The discussion on the 'Trafalgar Memorial' thread called to mind the naval temple on The Kymin, near Monmouth in Wales. This commemorates the major naval battles of the 18th century, and in particular, the admirals in command. There is no mention of the men who served.The temple was built before Trafalgar, so that battle is not mentioned, though the Nile is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KyminIt was visited by Nelson and his party during their tour of Wales. Charles Heath, a native of Monmouth who recorded Nelson's visit, observed him as he inspected the monument:
'As his Lordship proceeded round the Temple, I felt a desire to witness the manner of the viewing the painting of his glorious victory, as well as the sensations it might create in his mind: for which purpose I took my station near him. On his Lordship's arrival at this part of the building, he surveyed, with an opera glass which he held in his hand, this representation of his fame with the most calm emotion, as though it had been accomplished by another officer, - after pausing on it for some minutes, he directed his attention to other interesting objects around him.' Afterwards he commented that
'it was not only one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen, but, to the boast of Monmouth, the Temple was the only Monument of its kind erected to the English Navy in the whole range of the Kingdom'.
If ordinary seamen were not commemorated on the monument, they were remembered by Nelson. He loved the admiration that his exploits earned him, but invariably, when acknowledging compliments, always praised the heroism of all who served. Typically, at Monmouth, he remarked, in thanking the company for drinking his health:
'It was my good fortune to have under my command some of the most experienced officers in the English Navy, whose professional skill was seconded by the undaunted courage of British Sailors; and whatever merit might attach itself to me, I must declare, that I had only to shew them the enemy and VICTORY CROWNED THE STANDARD!'
All this information, and much more, is contained in a facsimile reprint of Charles Heath's eyewitness account, published soon after the visit, which I bought at the Nelson Museum in Monmouth - itself a treasure house of Nelson memorabilia. The collections are almost entirely from a bequest by Lady Llangattock, a lifelong admirer of Nelson who lived nearby. She was, incidentally, the mother of Sir Charles Rolls, who co-founded the famous Rolls-Royce car company.
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