<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> T H E B O S U N ' S C H R O N I C L E The official Ezine of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' network <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ++ We're arriving earlier on the advice of our mailing list host ++ ++ who is based in Texas, right in the path of Hurricane Rita! ++ VOL. 5, ISSUE 9, October 2005 + Special Nelson issue + 1 DISPATCHES 2 NELSON QUIZ 3 BOOKSHELF 4 FEATURE 5 SALTY SAYINGS 6 CONTESTS 7 COUNTDOWN TO TRAFALGAR 8 QUIZ ANSWERS ==================== 1 DISPATCHES + Four Kydd Books published this month! *TENACIOUS UK hardback edition, Hodder & Stoughton *QUARTERDECK US hardback edition, McBooks Press *MUTINY US paperback edition, McBooks Press *MUTINY Japanese paperback edition, Hayakawa + Collectors' edition going fast There are just a few unreserved copies of the special collectors' edition of TENACIOUS available via the website. These are our allocation of a special collectors' edition, which is itself strictly limited to 1000 copies. The books will be embossed and signed/numbered by Julian on the title page. Email Admin@JulianStockwin.com now to reserve your copy. + A busy schedule for Julian... This month Julian will be giving talks and undertaking author appearances/book signings in Birmingham, London, Greenwich, Modbury, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Plymouth and Truro to mark the launch of TENACIOUS on October 10. There's also a special launch party in Dartmouth at the Royal Castle Hotel, hosted by Harbour Bookshop. It's at 7pm, Tuesday October 18th. Tickets available from the bookstore. Full details of all the events are on the website. + Marine Art Exhibitions in London The renowned Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition is held from October 19-30. Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm, including weekends. Two very timely paintings in the exhibition are Geoff Hunt's "Pickle", the sloop that brought the news of the victory to England, and "The Heavyweight Punch", the three ships, headed by "Victory", that led the line at Trafalgar. And, Derek Gardner has an exhibition of his paintings from October 5-22 at the David Messum Gallery, 8 Cork St, London. + Museum donation Canadian Shipmates visiting the Naval Museum of Alberta, Canada's largest naval museum, will see a familiar name in the donors to a special exhibit, "Trafalgar: 200 Years of Tars, Naval Tradition and Nelson's Inspiration" which runs until December 31. When Julian heard the museum was focusing on the Canadian connection to the story of the great age of sail, he contacted organiser Janet Howse and offered a special mounted piece of tarred rope, recovered from the wreck of HMS "Invincible" which sank en route to fight the French in Canada in 1759. www.Trafalgar2005.ca + "Fighting Temeraire" voted greatest painting in Britain The 98-gun ship that fought so bravely at Trafalgar was immortalised by Turner in this famous painting. She was the only British ship singled out for special praise in Admiral Collingwood's famous victory dispatch. http://www.seabritain2005.com/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.831 + Trafalgar stamps For the stamp collectors among you, the Royal Mail has a special Trafalgar issue this month http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=16200174&mediaId=163003 37 ==================== 2 NELSON QUIZ Match yourself up against Julian and test your knowledge of Nelson with these twenty questions. (Answers at the end of the newsletter.) 1. Where is the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the western hemisphere? 2. How many siblings did Nelson have? 3. In what year was Nelson's Column erected in Trafalgar Square? 4. Which French admiral attended Nelson's funeral? 5. What was the origin of Nelson's famous term "Band of Brothers"? 6. At which first recorded public event was the toast "The Immortal Memory" first used? 7. What wound did Nelson receive on 12 July 1794. 8. What was unusual about Nelson's coat of arms? 9. In which English county was Nelson born? 10. From which English county were the greatest number of sailors in Nelson's Trafalgar fleet? 11. How tall was Nelson? 12. What was Nelson's nickname as a child? 13. How many men and officers served in Victory at Trafalgar? 14. Name Nelson's first command. 15. Who was Josiah Nisbet? 16. How was Nelson's body preserved after his mortal wounding at Trafalgar? 17. How did the inn called "The Wrestler's Arms" find a place in Nelson lore? 18. Which of Nelson's captains was the only one killed at the Battle of the Nile? 19. Who is Anna Tribe? 20. During his lifetime Nelson was a prolific letter writer. Approximately how many do we know of that have survived? ==================== 3 BOOKSHELF With so many titles out on Nelson and the Georgian Navy this year there's almost an embarrassment of riches. In response to a request from Shipmate Andrew Park, Julian has selected six of the books we've reviewed this year that would make a useful reference collection for those interested in delving more deeply into the great age of sail: + "Nelson: A dream of Glory" (February) + "The Sailor's Word-Book" (March) + "Jack Aubrey Commands" (April) + "Nelson's Victory. 101 Questions and Answers" (May) + "The Naval History of Great Britain. 1793-1796" (June) + "The Battle of Trafalgar" (September) And two books seem particularly apt to review this month, "The Ships of Trafalgar" and "Trafalgar Square". The Ships of Trafalgar By Peter Goodwin. Published by Conway. GBP35.00 The nearly three years that Goodwin spent researching and writing this book is certainly reflected in its superb attention to detail. Many books have been written about Trafalgar, but this is the first to provide an in-depth history of each of the 73 British, French and Spanish vessels that were present at the engagement. Interspersed throughout the narrative are fascinating excerpts from the actual ship's logs, together with original plans drawn by the author (who is, of course, the Keeper & Curator of HMS Victory). A well-chosen colour section with paintings by Geoff Hunt, Derek Gardner and others complements this important work. "The Ships of Trafalgar" is a must for serious students of Nelson and one which will set the standard for years to come. + Special offer for Shipmates Subscribers to "The Bosun's Chronicle" can order their own copy of "The Ships of Trafalgar" at GBP5.00 off the retail price of the book, plus free p&p in the UK. The order line is 0870 787 1613, reference CH404. === Trafalgar Square By Jean Hood. Batsford. ISBN 0 7134 8967 7 Although Trafalgar Square with its famous column provides an iconic image of London today, it was not until 1830 that the square acquired its name (courtesy King William IV), and not until many years after his death that Nelson's Column was erected. A fascinating account of the evolution of the square and Nelson's most famous monument. ==================== 4 FEATURE Julian - on Nelson On a visit to Portsmouth last month Julian took time out from a busy schedule of talks to make a short, poignant walk from the site of the George Hotel in High Street (sadly, destroyed by German bombers during the war) to the Sally Port. In his mind's eye it was 1805, and Julian saw the throngs of people lining the way as they bade their hero Lord Nelson "Godspeed". The Admiral was very moved by the moment, and as he was about to board the ship's boat to take him out to "Victory" he said to Hardy, "I have their huzzas before, I have their hearts now!" In the Author's Note in TENACIOUS, Julian writes: "When I first began the Kydd series, as I plotted out the general content of each book, I knew my central character Thomas Kydd would meet Nelson at some time. No writer in this genre can tell of the stirring events in the great age of fighting sail without being aware of Nelson at the centre. "But it was not Trafalgar that I selected for this first meeting; it was the Battle of the Nile - in my mind, Nelson's finest hour. It was there that Nelson effectively altered the course of history and slammed the door in the face of Napoleon's dreams of empire. "Nelson's achievement was all the more amazing as only the year before much of the British fleet was in a state of mutiny. Yet, Nelson took on an enemy of superior numbers and utterly annihilated them, destroying all but two of the French fleet, who fled, but were later tracked down." We asked Julian for three reasons why he believed Nelson was such a great hero. He complained that his list was much longer than that, but if he had to select just three:- "Firstly, Nelson was an inspired leader of men - at all levels. He believed in leading from the front and the men loved him for it. Secondly, in an age when there was an enormous divide between the fo'c'sle and the quarterdeck, Nelson openly championed the courage and skill of Jack Tar. And thirdly, he had a true humanity. Among the many examples of this is the fact that he never forgot the chilling coldness of the knife as his right arm was amputated and later issued special orders that surgeons should warm the blade of the knife in water before operating." Julian has dedicated TENACIOUS to Nelson, choosing the words of his great friend and mentor Lord St Vincent, "All agree there is but one Nelson". ==================== 5 SALTY SAYINGS To be pooped Today, if someone says he is pooped he has taken a figurative beating, and is overwhelmed by exhaustion. The origins of this expression are definitely salty, and come from the Latin "puppis", stern. The poop deck is a high deck above the quarterdeck; although only the larger sailing ships had poops. A ship is "pooped" when a heavy sea breaks over her stern while she is running before the wind in a gale - a very dangerous situation because the vessel's speed in this circumstance is approximately the same as the following sea. She therefore loses steerage way and becomes uncontrollable, with the likelihood of broaching-to and foundering. Readers of QUARTERDECK will recall the tragic fate of "The Lord Woolmer" who was pooped before she could reach the safety of Halifax. =================== 6 CONTESTS All prizes this month have a special connection with Nelson. Deadline: October 25. Email: Bosun@JulianStockwin.com + Limited edition print of "Euryalus" by Geoff Hunt RSMA This is Geoff Hunt's favourite painting so far in his "Fighting Sail" series. She was a 36-gun frigate, first commissioned in 1803 under Captain Blackwood. Euryalus played an important role in gathering intelligence about the enemy in the run-up to Trafalgar, and later, it was from Euryalus that Collingwood wrote his famous dispatch after the battle. For a chance to win this splendid print, email the Bosun with the answer to the following question: Which Spanish ship is included in the Fighting Sail collection? www.artmarine.co.uk + The Ships of Trafalgar And, if you would like your name to go into the hat for a copy, here's the question: Name two of Peter's previous books published by Conway Maritime. http://www.conwaymaritime.co.uk/category/maritimenaval/index.jsp =================== 7 COUNTDOWN TO TRAFALGAR The 21st of this month is of course Trafalgar Day, and the bi-centenary of Nelson's tragic death. There is some evidence that Nelson did not think he would return alive to England after the battle. He was a deeply religious man, and on the morning of 21st October 1805, with the combined fleets of France and Spain in sight, he wrote this 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 any one, tarnish it: and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet. For myself 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." Nelson told one of his captains before the battle, "God bless you, Blackwood, I shall never speak to you again." --- Check out the remaining Trafalgar events http://www.seabritain2005.com/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.753 =================== 8 NELSON QUIZ ANSWERS How did you go? Julian missed three... 1. Where is the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the western hemisphere? On the island of Nevis, in the Horatio Nelson Museum. Nelson had a number of associations with the Caribbean, especially in his early naval career, and married a young Nevis widow, Frances Nisbet, there in 1787. 2. How many siblings did Nelson have? Nelson's parents had eleven children, of whom three girls and five boys survived. Nelson was the third boy. 3. In what year was Nelson's Column erected in Trafalgar Square? 1843. Almost forty years after Nelson's death! 4. Which French admiral attended Nelson's funeral? Villeneuve. After the Battle of Trafalgar he was taken on board Euryalus. In England he was placed in open confinement in Bishop's Waltham in Hampshire, and was given leave to attend Nelson's funeral. Later that year he was returned to France following a formal exchange of prisoners, but only a few days after his arrival he was found dead in his hotel room in Rennes, stabbed through the heart. The official story was that he committed suicide, but rumour has it that he was murdered by Napoleon. 5. What was the origin of Nelson's famous term "Band of Brothers"? Shakespeare's "King Henry V", from the famous Agincourt speech. Nelson used this phrase to describe the close relationship that existed between himself and his captains at the Battle of the Nile. By extension it has come to encompass all those officers who were particularly close to Nelson. 6. At which first recorded public event was the toast "The Immortal Memory" first used? Each year Nelson is remembered with a special toast, "The Immortal Memory", at Trafalgar Night dinners. Although the word "immortal" was often applied to Nelson even when he was alive, the first recorded public event at which it occurred was at a dinner held on Trafalgar Day in 1811, at the Green Man public house near Greenwich. The toast was slightly longer than today: "The immortal memory of Nelson and those who fell with him." 7. What wound did Nelson receive on 12 July, 1794? While directing his ship's guns set up in a shore battery during the siege of Calvi a French shot struck the battery rampart in front of him and he was struck in the face with a shower of gravel. Nelson subsequently lost the sight in his right eye; the eye itself remained intact and he never wore an eyepatch. 8. What was unusual about Nelson's coat of arms? Nelson's family already had a coat of arms but Nelson's knighthood entitled him to supporters on either side of the shield. Nelson insisted on having Jack Tar as a supporter - this was a heraldic innovation and set a precedent, which has been followed by a number of naval knights and peers since. 9. In which English county was Nelson born? Norfolk. He was born at Burnham Thorpe, close to the coastal town of Great Yarmouth on 29 September, 1758. His father was rector of the parish and the Nelson family lived in the parsonage, now no longer standing. 10. From which English county were the greatest number of sailors in Nelson's Trafalgar fleet? Devon. Nelson's men at Trafalgar included over 1,100 men born in Devon. 11. How tall was Nelson? The popular image of Nelson is that he was quite a small man. However, modern research has established that he was about five feet, six inches (around the average male height in the eighteenth century). 12. What was Nelson's nickname as a child? Horace. 13. How many men and officers served in "Victory" at Trafalgar? Her full complement was 850, however at Trafalgar it was only 820. 14. Name Nelson's first command. In 1784, Nelson was given command of the 28-gun "Boreas" and assigned to enforce the Navigation Act in the vicinity of Antigua in the Caribbean. Shortly after his marriage to Frances Nisbet he returned home to England in Boreas. 15. Who was Josiah Nisbet? Nelson's step-son. In 1793 Nelson took Josiah to sea with him in HMS "Agamemnon" but their relationship deteriorated with Nelson's infatuation with Emma Hamilton. Despite this, Nelson used his influence to have Josiah made a post captain at the early age of twenty. He was not fit for this responsibility, however, and left the sea shortly thereafter. He became a successful businessman and after the war ended moved to Paris. Nisbet died in 1830 and was buried in the churchyard at Littleham in Devon, where, just eleven months later, his mother was laid beside him. 16. How was Nelson's body preserved after his mortal wounding at Trafalgar? Brandy and spirits of wine - not rum! Nelson's body was placed in a large cask that was filled with brandy and lashed to Victory's mainmast, guarded by a sentry night and day. The popular nickname for rum, "Nelson's blood", originates from the sailors' tall tale that Nelson's body was preserved in rum, and then after the body had been removed, the alcohol was issued to the Victory's Jack Tars! 17. How did the inn called "The Wrestler's Arms" find a place in Nelson lore? When the landlady asked Nelson if she might change the inn's name to "The Nelson's Arms" he delightedly told her that the name would be absurd as he only had one. 18. Which of Nelson's captains was the only one killed at the Battle of the Nile? Captain George Westcott, a Devon man, the son of a baker. After Westcott's death Nelson made a special visit to his widow and presented her with his own Nile medal. 19. Who is Anna Tribe? Nelson's closest living relative. She is Nelson's (and Emma Hamilton's) great-great-great granddaughter. Mrs Tribe is also Life Vice President of the Nelson Society. 20. During his lifetime Nelson was a prolific letter writer. Approximately how many do we know of that have survived? Well over 5000! Nelson's letters were often characterised by an eager and somewhat unpolished style, almost as if speaking - like the diaries of Samuel Pepys, with which they have sometimes been compared. =================== Next month: All the regulars, plus a look behind the scenes at how the "Kydd Collection" of limited edition prints is produced. Yours aye, THE BOSUN ++ Back issues of the newsletter downloadable from the website ++