From Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal  2 January 1813:

A list of Prisoners from the Port of Bristol confined in Depots in France, October last, 1812, by a gentleman who has been so active in procuring subscriptions for their relief.

LONGWY:

George COOPER, John LEE, John JONES, Stephen LEY, William OKE, Joseph SILCOCK, Thomas OSWALD, Edward ESCOTT, Samuel GRAVES, John ROWLES, John RYAN, William SMITH, Francis MINNITT, John SUMMERS. John Pardo KING,  William STOREY, William GARDNER.

GIVET

John WOOD, John BROCK,  John OWEN, Abraham NICHOLAS, James SULLIVAN, William PRUST, Joseph HERANS

SAIRE LOUIS

John GARDNER, William DAVIS, Edward COGGIN, William COGGIN,  William CROWSHAW, John ROBSON, John EVANS, John BAKER, John EDFORD,  David SMITH, Thomas ANMORE.

ARRAS

Charles HARRIS, John BOSHER, Thomas BROOKES, George MORGAN, Charles BENNETT, William JENKINS, William RICHARDS, Henry LAWRENCE

SEDAN

Thomas ALLEN

CAMBRAI

James JENKINS, John QUARMAN, Thomas HUNT, John ROBINSON, William BURGES, Michael HAYES, Thomas DENDALL,  Henry NICHOLAS, Stephen READ, William WILLIAMS.

In 1809 there was great rejoicing when Mr Midshipman MANSEL, RN, aged 19, a son of the Bishop of Bristol was reunited with his father after being a POW in France for more than five years. Church bells were rung and cannons discharged. (Bury & Norwich Post 22.3.1809)

It is believed that the total number of English prisoners in France was possibly between 20,000 and 25,000, of whom many were travellers and temporary residents detained on the outbreak of war. Presumably this was for the duration of the wars as in 1806 it was estimated that there were some 18,000 French prisoners in this country (of whom not a few were kept in abject conditions at Stapleton) whilst there were under 7,000 English prisoners in France. Officers of the Army and Navy, masters and mates of merchant-men, passengers and others, were all admitted to parole in France under certain restrictions. In some cases those on parole were allowed to return to England: for instance, Rev Mr Crawford, sometime a POW in France arrived Portsmouth in order to carry out some business with regards to his church “living” (Morning Post 26.11.1803). Likewise Lord Barrington was granted permission to return to England (Ipswich Journal 12.5.1804); Capt Leveson Gower, MP for Truro was exchanged for a French officer, General Boyer. (Morning Post 21.11.1804).

English prisoners, both those admitted to parole and those doomed to personal confinement, were sent to fortified towns far in the interior, in some cases even under the shadow of the Pyrenees, in order that the distance from the coast might reduce to the minimum their opportunities of escape. Yet, in spite of this, not a few did contrive to reach England after many hardships and dangers. One such was Captain Goodall who made his escape by swimming across the Rhine and took 30 days to travel from Parish to England. (Bury & Norwich Post, 9.11.1803)

This is a fascinating topic and one to which I intend to return. If you have come across any Napoleonic POWs in your family research please contact me.

CONNERY, JOHN

At Dieppe, in consequence of wounds received on board the John Bull, in an engagement with a French privateer, Mr John Connery, formerly of the City of Bristol. FFBJ 18.11.1809.

HANCOCK, Isaac

On 29^th inst by falling over the side of the French schooner La Muche of which he was prize master, Mr Isaac Hancock, midshipman of the Statira frigate, and son of Mr I. Hancock of this City, a promising young officer, greatly respected by his Captain and crew. FFBJ 1.7.1809.

MALBON, Micajah.

At Stapleton, after a few days illness, Micajah Malbon, esq., Captain, Royal Navy, leaving behind an amiable widow, 4 children and many friends to deplore his loss. He had devoted 34 years of his life to His Majesty's service and distinguished himself in many engagements. FFBJ 19.6.1813

MANSEL

Mr Mansel, aged 19, at Gilbraltar, eldest son of the Bishop of Bristol. He was taken prisoner aged 13 with the unfortunate Captain Wright of the Vincego and escaped from the French after 5 years captivity. But the sufferings which he endured from his long and retracted concealment in wet ditches, marshes, etc for upwards of three months visibly affected his constitution. His friends were anxious for a change of profession but his attachment to the sea was unalterable. After staying with them only a few weeks he sailed as midshipman aboard the Circe frigate, Captain Woolcombe, who has now announced his dissolution. FFBJ 1.12.1810.

Bristol and other local men at Men at Trafalgar, 1805.

Royal Navy (of Bristol unless otherwise stated)

John Alden, Landsman

William Alden, AB

John Allen, Landsman, Bath

H.J. Anderden, Midshipman

George Anderson, Ord Seaman

John Andrews, Quartermaster

John Armstrong, Quartermaster

Charles Arthur, Ord Seaman

William Atkins, AB

Charles Baber, Landsman, Bedminster

George Baker, Carpenter's Crew, Keynsham, Somerset

John Baker, Ord Seaman

Francis Barnes, AB. (see letter above)

James Barnes, Landsman

Peter Barrett, AB

Samuel Bateman, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Joseph Batson, Ord Seaman, Trent (?) Som, (TR "Bellerophon")

Christopher Beaty, Quarter gunner.

George Beck, clerk

George Bedford, AB

John Bell, Landsman, Bath

Abraham Bennett, Boy 2^nd Class

John Bennett, AB

William Berry AB Bath

'Thomas Blake, Ord Seaman

William Blake, Landsman, Marshfield, Glos

Walter Bond, Quarter gunner

Richard Bowden, AB

Robert Boyde, AB, Downing (sic) Glos

Thomas Braine, Ord Seaman

Joseph Briton (sic) Landsman

Philip Britton, Landsman, Bath

William Broad, Ord Seaman

William Broad, Carpenter's crew

John Brock, AB

William Brook, AB, St Garges, (sic) Glos

Joseph Brooks, Landsman

John Brown, AB (? TR "Neptune" and Guadaloupe clasp)

John Brown, AB

William Brown, Ord Seaman

William Buck, Quartermaster

William Buckley, Yeoman of the Sheets

Samuel Burgess, Landsman

James Burton, master's mate, Ratcliffe (sic)

Peter Bush, Boy 2^nd Class, Kingswood, Glos

Joseph Buxton, AB, Hanham, Glos

George Cannon, Landsman, Bath

John Campbell, Quarter gunner

William Cantell, Landsman, Whitechurch (sic) Somerset

Jacob Cappell, Pte. Queen Charlton, Somerset, (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol, (TR "Britannia")

Robert Carr, Midshipman

Comm. John. Carslake. Born Colyton, Devon, 1785. Entered R.N. 1799. Midshipman

on "Victory" 1805. Promoted after the battle to Lieut. Retired Commander,

1852, N.G.S. Medal, two clasps. Died Clifton 1865. (TR)

Charles Cawly, Landsman

John Chambers, Landsman (as Ord. Seaman ?TR "Dreadnought". Martinique clasp)

James Cheek, Landsman

James Cherry, Landsman

Daniel Chilcott, Quarter gunner

Henry Child, AB, Bath

James Chivers, Ord Seaman

William Clements, Landsman, Bath

Thomas Cobley, Ord Seaman

Isaac Cole, Ord Seaman, Hanham, Glos

Samuel Cole, Ord Seaman, Downing, (sic) Glos

John Coleman, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

Michael Collins, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Condon, Ord Seaman

John Cook, Ord Seaman

John Cooper, Landsman, Cyson (sic) (Siston) Glos

John Cope, AB. On "Victory" at Trafalgar, aged 24, seriously wounded. Utrecht

11 May 1803, "Ocean" 15 January 1806.

Samuel Cowles, AB, Downing (sic) Downend

Charles Cox, Landsman, Stapleton, Glos

John Cramer, Landsman

William Crisp. Landsman, Whitchurch, Som

Robert Cuddiford, Carpenter's crew. (TR "Naiad.)

Benjamin Dagger, Carpenter's crew, Bath

William Davis, Ord Seaman

William Dawes, AB

Bartholomew George Smith Day, Midshipman (TR "Revenge". "Superiere" 10 Feb 1809)

Thomas Day, AB

James Dowling, Boy, 2^nd Class

Thomas Downey, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

John Downs, Quarter Gunner

Jeremiah Dunn, AB

James Earle, Midshipman

Francis Eaves, Yeoman of the Sheets. Aged 29, on "Victory" at Trafalgar.

4 May 1804 "Swift", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

James Edwards AB

Samuel Edwards, Landsman

William Edwards, Landsman

William Ellis, Ord Seaman

George Emblin, Coxswain

Henry Evans, Ord Seaman

Matthew Evans, Landsman

Thomas Evans, Ord Seaman

Thomas Evans, Yeoman of the Sheets

William Fields, Ord Seaman

Nicholas Fitzgerald, Carpenter's Crew

Charles Fletcher, AB

Thomas Fletcher, Ord Seaman

John Flooke, Boy, 1^st class

George Floyd, Ord Seaman

William Forrest, AB, Keynsham

James Fowler, Ord Seaman

Thomas Francis, Landsman

John French, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

Edward Fry, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

John Fry, Landsman

Isaac Fudge, Ord Seaman

James Fuller, Ord Seaman

John Gardner, Landsman

John/James Gardner, Landsman

William Gardner, Ord Seaman

Thomas Gascoyne, Ord Seaman

James Gerrard, AB

George Gibbons, AB

Thomas Gibson, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

William Giles, AB

Nicholas Gooding, AB

William Goodman, Ord Seaman

John Gordon, AB, Bath

John Graham, Boy, 3^rd Class

George Grant, AB

William Graves, Ord Seaman

Thomas Griffiths, Ord Seaman

William Griffiths, Landsman

Charles Grimes, Ord Seaman

Joseph Gullick, Landsman

James Hale, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hall, Landsman, Bitton, Glos

Samuel Hammans, Ord Seaman, Somerset

Thomas Handley, AB (TR "Bellerophon"

John Hannam, Carpenter's Crew (TR as Hannan "Ajax")

Joseph Hannam, Boy, 2^nd Class

John Harding, Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, AB

John Hartland, Ord Seaman

James Harvey, Ord Seaman

Samuel Hawkins, AB

George Hayes, AB

John Hazle, AB

James Helliar, Ord Seaman

William Hemmings, Landsman

William Henderson, Trumpeter

Edward Henley, Armourer's Mate

Job Henley, Landsman

William Herbert, Ord Seaman

Augustus Thomas Hickes, Volunteer 1^st Class, Berkeley

(TR as Hicks "Defiance", died 1857)

John Hilliar, Ord Seaman

John Hinds, Quartermaster's Mate

'Thomas Christopher Holland, Midshipman, Bath

Charles Hopkins, Ord Seaman

David Howell, Trumpeter, Bath

Henry Howell, Ord Seaman

John Howell, Ord Seaman

William Howell, Landsman, Manilsfield sic - (Mangotsfield), Glos

William Hubber, Ord Seaman (TR "Polythemus")

Aaron Hubert, Boy, 2^nd Class, Cosham sic - (Cotham?), Bristol. aged 16. On "Victory"

at Trafalgar. 17 April 1803 "Resistance", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

Abraham Hughes, Ord Seaman

William Humphries, Qtr. Gunner, Bath (TR "Mars")

William Hutchinson, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hyde, Landsman (TR "Conqueror")

James Jackson, AB

Richard Jackson, Landsman

James James, Landsman

John James, Ord Seaman

Stephen Watts Jeffries, Ord Seaman, Mangotsfield, Glos

James Jenkins, Ord Seaman

John Jenkins, AB

John Jennings, Ord Seaman

John Johnson, Landsman

John Johnston, Ord Seaman

Francis Jones, Landsman, Bath

George Jones, Landsman

Isaac Jones, Ord Seaman

Richard Jones, Ord Seaman

William Jones, AB

Thomas King, Ord Seaman

William King, Ord Seaman

Edward Kingston, Ord Seaman (TR "Dreadnought")

George Lacey, AB

Samuel Lacey, Ord Seaman

Solomon Leonard, Ord Seaman

John Lisle, Ord Seaman

William Lloyd, Ord Seaman

George Long, Landsman

William Long, Ord Seaman

William Loveless, Landsman, Winterbourne, Glos

Robert Luton, Ord Seaman

William Maggs, Landsman, Bath

George Manning, AB, Bath (?TR as Ord. Seaman "Victory", and Basque Roads)

Thomas Mansfield, yeoman of the Powder Room

John Marks, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Marshall, AB

James Marshall, Landsman

William Marshall, Ord Seaman

John Martin, AB

William Matthews, Ship's Corporal, Bath

Thomas Mason, AB

George May, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Mark McMullen, Landsman, Camerton

William Mearn, Ord Seaman

Henry Merchant, Ord Seaman

Thomas Merchant, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Miller, Ord Seaman

Charles Mills, AB

Simeon Moon, AB, aged 25. On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar.

14 June 1803, Clyde, 2 January 1806, Sussex, HS

John Mooney, Boy 3^rd Class

Joseph Henry Moore, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

Thomas Moore, Landsman, Bath

James Morris, Ord Seaman

William Mountain, Landsman

Samuel Moxom, Landsman

Thomas Murphy, Quarter Gunner

Richard Musto, Bosun's mate

George Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Neal, Ord Seaman

Thomas Neal, AB (TR "Prince")

Richard Newman, Ord Seaman

Thomas Norman, Ord Seaman

John Norton, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Oliver, Landsman

Thomas Ovens, Landsman, Bath

William Owen, AB

John Palmer, Armourer

Charles Parker, Landsman, Bath

Giles Parker, Boy, 3^rd class, Wootton under Edge

Joseph Parker, Ord Seaman

Job Parsons, Landsman

Thomas Partridge, AB, Bath

John Patterson, AB

Coulson Pearce, Ord Seaman

George Pearson, Volunteer 1st Class, Som

*John Peart - see letters, a Portsmouth Man, at Trafalgar

Erasmus Peeps, Midshipman, Pill, Somerset

William Peirce, Ord Seaman

Anthony Perks, Ord Seaman

William Perry, Landsman

Comm. John Phepoe. Born Dublin, 1776, entered RN, 1801. Midshipman "Ajax" at

'Trafalgar. Ret'd Commander, 1848, N.G.S. medal with clasp. Died

Clifton 1862, buried Clifton St Andrews. (TR)

James Phillips: according to his obituary in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal of 14 March 1818, he was Lord Nelson's boatswain on board the "Victory" at the Battle of Trafalgar, "having proved his attachment to his brave Admiral by numerous wounds, viz. four large sabre wounds on his head, many gun shot wounds on his body and three balls in his right thigh and leg, his knee being then shattered. He obtained an honourable discharge and a liberal pension from his King and Country. He was boarded however by the grim tyrant of death in North Street, Bedminster on Monday last, having just attained his 47^th year, the age of his beloved Commander and he will be lowered to his last berth in Redcliff Church tomorrow at o'clock." His name does not appear on the Age of Nelson website. Another report in the Bristol Observer of 25 March 1994, says his name was "Slasher" Brown! HE IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE AN IMPOSTOR!

William Phillips, AB

John Phipps, AB

William Phipps, Landsman

George (or David) Pitt, Ord Seaman, 19, On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar. 11 May

1803, "Puissant", 15 January 1806, "Ocean" (TR "Victory")

George Pontin, Ord Seaman,

Robert Pordie, Yeoman, Bosun's Store room

John Powell, Boy, 2^nd class

John Powell, Ord Seaman, Bath (?TR as "AB" "Conqueror")

William Powers, AB

Charles Price, Frampton, Glos, Ord Seaman

James Price, Landsman (TR "Tennant")

Thomas Prior, Ord Seaman

Francis Pritchard, Landsman

Thomas Pullen, gunsmith, Downing

Samuel Randall, AB, Bath

William Read, Yeoman of the Sheets

Thomas Rees, AB

William Reeves, AB

James Reynolds, Boy, 3^rd Class

John Reynolds, Ord Seaman, Bath

Francis Rice, Landsman

John Rice, Landsman

Daniel Rich, Landsman

Joseph Richardson, AB, Bath

Arthur Roberts, Ord Seaman

William Roberts, Landsman

William Roberts, AB

Daniel Rogers, Ord Seaman, Bedminster, Bristol

Richard Rogers, AB,

John Rudge, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

Thomas Rumney, AB, Pill

James Sanders, AB, Bath

John Saunders, Ord Seaman

Richard Searle, AB, Bath

Samuel Sensbury, Gunner's mate (possibly "Sainsbury")

Comm. Joseph Seymour. Master RN, 1796, Master of "Conqueror" at Trafalgar. Ret'd

Commander 1846. NGS Medal with two clasps. Died Bristol 1862,

buried Arnos Vale. (TR)

Elias Shaddock, Quarter Gunner

Benjamin Shepherd, Ord Seaman

John Shepherd, Ord Seaman

James Sherborne, Landsman

William Simmonds, AB

Benjamin Simmons, Carpenter's Crew (TR "Thunderer")

William Simmons, Ord Seaman, Bath (TR "Thunderer")

William Smart, AB, Bath

Joseph Smith, Landsman

Loinel Smith, Armourer's mate, Bathford, Som

Thomas Smith, Landsman

Thomas Smith, AB, Bath

William Smith, Landsman

William Smith, Ord Seaman

Christopher Spring, Ord Seaman

John Steager, Landsman, Keynsham, Somerset

Joseph Stokes, Ord Seaman

James Stone, Midshipman, Bath

Thomas Stone, Landsman

William Stone, AB

Charles Stowe, Landsman

William Strong, Ord Seaman

William Symonds, Landsman

Francis Taylor, Boy, 3^rd class

Hugh Taylor, AB

William Taylor, Armourer's Mate

John Thomas, Ord Seaman (TR "Tennant")

Joseph Thompson, Landsman

William Thompson, Ord Seaman (TR "Victory")

Joseph Thorn, AB, Ratclift (sic)

Nathaniel Thorn, Landsman

Bowhem Tomkyns, Volunteer, 1^st Class, Bath

Henry Tripp, Ord Seaman

Thomas Tripp, Ord Seaman

James Tucker, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

John Tucker, AB

John Tucker, Ord Seaman

William Turner, Landsman

Jeremiah Vincent, Landsman, Bath

* John Viner, Landsman. See letters.

George Warren, AB, Bath

John Webb, Quartermaster's mate, Alveston, Glos

William Webb, AB

George White AB

John White AB, Bitton, Glos

Thomas White, Master at Arms, Som

Thomas White, AB, Som

James Whiting, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Whittington, AB

Richard Whittington, Landsman, Kingswood, (nr Wootton-under-Edge)

(TR "Leviathan")

Richard Wildgoose, AB

George Wilkins, Ord Seaman, 25. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 11 May 1803,

Utrecht, 15 January 1806, "Ocean"

Henry Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, AB, Churchill, Somerset

Thomas Wilkins, AB, Keynsham, Somerset

John Williams, Landsman

John Williams, Ord Seaman (?TR "Defiance" or "Britannia")

John Williams, AB

John Williams, Landsman

Stephen Williams AB, (TR Revenge")

Thomas Williams, AB

Francis Willis, AB

George Wilson, Boy, 2^nd Class. Aged 17, on "Victory". Killed at Trafalgar.

Joined 27 April 1803. Buried at Sea, 21 October 1805

Samuel Wilson, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Wiltshire, Armourer's Mate, Cainsan (sic) (Keynsham) (TR "Agamemnon", and St Domingo, Malaga.)

Andrew Winter, Landsman

James Wolfe, Ord Seaman

John Wood, AB

John Woodman, Landsman

Jacob Wookey, Ord Seaman, Somerset

John Wright, Armourer's mate

William Wyatt, AB

Thomas York, Landsman

John Young, Midshipman

Royal Marines:

William Abbot, Pte, Marshfield, Glos. (TR "Leviathan")

John Adams, Pte.

William Adams, Pte, St George's, Bristol

Matthew Amos, Pte, "Rackley" sic. (Redcliffe?) Nr Bristol

James Applegate, Pte, Berkeley, Glos, (TR "Naiad")

William Bailey, Pte, Winford, Som

John Ball, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Bartlett, Pte, Walcot, Bath

John Brookes, Pte. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. Aged 30, 14 April 1803, Zealand,

15 January 1806 at Chatham HQ. On TR.

John Buckley, Pte, St James, Bristol

John Cantle, Pte, Bedminster

Jacob Capell, Pte, Queen Charlton, Som (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol (TR "Britannia")

Isaac Chandler, Pte, Melksham, Wilts.

Charles Chappell, Pte, Thornbury

Richard Chinnock, Pte, Lye (sic) on Mendip (TR "Britannia")

F. Charles Clear, Boy, RM

Jeremiah Coke, Clutton, Bath

Thomas Coles, Pte, St Philips, Glos

John Cook, Sergeant, from St Mary Redcliffe

William Cook, Pte, Hawkesbury, Glos

Captain James Cottell, 2^nd Lieut, RM, 1798, 1^st Lieut, 1804. Served in "Tonnant" at

Trafalgar. Retired Half pay, 1835, died Bedminster 1842.

Moses Dagger, Pte, St Philip & St Jacob, Glos

James Davis, Boy, Ratcliffe (sic) Bristol

William Day, Pte

David Drew, Pte, Croomdell (sic) (Cromhall?) Glos

Samuel Eyles, Pte, Stapleton, Glos

James Fisher, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Ford, Pte, C58, St Stephen's, Bristol, aged 24. On "Victory" at Trafalgar.

18 April 1803, Winchelsea, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Grimes, Pte, St Michael's Bristol

John Harding. Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, Pte, Winterbourne, Glos

John Hayward, Boy, RM, Milksham (sic) Wilts

Francis Hicks, Pte, St Bitten, (sic: Bitton) Glos

John Hicks, Pte, Bath

George Hodges, Pte, C40, St Georges, (sic) Bristol. Age 26. On "Victory" at Trafalgar".

17 April 1803 and 15 January 1806, at Chatham HQ.

Edward Hore, Pte, Chew Magney (sic)

Robert House, Pte, Camerton, Som

James Hughes, Pte. St Philips, Bristol

Thomas Hurle, Pte. Berkeley, Glos

George Jeffries, Pte, Siston, Glos

James Jones, Pte, Milksham (sic) Wilts, (TR "Tonnant")

Thomas Lansdown, Pte, Olveston, Glos

Moses Llewellyn, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

Isaac May, Pte, Avening, Glos

George Moseley, Pte, Frampton Cotterell

Cornelius Organ, Pte. North Nibley

John Parfitt, Pte, Strait, Somerset

Charles Parsons, Pte, Yeaton (sic) Somerset

John Phillips, Pte, Temple, Bristol

Charles Pinker, Pte, Temple, Som (Temple Cloud rather than Temple Bristol?)

Amos Poulson, Pte, Melksham

Benjamin Powell, Pte, Timsbury

David Powell, Pte

Henry Powell, Pte, P18, aged 22, On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 21 May 1803,

Zealand, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Skinner, Pte

John Skinner, Pte, Bath

George Skidmore, Pte, Iron Acton, Glos

*? Isaac Smith, Pte, Trowbridge. (see letters)

*John Summers, Pte (see letters)

John Thorn, Pte, Barclay, Som, (sic)

Daniel Webb, Boy, RM, Melksham, Wilts

*? Joseph Webb, Pte, Melksham, Wilts (see letters)

Joseph White, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

John Whiting, Pte, Shepton Mallet (TR)

Mark Williams, Pte, Westbury, Glos

Bibliography

Trafalgar Roll

"Men who served with Nelson" BAFHS Journal, No. 71, March 1993

Age of Nelson website

&

"A British Tar. Examination before a Court Martial of Serving officers of His Majesty's late Ship Java, Jones Humble, boatswain, deposed 'About an hour after the action commenced, I was wounded; I went down and stopped near an hour; and when I got my arm put a little to rights by a tourniquet put on it, nothing else, (my hand was carried away, my arm wounded about the elbow) I put my arm into the bosom of my shirt and went up again and when I saw the enemy ahead of us repairing his damages, I had my orders from Lieutenant Chads before the action began to cheer up the boarders with my pipe that they might make a clean spring of the boarding.' This is a fine and truly characteristic specimen of the British seaman." (FFBJ 5.6.1813)

A sailor at Trafalgar aboard "Britannia" had his leg shot off a little below the knee and said to the officer ordering him to be conveyed to the cockpit "That's but a shilling touch, Your Honour, an inch higher and I should have had my eighteenpence." (ie. pension according to severity.)

The same fellow said to one of his friends, "I say Bob, take a look for my leg, and give me the silver buckle out of my shoe. I'll do as much for you another time." (anecdotes reported FFBJ 16.11.1822)

My mother shows me an advertisement in the Evening Post [around 1954] which reads: “Recruits Wanted for the Girls’ Nautical Training Corps. Apply Thursday evenings, 7 pm, TS “Lotus”, at the Charles Hill Dockyard.” I tingle with anticipation. This is for me; I can already feel the salt spray in my face, and the wind in my hair.

 

Alas for my romantic notions. TS “Lotus” was “a stone ship” firmly aground and there was no boat in which to put to sea, but the cadets seemed friendly, as were the officers, Mrs. Champion who was tall, dark and elegant, and pretty blonde Mrs. Kingsley.

We lined up in two watches, port and starboard, “tallest on the flanks, shortest amidships”, with the officers in front of the big ship’s brass bell and a flag pole, where the flag, a red ensign, would be “bent on” for colours and taken down at sunset. I was placed in the starboard watch.

I learned a few knots, and was kitted out in a smart uniform: navy blue skirt and jacket, white shirt, black tie, black stockings, a white lanyard and a round sailor hat, with the letters G.N.T.C. picked out on the black band. The officers had to be saluted “shortest up, shortest down” and never without your cap on. It was thrilling to be sometimes mistaken for a Wren, but needless to say silly boys called us “The Girls Naughty Training Corps.” I was so keen to receive my Ordinary Cadet armband that I tramped to the Dock Yard on a dark January evening - through the snow.

On Empire Youth Sunday in May 1955 we marched through Bristol with our sister unit from Avonmouth, behind the band of TS “Adventure”, the Sea Cadets’ unit. Unlike nowadays, the twain never trained together. Off duty, it was OK to fraternise, and Brian, the “Adventure” band’s Drum Major went out with Margaret Crew, one of our girls, which seemed impossibly glamourous.

It was our dream to get a boat. Eventually, Mrs. Champion found a small rowing boat, which we called “Lotus Bud”. She was tiny, taking three people at most, and badly needed repair. We held jumble sales and begged donations to raise funds and by the summer she was seaworthy. Before we could take her out we had to undergo a wet bob test to show we could swim. My swimming was never very good but I managed to pass. We had large “Mae West” type water wings, but I don’t recall any talk of insurance. Can you imagine nowadays a crowd of teenage girls with no previous experience rowing up and down the Dock, all the way to where the “Flying Fox” was once moored? Nowadays “Elf and Safety” would have a seizure. Nobody drowned or even fell in, but once we had a race with some Teddy Boys in another boat, and on another occasion we almost rammed a new vessel of Charles Hill’s. It was called “The Queen Mother” but no harm was done.

 

 

This the launch of “Lotus Bud” - I don’t remember who the man is, but I am next to him in the foreground with my head down. Mrs. Champion is standing on the left behind the two Petty Officers. I think the one nearest her is Margaret Crew. Is the officer in the “Bud” Miss Price?

Do you recognise anybody?

Later that summer, with another officer, Miss Price, we joined the Avonmouth girls for a “Crossing the Line” ceremony at Shirehampton fete. As Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, in a green shroud and seaweed in my hair, I instructed my “Doctors” to give a dose of jalap to three cowering Sea Cadets in girls’ clothes. When they were pronounced free of tropical diseases, they were ducked in a canvas tank filled with water. For obvious reasons, the boys gave false names: ‘Arry Ticker, Lofty, Jack Tar. Everybody concerned got very wet.

The next year I went to London to work and joined the Kilburn unit and made more good friends with whom I spent a never to be forgotten week aboard TS “Foudroyant” in Portsmouth Harbour (For more information see  http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/) where we wore bell-bottomed trousers, and slept in hammocks, having to “lash up and stow” in the morning. After a cold water wash in “the heads”, we had seamanship classes or took up oars in the harbour in the whaler. Everyone who wished was allowed to climb so far up the mast into the rigging.

Aboard “Foudroyant” - I am in the middle – The others are Helen Rusk, left and Audrey Felton. The cap ribbon.

 

We even went dancing on the Royal Navy boys’ training ship.  One day, in Portsmouth town, on “shore leave” I absent mindedly put my cap on back to front. A passing sailor, a real one, yelled out, “You’re going astern!” I was mortified.

 

“Foudroyant” in Portsmouth Harbour with a passing Royal Navy MTB.

 

Signals were my thing. In London for an “Anchors Aweigh” display, a bossy officer spotted the crossed flags on my arm, and thanked me for “volunteering” to raise the colours. I had done it loads of times before, but there was a large crowd and Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten was the guest of honour. I was all fingers and thumbs. I had begun to raise the flag, when to my horror, I saw I had attached it upside down. Trying not to panic, I pulled it down, detached it, and started again. In his speech, Lord Mountbatten, looking straight at me, with the hint of a chuckle, congratulated the ship’s company on their excellent signalling. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was a sad day when he was murdered by the IRA.

For a short time I became an officer, but wanderlust got me and I went travelling. I returned my uniform and in a thoughtless moment even gave away my silver bosun’s call, with which I would pipe dignitaries “over the side”. Looking back, for sheer fun, my time with the G.N.T.C. was one of the best times of my life. Some names I remember were Foale, Miller, Shappland, Sheppard: we seldom used first names, but there were also Elaine Evans and two girls called Harris, Margaret and Lyn, who had a brother Dick, a sea cadet; Phyllis Gibson, Petty Officer Anne Edwards of Avonmouth. Where are they now? My name was Doreen Pillinger then.