The Immortal Memory
Today is Trafalgar Day, the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Trafalgar is still one of the greatest naval battles in history, and it spelt the end of France’s 19th century ambitions. As a direct result of it, one hundred years or so of peace was to begin from 1815.
Wardrooms throughout many Commonwealth navies – even some non-Commonwealth navies – will celebrate today with a Trafalgar Night mess dinner. The final toast is the only naval toast drunk traditionally in complete silence, out of respect of the memory of the Admiral. The toast is made to ‘The Immortal Memory.’
For the 200th anniversary, the original toast was reinstated and used by HM The Queen which is:
“The Immortal Memory of Lord Nelson and those who fell with him”
So forget for a moment the fuss over the aircraft carriers and remember a battle when the only things flying were sails, cannonballs and bits of Frenchman.
I’ll be joining you in “spirit” but not in person Eye … 🙂
“The Immortal Memory” …
Sadly “British children reckon the Spanish Armada is a national dish, Walter Raleigh invented the bicycle and 18th Century explorer Captain Cook was the helm of Starship Enterprise, according to research released today .
Three quarters didn’t realise Trafalgar Square is home to Nelson’s Column, with eight per cent reckoning it’s from Eastenders, while 15 per cent thought it was a shopping centre or chocolate biscuit.And a worrying one in ten said Horatio Nelson was the captain of the French national football team in the Nineties “
h/t http://darklochnagar.blogspot.com/