Capital City Commemorates Trafalgar 200
Scotland and Edinburgh’s contribution to the Battle of Trafalgar will be commemorated at a public ceremony on Calton Hill this Saturday [eds: 11am, October 15th].
Rear Admiral Nick Harris, the Flag Officer, Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland, and the crew of the HMS Edinburgh, due in port this week, will join the Lord Provost, Rt Hon. Lesley Hinds, in marking the Battle of Trafalgar 200 years on with the laying of wreaths on the Nelson Monument and the ceremonial planting of a Trafalgar Oak.
Lord Provost Lesley Hinds says: "Edinburgh's connection with the campaign is significant. A large number of the Trafalgar fleet's crew were from Edinburgh. This included able seamen, midshipmen and armourer's mates. Even our youngest citizens demonstrated their grit as crewmembers, with some as young as 14 taking part and, astonishingly, a 10-year-old cabin boy from Leith.
"I encourage Edinburgh residents to attend the ceremony on Saturday and honour the part we played in this vital victory."
The memorial service will be held 11.00am - 12.00pm on Calton Hill, Saturday, October 15th with the Royal Marine Band and Naval Chaplain in attendance, and is one of a number of tree plantings and events taking place throughout Scotland to mark the bicentennial of the Battle of Trafalgar. The service will include the Naval Hymn, Lord Nelson’s Prayer, The Last Post, Reveille and Beat Retreat. Following the service, the Lord Provost and Rear Admiral Harris will plant a Trafalgar Oak on Regent Road, then travel to the Assembly Rooms where a civic reception will be held for the crew of HMS Edinburgh.
Talking about Scotland's strong links with the Battle of Trafalgar, Rear Admiral Harris said: "There are many connections between Scotland and Trafalgar. Around 30% of the Fleet's crew hailed from Scotland and Scottish
industry provided timber products, sails, ropes, iron cannons and cannon balls. I am proud to represent Scotland's naval community at this service which commemorates a battle that changed history."
Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager for the Woodland Trust Scotland, the organisation coordinating the Trafalgar memorial tree plantings and events, said: “The tree planting ceremony highlights the important role timber played in British Naval history. We want to get people thinking about just how pivotal timber was then, and remains today – not only to the navy but also in everyday life. Scotland’s trees are as important now as they were 200 years ago, and we can all do our bit to protect them, and to plant new ones.”
As well as the single oak to be planted in Edinburgh, Woodland Trust Scotland aims to plant six Trafalgar woods, nearly 30,000 trees, throughout Scotland this year. This new generation of trees commemorates the tens of thousands used to construct Nelson’s vessels. HMS Victory was built from wood of more than 5,000 oaks and the entire fleet of 27 battle ships contained around 50,000 oaks, representing roughly two million years of tree growth. Nelson himself acknowledged the importance of trees to the success of the British Navy when in 1803 he wrote a letter to Parliament calling for more trees to be planted to safeguard the nation’s woodland.
Media contacts:
Morag Ingram
Media & Communications Officer
The City of Edinburgh Council
Tel 0131 529 4430
morag.ingram@edinburgh.gov.uk
Stan Blackley – Portable PR
for the Woodland Trust Scotland
07770 742449
stan@portablepr.com
Gillian Lang
Deputy Staff Public Relations Officer
Royal Navy FOSNNI Region
Tel 07753 828698
gillian.lang@a.dii.mod.uk
Notes to editors:
1. Scotland’s contribution to the Battle of Trafalgar
Scotland’s contribution to the Battle of Trafalgar was significant. Five of Nelson’s 27 captains of the Fleet were Scottish. In addition, Scotland’s industry contributed via timber products, Baxter’s of Dundee made the Victory’s sails, iron cannons and ropes from Carron Iron Works in Falkirk and, most importantly, crew members. Almost 30% of the crew hailed from Scottish towns and fishing villages. Nelson’s doctor and the woman who embalmed his body were Scottish, and Scottish children as young as 10 were members of the 18,000 strong crew during the battle, the youngest being a cabin boy from Leith.
2. Trafalgar Fleet – Crew members from Edinburgh
A large number of the crew of the Trafalgar fleet came from Edinburgh, including able seamen, midshipmen and armourer’s mates. Amongst the younger crew members from Edinburgh were: David Clerk, a volunteer 1st class on HMS Mars, who was 14 years old at the time of the Battle of Trafalgar; David Stewart, a boy 2nd class on HMS Belleisle, who was 15 years old; Robert Cock, a midshipman on HMS Thunderer, who was 16 years old; and William Dumbreck, a midshipman on HMS Defence, who was 16 years old. Other crew members from Edinburgh included: John Frazer, a 37 year old landsman on HMS Agamemnon; and James Kitchen, a 25 year old quarter gunner on HMS Defence.
3. Woodland Trust Scotland – Standard Editors Note
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,100 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
