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Nelson's Trafalgar uniform to move into heart of enemy territory – Paris Nelson's Trafalgar uniform to move into heart of enemy territory – Paris
(about 1 hour later)
The coat left blood-stained and bullet-torn after Horatio Nelson was fatally wounded by a French sharpshooter at the battle of Trafalgar is to make a posthumous incursion deep into the heart of enemy territory. The coat left bloodstained and bullet-torn after Horatio Nelson was fatally wounded by a French sharpshooter at the battle of Trafalgar is to make a posthumous incursion deep into the heart of former enemy territory.
Nelson's undress uniform, which he changed into as his fleet sailed into battle almost 208 years ago, is to be loaned to the Musée de l'Armee in Paris as part of its forthcoming exhibition on Napoleon and Europe. Nelson's undress uniform, which he changed into as his fleet sailed into battle almost 208 years ago, is to be loaned to the Musée de l'Armée in Paris as part of its forthcoming exhibition on Napoleon and Europe.
From the end of March visitors to Les Invalides complex will be able to see the handiwork of the sniper who fired from the mizzen top of the French ship Redoubtable at around 1.15pm on 21 October 1805: the bullet hole in the left shoulder of the coat and the smears of blood that still stain its tails and sleeve. From the end of March Les Invalides complex visitors will be able to see the handiwork of the sniper who fired from the mizzen top of the French ship Redoubtable at around 1.15pm on 21 October 1805: the bullet hole in the left shoulder of the coat and the smears of blood that still stain its tails and sleeve.
Quintin Colville, curator of naval history at the National Maritime Museum, which is lending the uniform to the Musee de l'Armee, describes it as the pinnacle of the Greenwich museum's collection. Quintin Colville, curator of naval history at the National Maritime Museum, which is lending the uniform to the Musée de l'Armée, describes it as the pinnacle of the Greenwich museum's collection.
"It is absolutely an icon of British history and I don't think it has a competitor," he said. "It's never been loaned by the NMM before and hasn't left these shores since it returned from Trafalgar with Nelson's body, so, as you can imagine, every possible precaution has been taken.""It is absolutely an icon of British history and I don't think it has a competitor," he said. "It's never been loaned by the NMM before and hasn't left these shores since it returned from Trafalgar with Nelson's body, so, as you can imagine, every possible precaution has been taken."
In its stead, the museum will display Nelson's full dress uniform, which has not been on show for more than a decade. In its stead, the museum will display Nelson's full dress uniform, not displayed in public for more than a decade.
The coat and waistcoat, which were returned to Lady Hamilton after the battle and later handed over to an alderman as payment for debts, were eventually bought by the prince consort in 1845 and given to Greenwich hospital in London.The coat and waistcoat, which were returned to Lady Hamilton after the battle and later handed over to an alderman as payment for debts, were eventually bought by the prince consort in 1845 and given to Greenwich hospital in London.
In October this year, when it has crossed back over the Channel, the uniform will form the centrepiece of the NMM's new Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery, which charts the Royal Navy's role in 18th-century British history.In October this year, when it has crossed back over the Channel, the uniform will form the centrepiece of the NMM's new Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery, which charts the Royal Navy's role in 18th-century British history.
According to Colville, very few items possess the same transportive power. "Because of the presence of the hole left by the musket ball, it does capture a split-second in time and it takes you straight back to that moment at the heart of an extraordinarily ferocious and all-consuming battle," he said. "Anyone who walks past the uniform is struck by that."According to Colville, very few items possess the same transportive power. "Because of the presence of the hole left by the musket ball, it does capture a split-second in time and it takes you straight back to that moment at the heart of an extraordinarily ferocious and all-consuming battle," he said. "Anyone who walks past the uniform is struck by that."