A superb example of the Davison’s Trafalgar Medal 1805, Pewter with contemporary brass frame, complete with double ring suspension. As awarded to the men who saw service aboard Admiral Nelson’s flagship, H.M.S Victory. Very Scarce, and an excellent example of type.
Condition: details crisp, Extremely Fine
The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal 1805 was instituted by Nelson’s Prize Agent, Alexander Davison, and was solely awarded to the seaman of H.M.S Victory who had survived the battle. At the beginning of the battle of Trafalgar, Victory had a compliment of 821 men, of whom 57 were killed. It can therefore be assumed that approximately 760 Davison’s Trafalgar Medal’s were issued. The survival rate is however believed to be no more than 30%.
The French Admiral Villeneuve put to sea on the morning of 19th October 1805 and when the last ship had left port, around noon the following day, he set sail for the Mediterranean. The British frigates, which had been sent to keep track of the enemy fleet throughout the night, were spotted at around 1900 hrs and the order was given to form line of battle. On the morning of 21st October, the main British fleet, which was out of sight and sailing parallel some 10 miles away, turned to intercept. Nelson had already made his plans: to break the enemy line some two or three ships ahead of their commander-in-chief in the centre and achieve victory before the van could come to their aid. At 0600 hrs, Nelson ordered his fleet into two columns. Fitful winds made it a slow business, and for more than six hours, the two columns of British ships slowly approached the French line before Royal Sovereign, leading the lee column, was able to open fire on Fougueux. Around 30 minutes later, Victory broke the line between Bucentaure and Redoubtable firing a treble shotted broadside into the stern of the former from a range of a few yards. At a quarter past one, Nelson was shot, the fatal musket ball entering his left shoulder and lodging in his spine. He died at half past four. Such killing had taken place on Victory's quarter deck that Redoutable attempted to board her, but they were thwarted by the arrival of Eliab Harvey in the 98-gun HMS Temeraire, whose broadside devastated the French ship. Nelson's last order was for the fleet to anchor, but this was countermanded by Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood. Victory suffered 57 killed and 102 wounded.
Victory had been badly damaged in the battle and was not able to move under her own sail. HMS Neptune therefore towed her to Gibraltar for repairs. Victory then carried Nelson's body to England, where, after lying in state at Greenwich, he was buried in Saint Paul’s Cathedral on 9th January 1806
