Mars
Wood Location
Daventry, WARWICKSHIRE
Ship Information
Ship Commander - Capt George Duff
Guns - 74
Constructed at - Deptford
Killed in the battle - 29
Injured in the battle - 69
Wood Information
Size - 6 acres
Owner - Marston Hotels
To be planted - November 2005
Mars Wood is being hosted by Marston Hotels, and is situated in the grounds of one of their luxury hotels Hellidon Lakes near Banbury in Warwickshire. The site will be planted in part by the children from the local primary schools.
The area of the wood will cover 3ha (7.5 acres, or the sail area HMS Mars and HMS Victory) of level ground abutting the southern boundary of the property. Running around the interior of the wood will be approximately 750m paths complete with a wide central clearing containing a single oak tree at its centre, total area 0.25ha. The margins of the wood will be planted largely with shrub species to give a graduated woodland edge, such habitats are recognised as a very important part in encouraging woodland biodiversity. This planting will continue against the existing hedges so as to reduce the effect large tree species would have on this existing valuable habitat. Where possible the woodland edge will not be a straight line, so as to mimic a more naturalised habitat. Fencing will be avoided where possible, but may be necessary at entrances to manage access points.
The wood will very quickly become a valuable haven for wildlife and resource for the guests of the hotel. Its changing nature as it matures will ensure that there will always be something new to enjoy.
Roundels - These are a series of three 30m diameter areas planted with tree species used in the construction of HMS Mars. The tree species for each roundel have been chosen for their similar roles within the ship. One contains examples of trees that provided timber for the structure of the ship e.g. oak for beams, another, the objects used by the crew for day to day living e.g. willow for baskets, another, the specialised timbers e.g. Hornbeam for the cannon carriages. In maturity the roundels would consist of a few specimen examples of the original trees.
Events in Mars Wood
A week long schools planting programme took place in November 2005 for local schools to take part in.
A cadet planting day took place in November 2005.
More information
Captain George Duff
Was the son of James Duff, one time sheriff clerk of Banff, Scotland, and a grandson of Alexander Duff of Hatton. He was also a great nephew of William Duff of Dipple who in 1754 had become the First Earl of Fife. In other words, Captain George's grandmother was a younger sister to Dipple.
He was born in 1764, and entered the service in 1777. He commanded the Mars, 74, during the blockade of Rochefort and Brest in 1804-5 and in the Battle of Trafalgar, where he lost his life, 1805. He was killed early in the action by a shot that carried off his head; his fell on the gangway, where it remained, covered by a Union Flag, till the end of the battle. A monument to his memory is in St. Paul's Cathedral; his family received the gold medal for the battle, a piece of plate from the Patriotic Fund and an honourable augmentation of arms. He was grand-nephew to Vice Admiral Robert Duff, who died in 1787, and father of Vice Admiral Norwich Duff who had been present as a Volunteer in the Mars at Trafalgar, and died in 1862.
Mars
HMS Mars was more heavily armed than the standard British 74 gun ship, and carried 24lb guns on the upper deck instead of the usual 18lb. She was built at Deptford and launched in 1794, joining the Channel Fleet where she was in action during the blockade off the French coast.
In September 1798 she fought a successful single ship action against the French Hercule (64 guns), which was chased into the Passage du Raz where she was anchored. The Mars came up alongside, also anchored and at close quarters engaged the Hercule until she surrendered. Both sides suffered severly in the fight and Mars lost 30 killed and 60 wounded, her captain dying after a moratl injury.
Mars joined the fleet blockading off Spain in 1803 and was one of the suppporting squadron close to Cadiz that relayed the news to HMS Victory of the sailing of French and Spanish fleets. At the battle she was in the column led by Admiral Collingwood, and was third inline between Belliesle and Tonnant. George Duff, her captain, had his young son aboard as a volunteer, age 13 and stationed him below before writing a final hasty letter to his wife.
The French and Spanish fleets opened fire at 11.50am but Mars approached in strict silence, almost falling on board the Santa Ana, as she reached the enemy line. To avoid this she turned and engaged the French Pluton (74 guns), but continuing to turn was heavily raked across her stern by the French Fougueux (74 guns) and also fired on by the Spanish Monarca (74 guns) and the French Algesiras (74 guns). The damage to Mars rendered her ungovernable with rigging shot away so that the masts would not take sails, several guns disabled and the rudder head injured. Captain Duff was killed along with 28 others of the crew and 69 were wounded. After this, Mars drifted a way while the crew concentrated on re-rigging the ship to regain control. After the battle, Captain Duff's son had the melancholy duty of writing to his mother in Edinburgh to report his fathers death while the Mars entered for repairs before returning to England. Her First Lieutenant, W. Hennah, was promoted to captain for his conduct in the battle assuming command, and the crew expressed their appreciation of their temporary commander with a rare presentation. Hennah was offered a sword but this was eventually changed to a special tea service.
Mars continued in the navy until 1814 serving in the Channel Fleet and the Baltic. She was hulked at Portsmouth and broken up in 1823-24.
Many thanks to Alan Aberg at the Society for Nautical Research for providing us with information on the ships and their commanders.
