The Battle of Trafalgar

Imagine the sea water spraying your face. Imagine the cold air wildly blowing your hair while you rush about the deck of a ship, making every attempt to control it, while a man is shouting frantic but hopeless commands. Imagine the sight of fifty ships colliding in a storm of battle, explosions blowing planks of wood into the air, and men leaping to the frozen, sweet solace of the deep blue abyss. This was the destiny of the sailors fated to the Battle of Trafalgar, a momentous battle in the Napoleonic War, fought between the British and the French, aided by Spain.

The Battle of Trafalgar was a marine skirmish between the British Royal Navy and the French and Spanish allied ships on October 21, 1805. It was the major naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars and ended with the British victory over the French and Spanish. The British naval fleet was commanded under Admiral Lord Nelson, who died later in the battle and became a British naval hero; he is celebrated as such in England on the Anniversary of the battle. The battle seemed to have the French in its favor, with France and Spain having thirty-three ships, while Britain had only twenty-seven ships. Yet, despite the numbers, Britain pulled off an amazing victory over France, without losing a single ship to the battle.

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the battle with the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar stamp, and remember those brave British sailors who fought against one of the greatest nations of all time.