Agamemnon
Wood LocationBeaulieu, HAMPSHIRE
Ship InformationShip Commander - Capt Sir Edward Berry
Guns - 64
Constructed at - Bucklers Hard
Killed in the battle - 2
Injured in the battle - 8
Wood Information
Size - 3 acres
Owner - Beaulieu Estate
To be planted - November 2005
Agamemnon Wood will be planted on the Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire within a short walking distance of Bucklers Hard, where the ship was constructed. The Euryalus and the Swiftsure, two other ships that took part in the battle were also constructed here. The well preserved Napoleonic shipyard and musuem at Bucklers Hard show clearly the connections between our native woods and the ships at Trafalgar.
The village of Bucklers Hard remains preserved to the present day and a museum describes the process of shipbuilding at the time. Agamemnon was reputedly Nelson's favourite ship.
The wood, which overlooks the Beaulieu river, will be planted by school children visiting the facilities of the Countryside Education Trust on the Estate.
Events in Agamemnon Wood
There was a schools planting events for local schools in November 2005.
A community and cadet planting day took place in the Autumn 2005.
More information
Sir Edward Berry
Was one of a large family left in strained circumstances by the early death of his father, a merchant in London. Through Lord Mulgrave, the boy was, in 1779, appointed as a volunteer to the Burford, 70 guns, with Captain Rainier, then sailing for the East Indies, where she remained till after the conclusion of the war in 1783. In the summer of 1805 he was appointed to the Agamemnon and was present at Trafalgar but had no opportunity for special distinction.
HMS Agamemnon
HMS Agamemnon was built at Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, and was launched in 1781. She was quickly brought into service and sailed to join the fleet in the West Indies, and was captained by Nelson for the three years, 1793-97, in the Mediterranean. She had a distinguished history in the battles of Corsica, San Domingo, St Vincent and the Nile before the 21st October. Berry was regarded as the epitome of the fighting sailor. When Agamemnon rejoined the fleet off Cape Trafalgar Nelson exclaimed, ‘Here comes Berry! Now we shall have a battle.'
Agamemnon was detached to the group forming the link between Cadiz, the frigates and the main fleet before the battle, and almost ran into the enemy fleet as they came out of harbour, before being alerted by Captain Blackwood on HMS Euryalus. She formed part of the British column led by Nelson, lying sixth between Conqueror and Ajax and she opened fire at 1.30. Berry was described by Captain Codrington of the Orion as ‘blazing away’ at the enemy, hut casualties on the Agamemnon were light, 2 dead and 8 wounded, and she did not suffer the severe damage of some of the other ships. After the battle she took the Colossus in tow and from Gibraltar rejoined the blockading force off Cadiz.
In 1809, Agamemnon was wrecked in the River Plate, going heavily aground, so that even when stores were unloaded all attempts to refloat her failed and she had to be abandoned. She is currently being investigated by underwater archaeologists.
Many thanks to Alan Aberg at the Society for Nautical Research for providing us with information on the ships and their commanders.
