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Union flag from Nelson's fleet unfurled again to mark Trafalgar Day Union flag from Nelson's fleet unfurled again to mark Trafalgar Day
(35 minutes later)
A battle-scarred veteran is to go on display again in the National Maritime Museum to mark Trafalgar Day. , A battle-scarred veteran is to go on display again in the National Maritime Museum to mark Trafalgar Day.
The union flag flown by HMS Minotaur in the thick of the fighting on 21 October 1805 will be exhibited in the museum in Greenwich, London, after hanging for almost a century in a Kent church.The union flag flown by HMS Minotaur in the thick of the fighting on 21 October 1805 will be exhibited in the museum in Greenwich, London, after hanging for almost a century in a Kent church.
Negotiations to acquire the flag were only completed a year after the museum’s new Nelson gallery opened in 2013. After extensive conservation work, it finally goes on display to mark the famous victory.Negotiations to acquire the flag were only completed a year after the museum’s new Nelson gallery opened in 2013. After extensive conservation work, it finally goes on display to mark the famous victory.
Before the battle Nelson gave orders that on all his ships “a Union Jack is to be suspended from the fore-topgallant stay”, mainly to help identify friend from foe in the thick of the fighting. Although Trafalgar fakes abound, genuine surviving flags from the battle are very rare. The flag from his own ship, Victory, was carried in his funeral procession and then cut to pieces for souvenirs by the sailors who took part – scraps still occasionally turn up at specialist sales. The last complete flag sold at auction, from HMS Spartiate, went for almost £400,000 in 2009, 40 times the estimate.Before the battle Nelson gave orders that on all his ships “a Union Jack is to be suspended from the fore-topgallant stay”, mainly to help identify friend from foe in the thick of the fighting. Although Trafalgar fakes abound, genuine surviving flags from the battle are very rare. The flag from his own ship, Victory, was carried in his funeral procession and then cut to pieces for souvenirs by the sailors who took part – scraps still occasionally turn up at specialist sales. The last complete flag sold at auction, from HMS Spartiate, went for almost £400,000 in 2009, 40 times the estimate.
Related: How HMS Victory nearly never made it to the Battle of TrafalgarRelated: How HMS Victory nearly never made it to the Battle of Trafalgar
HMS Minotaur was towards the rear of Nelson’s wing of his fleet on the day. The captain, Charles Mansfield, pledged to his assembled crew that he would stick to any ship he engaged “till either she strikes or sinks – or I sink”. Late in the battle he deliberately placed Minotaur between the damaged Victory and an attacking French ship, and he was later awarded a sword and gold medal, both now also in the Maritime Museum, for his gallantry.HMS Minotaur was towards the rear of Nelson’s wing of his fleet on the day. The captain, Charles Mansfield, pledged to his assembled crew that he would stick to any ship he engaged “till either she strikes or sinks – or I sink”. Late in the battle he deliberately placed Minotaur between the damaged Victory and an attacking French ship, and he was later awarded a sword and gold medal, both now also in the Maritime Museum, for his gallantry.
The Minotaur flag was brought home as a trophy, along with an Austrian flag from a captured Spanish ship, by the master’s mate, Stephen Hilton, who was only 20 at Trafalgar. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year, and retired as a commander in 1839 to live quietly in Selling, his native village in Kent, in a house he bought with his prize money and renamed Trafalgar. He died aged 85 in 1872, and is buried in the village churchyard.The Minotaur flag was brought home as a trophy, along with an Austrian flag from a captured Spanish ship, by the master’s mate, Stephen Hilton, who was only 20 at Trafalgar. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year, and retired as a commander in 1839 to live quietly in Selling, his native village in Kent, in a house he bought with his prize money and renamed Trafalgar. He died aged 85 in 1872, and is buried in the village churchyard.
His descendants presented the flags to St Mary’s church in 1930, but in 2011 there was international controversy among Nelson enthusiasts over the proposal by the church to sell the flags to the National Maritime Museum, and the possibility that, like the Spartiate flag, they might go to a private collection overseas.His descendants presented the flags to St Mary’s church in 1930, but in 2011 there was international controversy among Nelson enthusiasts over the proposal by the church to sell the flags to the National Maritime Museum, and the possibility that, like the Spartiate flag, they might go to a private collection overseas.
A conservation report on the flags, which were by then in storage, concluded that they would not survive being displayed again in the church, where they were also vulnerable to thieves or souvenir hunters. As part of the acquisition agreement, a replica flag was made for St Mary’s. The museum is believed to have paid £175,000 for both flags.A conservation report on the flags, which were by then in storage, concluded that they would not survive being displayed again in the church, where they were also vulnerable to thieves or souvenir hunters. As part of the acquisition agreement, a replica flag was made for St Mary’s. The museum is believed to have paid £175,000 for both flags.
The flag has lost its right-hand edge, and an oblong section that may have been cut away as a souvenir, but was in surprisingly good condition. After cleaning and gently ironing out 200 years’ worth of creases and crumples it gained several centimetres, and now measures an imposing 233 x 310cm.The flag has lost its right-hand edge, and an oblong section that may have been cut away as a souvenir, but was in surprisingly good condition. After cleaning and gently ironing out 200 years’ worth of creases and crumples it gained several centimetres, and now measures an imposing 233 x 310cm.