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England expects that every man will do his duty[Back] to research pages
![]() A probable reproduction of Nelson's signal
Nelson used the "Telegraphic Signals or Marine Vocabulary" [1] at Trafalgar. The "England expects that every man will do his duty" signal required 12 lifts which were made up of the following flags: 253, 269, 863, 261, 471, 958, 220, 370, 4, 21, 19 and 24. The first substitute (D?) was used for the second 2 in 220. Nelson originally asked for "England confides that every man will do his duty". The word "confides" did not exist in the code book, but Nelson had acquiesced to Lt Pasco's suggestion to replace that word with the code for "expects". [2] The word "duty" did not exist either and had to be spelled out with four hoists using the numeric order of the letters D=4, U=21, T=19 and Y=25. [3] However, two remarks are in order, concerning:
However, some historians have believed over the years that the 1799 code flags were used, and there has been some question of which flag was used as a substitute. The images - one from the Boys Own Paper of 1885, the other a Wills cigarette card - illustrate some differences. Concerning the accuracy of The Boys Own Paper illustration [there are only 11 lifts shown: 2SU3, 269, 261, 471, 9SU5, 280, 370, 4, 21, 19 and 24] which might appear to be out of step with modern research, it is certainly not alone. One of the more widely accepted references is Hulme's 1894 "Flags of the World, their History, Blazonry and Associations" which, to some extent, documents the BOP version.
Finally, as with much historic detail, there is still and most probably always will be some residual factual doubt as to the precise flags used; see the 1837 James' Naval History, Vol 4, p34 "there is not, that we are aware of, a single publication that gives this message precisely as it was delivered".
Notes: [1]
[2] Nelson's instruction was: "Mr Pasco, I wish to say to the Fleet, 'England confides that every man will do his duty'. You must be quick, for I have one more to make, which is for Close Action." Flag Lieutenant John Pasco replied "If your Lordship will permit me to substitute the 'expects' for 'confides' the signal will soon be completed, because the word 'expects' is in the vocabulary, and 'confides' must be spelt." The exact wording of the signal has been retained from a primary sources, including the diary of Lt Pasco, and has been widely published without ever being questioned by serious historians. For more details, see Nicolas, 'Dispatches and Letters of Lord Viscount Nelson', London 1844-6, seven volumes. Variations have occasionally been put forward in the popular press and on the internet without references to source: "this day" is occasionally (and incorrectly [4]) inserted after "expects"; "Nelson" has been suggested (incorrectly) in place of "England"; there is no known historical, primary or other document to support such claims, including Nicolas (Volume VII, p149), quotes Captain Blackwood as refuting James Naval History Volume IV, p34 account of Nelson wishing to 'amuse' the Fleet. [3] The alphabet used here contained only 25 letters; both I and J used the numeric 9; additionally U and V were inversed, hence U=21 [4] From the song 'Death of Nelson', by John Braham, first performed in Arnold and Braham's comic opera The Americans in 1811. To make the metre scan, Arnold added 'this day' before will do his duty', creating a very persistent misquotation.
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Revised: 31 March 2012 |