The New Trafalgar Dispatch

The New Trafalgar Dispatch - what it's all about

On 4 November 1805, HMS Pickle arrived in Falmouth with a young Naval Officer, Lieutenant Lapenotiere onboard.

Lapenotiere was carrying Collingwood's report (dispatch) of England's victory at The Battle of Trafalgar and the sad news of Nelson's death at the battle. Lapenotiere rode from Falmouth to The Admiralty in London in a post chaise (a horse drawn carriage) completing his journey in just thirty seven hours, arriving at 1am on 6th November having travelled 271 miles with twenty one changes of horses.

In the summer of 2005 the elements of Lieutenant Lapenotiere’s journey from Falmouth to The Admiralty in London were recreated. A New Trafalgar Dispatch was drafted, which emphasised the heroism, humanity and the brotherhood of the sea in all those who took part, regardless of nationality or which side they were on.

Copies of The Dispatch were prepared in Spanish and French, with a further twenty one in English, and all were ceremonially loaded on board the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s ship, the Lord Nelson, at the International Festival of the Sea at Portsmouth at the end of June. The ship sailed first to Spain and then to France. Presentations of the The Dispatch, in their respective languages, were made to representatives at the ports of call before setting off homewards towards Falmouth in Cornwall.

At Falmouth, the New Trafalgar Dispatch was brought ashore by HMS Victory’s cutter and after a reception in Falmouth the journey to London started. Events were organised in the towns, villages and other places along the long the route taken by Lapenotiere in 1805 which has now been designated and sign posted as the Trafalgar Way.

The route takes in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey and London. A special map was created by The Ordnance Survey and you can buy it from their shop. It also shows the route Nelson took from Merton in London to Portsmouth where he sailed to the Battle of Trafalgar. You can read more about than from the "Nelson's Last Walk" link on our homepage.

A new post chaise was specially built for the event and Alex Price, playing the part of Lieutenant Lapenotiere, delivered The New Trafalgar Dispatch and wall plaques to the towns and cities along the route. His journey took much longer than thirty seven hours - in fact it started in Falmouth on 4th August 2005 and ended at The Admiralty in Whitehall, London on 9th September.

The horses that drew the post chaise were specially trained and behaved exceptionally well, even when faced with crowds, noise, drum beats and salute firing.

Pictures of The New Trafalgar Dispatch being delivered

This is Alex Price, who took the part of Lieutenant Lapenotiere thoughout the entire journey, arriving in Basingstoke.

At each location along the route, Alex was greeted by crowds eager to see what was happening as the post-chaise with its beautiful horses drew up.

Towns threw open air events including singing, dancing, street magicians, childrens parties and all manner of celebrations to mark the arrival of their edition of The Dispatch.

Each celebration was different and special to the place it happened. The weather was kind and a happy, almost carnival atmosphere helped things go with a swing.

At each presentation of The New Trafalgar Dispatch, a Naval Officer represented the Navy of today.

The Dispatch was handed to the Naval Officer who then made the formal presentation to the town, city or county involved.

In this picture, Sir Miles Rivett-Carnac, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (on the left in the picture). prepares to receive the county's Dispatch.

The event took place at The Vyne, a superb National Trust property near Basingstoke.

Hampshire's Dispatch was later taken to The Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth for safekeeping on behalf of the people of Hampshire. The presentation to the museum was part of the events on 14th September during 'Nelson's Last Walk' (see homepage for a link)

The New Trafalgar Dispatch being handed over to the county of Hampshire

The post chaise arriving at The Admiralty building in Whitehall

The post chaise arriving at The Admiralty in London on 9th September. For this occasion, four horses instead of two were used.