Nelson & His World

For those in the UK, starting on Friday is BBC2's 4 part history of the Royal Navy: 'Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World', presented by Dan Snow.

Have just recently received the well illustrated book that goes with the series.

Where did you get the book, Stephen? Useful to have if you nod off in front of the telly and miss bits, like me!

Hi Anna, One of my favorite bookshops, Hatchards, at 187 Piccadilly, London,W1J 9LE. You can see it on their on-line catalogue and order it. A hard book to put down, The Author is Brian Lavery. Hope that helps.

Many thanks, Stephen.

Hatchards! Wonderful, wonderful shop to browse in - combined with lunch in Fortnum's and a visit to the Royal Academy across the road - my perfect day! Though I don't get to London much, these days.

If you can't get to London/are post-Christmas broke, you can order the book much more cheaply from Amazon. I know, I know. I'm not really a Real Bookshop Killer - I always make a point of buying from small, independent bookshops I visit.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url ... &x=11&y=18

Just seen the trailer of Empire of the Seas, looks very impressive hope a DVD of the series is released in due course, for us mortals living overseas.

Stephen,

I couldn't agree more! I couldn't even see the trailer, as clicking on it brought up the message 'not available in your area'.
I will however buy the book which sounds a good read, as Brian Lavery's books usually are.

Any reaction to the first programme?

With Anticipation

I enjoyed the first programme.

Now I want to watch it again and take some notes!!

Definitely looking forward to rest of the series.



MB

Thanks Mark,

I feel a lot better now!

Kester

Pretty sure the book will have all the salient information in it so don't feel too bad.

The series starts in the 1500's.

Going back much further - there is a little thing I have often wondered.

i.e. Alfred the Great is often referred to as the "Father of the British Navy" so we obviously had a reasonably advanced Navy right back in those times - countering the Vikings etc. etc. .

So where was the British Navy - such as it was - when William the Conqueror invaded??

There's probably a very simple answer - but I would be grateful if someone can enlighten me.

MB

Alfred the Great is often referred to as the "Father of the British Navy" so we obviously had a reasonably advanced Navy right back in those times - countering the Vikings etc. etc. .

So where was the British Navy - such as it was - when William the Conqueror invaded??

There was no 'British Navy' as such; in 897 Alfred had ordered the construction of ships which were designed to meet Scandanavian intruders at sea - but there was no continuity of organisation or service, as a crisis receded so ships were disposed of.

The situation in 1066 was complex, Harold being threatened by both Normans and Norwegians - he was forced to concentrate on the latter, and he successfully destroyed their army at Stamford Bridge (25 September 1066) before undertaking the long march south to face the Normans. He had assembled "the largest fleet and army ever seen in England" to resist the two invasions, the ships being assembled at Sandwich. However, either "...from the belief that the ships would not be wanted, or, as the annalist says, because their crews refused to serve after the feast of the Nativity of our Lady (8th September), when their provisions were exhausted, the King allowed them to return to their homes. The ships were sent to London, many being lost on their passage" .
(source - Nicolas, A History of the Royal Navy, using the Saxon Chronicle )

The practice of assembling ships for a single purpose, and then disposing of them afterwards, continued until the 15th century.

Thanks PN

It really does sound a mess doesn't it??!!

i.e. Harold assembled this impressive fleet of ships and then for one or more reasons it was completely ineffectual.

I suppose that after the Battle of Hastings all British resistance must have completely collapsed. Otherwise you would have thought they could still have got this fleet into the channel to isolate the invaders from their home territory.

I guess it would make a great subject for one of those historical "what if" scenarios.

MB

PhiloNauticus'

It sounds like the fleet/ships were probably lost on the Grave Yard of many, the notorious Goodwin Sands. But research into that period must be very difficult indeed.

The following letter from descendants of Admiral Byng protesting about historical inaccuracies in the programme regarding Admiral Byng, appeared in the Daily Telegraph a few days ago:


TV unjust to Admiral Byng

SIR – We are collateral descendants of Admiral Byng, and have reacted to the BBC 2 programme Empire of the Seas in a similar way. While it is excellent to capture the imagination of the public, it is wrong to repeat historical inaccuracies.

Admiral Byng did not “retreat” from Minorca having failed to engage the enemy. After initially engaging with the French, he withdrew to Gibraltar when the enemy had disappeared, in order to mend his battered ships and to tend to his wounded sailors. It was also his duty to defend Gibraltar from the French.

He wrote to the Admiralty asking for reinforcements and stipulated he would then waste no time in attacking the enemy again. This letter was censored by the Admiralty for political reasons. He presented his full-length letter at his court-martial, yet was imprisoned in Greenwich and shot on the Monarch.

What he had written to the Admiralty, on May 25, 1756, was this: “I send their Lordships the resolutions of the council of war, in which there was not the least contention or doubt arose. I hope, indeed, we shall find stores to refit us at Gibraltar; and, if I have any reinforcement, will not lose a moment of time to seek the enemy again, and once more give them battle.”

Thane Byng Nelson
Chris Byng-Maddick
Sarah Saunders-Davies
John Byng-Hall
London NW3

There was a thread on this forum about the attempt by Admiral Byng's descendants to obtain a pardon for him on the 250th anniversary of his execution:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47