet was only 9 miles away from the enemy. By noon the HMS Victory hoisted the famous signal ‘England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty’ followed by ‘Engage the enemy more closely’. The two columns led by HMS Victory and HMS Royal Sovereign successfully pierced the enemy line firing into the bow and stern of enemy ships as they passed between them.
Victory was won by the skill of the brave sailors and the brilliance of Nelson. The total number of killed and wounded on both sides was about 8,500 whilst the British took about 20,000 prisoners. Nelson himself had been shot by a musket ball and died when victory was assured.
The era of British naval supremacy brought about by the victory at Trafalgar lasted for a century until Germany’s naval challenge in the first decade of the Twentieth Century.
Now that you have read a little of the history enjoy my recently discovered handwritten satire from Mr. Kenneth H. Clark
“The Modern Day Trafalgar”
Nelson-Order the signal[1] Hardy
Hardy- Aye Aye Sir
Nelson-Hold on, that’s not what I dictated to the signal officer. What’s the meaning of this?
Hardy-Sorry Sir!
Nelson-(Reading aloud) England expects every person to do his duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion, or disability. What gobbledygook is this?
Hardy-A diversity policy, I’m afraid, Sir we are an equal opportunity employer now. We had the devil’s own job getting ‘England’ passed the censors lest it is considered racist.
Nelson-Gadzooks, Hardy, hand me my pipe and tobacco.
Hardy-Sorry Sir, all naval vessels have been designated smoke free working environments.
Nelson- In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us slice the main brace to steel the men before battle.
Hardy-The rum ration has been abolished Admiral. It’s part of the government’s policy on binge drinking.
Nelson-Good heavens Hardy. Suppose we had better get on with it full speed ahead.
Hardy-I think you will find that there is a 4-knot speed limit in this stretch of water.
Nelson-Damn it man! We are on the end of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow’s nest please.
Hardy-That won’t be possible sir.
Nelson-What?
Hardy-Health and Safety has closed the crow’s nest sir. No harness and they said the rope ladder doesn’t meet regulations. They won’t let anyone up there until proper scaffolding can be erected.
Nelson-Then get me the ship’s carpenter right without delay Hardy.
Hardy-He’s busy knocking up a wheelchair access.to the castle Admiral.
Nelson-Wheelchair access? I’ve never heard of anything so absurd.
Hardy-Health and Safety again sir. Have to provide a barrier free environment for the differently disabled.
Nelson-Differently disabled? I’ve only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word[2]. I didn’t rise to the rank of Admiral by playing the disability card.
Hardy-Actually sir you did. The Royal Navy is underrepresented in the areas of visual impairment wound deficiency.
Nelson-Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons.
Hardy-A couple of problems there too sir. Health and Safety won’t let the crew up to rigging without hard hats and they don’t want anyone breathing in too much salt. Haven’t you seen the adverts?
Nelson-I’ve never heard such infancy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy.
Hardy-The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone Admiral.
Nelson-What? This is mutiny!”
Hardy-It is not that Sir. They are afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There is a couple of legal aid lawyers on board watching everyone like hawks.
Nelson-Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?
Hardy-Actually Sir we’re not.
Nelson-We’re not?
Hardy-No sir the Frenchies and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries policy we shouldn’t even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation.
Nelson-But you hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil[3].
Hardy-I wouldn’t let the ship’s diversity coordinator hear you saying that sir. You’re on disciplinary!
Nelson-You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your king[4].
Hardy-Not anymore sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest. It’s the rules, it could save your life.
Nelson-Don’t tell me health and safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy, and the lash?
Hardy-As I explained sir. Rum is off the menu! And there’s a ban on corporate punishment.
Nelson-What about sodomy?
Hardy-I believe that is now kept sir.
Nelson-In that case, kiss me Hardy[5].
Please click onto the below links to learn more about Vice-Admiral’s connection with Lord Nelson and his famous quotes.
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, 1st Baronet, GCB (5 April 1769 – 20 September 1839) was a Royal Navy officer. He took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797, the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 and the Battle of Copenhagen in April 1801 during the French Revolutionary Wars. He served as flag captain to Admiral Lord Nelson, and commanded HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson was shot as he paced the decks with Hardy, and as he lay dying, Nelson’s famous remark of “Kiss me, Hardy” was directed at him. Hardy went on to become First Naval Lord in November 1830 and in that capacity refused to become a Member of Parliament and encouraged the introduction of steam warships.
England expects that every man will do his duty – Wikipedia
TOP 25 QUOTES BY HORATIO NELSON (of 54) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
[1] England expects that every man will do his duty – Wikipedia
[2] “I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes… I really do not see the signal!” ~ Horatio Nelson
[3] “Treat every Frenchman as if he was the devil himself.” ~ Horatio Nelson
[4] “You must consider every man your enemy who speaks ill of your King, and you must treat every Frenchman as if he were the Devil himself.” ~ Horatio Nelson
[5] “Thank God I have done my duty. Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub. Kiss me, Hardy.” ~ Horatio Nelson
[i] http://alookintot.com/2018/08/25/the-west-country/