"IN HONOUR i GAINED THEM"

“IN HONOUR I GAINED THEM”

Take a look one day into the London sky,

There’s a statue staring out with resolute eye.

Proudly stood atop a great pillar in Trafalgar Square,

That’s my Hero Lord Horatio Nelson standing there.

In life he may have been a petulant, slightly built man,

But he had the will of iron and tenacity to lead the van.

 Agamemnon the aged warrior, in which he shared the spoils,

Dashed headlong into conflict, with her billowing royals.

His favourite ship, a veteran with guns totalling sixty four,

Licked her wounds and went back for more

 Blasted sand and grit took his eye in Calvi, Corsica,

Avenged, when the Ca Ira was taken in the Battle of Genoa.

Losing an arm at Santa Cruz, a head wound at the Nile,

Hiding behind the uniform was never “Our Nels” style.

The Battle of Copenhagen, Hyde Parker issued a retreat cry,

Nelson took a telescope and placed it to his blind eye.

“I really do not see the signal” so his squadron led the way,

Leading his brave men from the front, Nelson won the day.

When Horatio raised his flag on Victory, ‘Old Boney’ on land held might,

The Franco-Spanish fleet were amassed, spoiling for a fight.

This mighty force under Admiral Villeneuve, the odds were surely stacked,

On October 21^st 1805 at 4am, Nelsons heavily outnumbered fleet attacked.

The most famous signal broke to the wind for every ‘Jack Tar’ to view.

“England expects every man to do his duty” cheered heartily by the crew.

The Battle of Trafalgar, the day that Nelson defied all odds,

But he paid with his life, shot through from ‘Redoutables’ gods.

A hush fell over the bloody, torn and tattered scene from hell,

 Hardened pressed men and officers alike, prayed for the soul of ‘Nel’.

“In honour I gained them, and in honour I’ll die with them”

Never in England’s history will we see his like again.

He flouted his private life, his reputation badly flawed,

But, to the common man, he was Godlike and rightly adored.

The burial at St Pauls was attended by the wealthy few,

Yet millions watched in tears outside, all wanting to be his crew.

The most poignant moment at the time that Nelson died,

Was Agamemnon all battered and scarred, sailed near to his side.

His favourite ship wept tears of blood, her cannon roared, belching fire,

The world’s biggest ship Santisima Trinidad surrendered to her ire.

Two hundred years plus have passed since Nelson passed away,

      In London, Birmingham and Bridgetown you can see him everyday.

God bless you always Lord Nelson, Admiral of the van,

The true hero of Albion, the greatest ever Englishman.

Phil Hall  March 2013