Falklands : Trafalgar 200 Service Held at Cathedral
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 24.10.2005 (Article Archived on 07.11.2005)
The 200th Anniversary of Trafalgar has been commemorated in the Falklands
Photos (c) Crown Copyright - Aboard HMS Portland
TRAFALGAR 200 SERVICE HELD AT CATHEDRAL
Man Overboard
A view from the bridge
By J. Brock FINN
A Service of Commemoration for the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar took place at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, 23 October 2005 at 1000 hrs. The Service was lead by the Reverend Paul Sweeting of Christ Church Cathedral and he was assisted by Padre Wakeham-Dawson of St. Cuthberts at MPA as well as Fr. Peter Norris of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, who gave the sermon.
After the arrival of the Acting Governor the Reverend Paul Sweeting read out an introduction and read the Naval Collect. Standards presented by Mr. Fred Simpson on behalf of the Royal Naval Association and Mr. Lawrence Gilbertson on behalf of the Royal British Legion while the hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation” was sung.
The first lesson, Philippians 2:5 – 11 by Cdr. John Mascall-Bott, the Civil Military Liaison Officer was followed by two descriptions of the Battle of Trafalgar written 200 years ago and read by Sea Cadets. “We Rest on Thee, Our Shield and Our Defender,” followed the readings.
Imagining Trafalgar included the Reverend Paul Sweeting said a few choice words about Naval Cooking and food quality in 1805. He chose four youth and one adult to act as Gun Captain, 2 Barrel Turners, Loader, Gun Cooler and Powder Monkey to demonstrate the difficulty in firing one shot from a Naval Cannon. He also said that those firing the guns were as young as 10 to 12 years old. The Acting Governor Miss. Harriet Hall read the second lesson, 2 Timothy Chapter 1: 1-7.
Sermon given by Fr. Peter Norris of St. Mary’s Catholic Church:
“When I was trying to figure out what to say today because there is so much that could be said, I was reading through one of my many Naval Association Newsletters and there was a little story in that was in there that I thought was quite apt to begin with.
Nelson had captured a load of French Officers and they were very annoyed. They asked him how it was that he kept winning all these battles and Nelson turned to them and said that before each battle he kneeled down and prayed to God that he would be successful. And the French Officers said that they also kneeled down and prayed to God that they would be successful. Nelson answered, ‘Ah, but I pray in English.’
Maybe in this day and age the story is a little politically incorrect but the point is it does illustrate a certain ideal – a certain spirit. Nelson epitomises that spirit. We call it the Nelson Spirit but in a way we shouldn’t because that spirit permeated all the people – all those who were there at that time.
It doesn’t matter how good a leader you are, if you don’t have the right men to lead, nothing’s going to happen. Nelson couldn’t win the battle of Trafalgar all by himself. He had to have good men. Good men have to have a good spirit. I like to call it the Navy spirit on the Sunday and I normally give a service for all three Armed Services. And, I often annoy some of the Army and Air Force when I say that the Navy spirit has got something they haven’t got.
Maybe I am just boasting as an ex Navy man myself. But there is and it’s not a spirit that has been lost. I go onboard Navy ships occasionally when they come down here and I talk to the men onboard and they’ve still got that spirit. It’s an awareness of duty. Duty is a good word because it makes us aware that there is something greater than ourselves. Our duty dictates we must look outside ourselves – to look at other things that maybe don’t particularly do us a lot of good – it’s a willingness to sacrifice as these young people did in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Nelson was a great leader and as I said, he had great men to lead. Battles are not the clean ones that we see on television where someone sits in a little room and presses a button and the missile goes out and somebody at the other end is in a bad way. It was bloody, it was hard, it was desperate. And, I am sure many of them were full of fear. But the inner spirit they had kept them going. That spirit, I believe, comes from the idea that there are things greater than ourselves – that there is a God – that there is something that we can serve, even if it means that we ourselves suffer – that we ourselves have to sacrifice many things.
Some time ago I was sent a book – a song and service for ship and field for the Army and Navy. It was sent to me by the then president of the USS Nimitz Association, of which I am the Chaplain. It’s divided into three sections – Catholic, Protestant and Jewish. So even in those days they worked together. Because when you are in battle, you can’t allow too many differenced to creep in and push you apart. You need to be one in mind.
As I said onboard one of the ships recently, it’s best to be one crew and that’s what we are. There’s a prayer in here that I think says more than I do about this Nelson spirit. It’s called the prayer of a Mid Shipman.
‘Almighty Father, Whose ways are in the sea and Whose paths are in the great waters, Whose command is over all and Whose love never fails, let me be aware of Your presence and obedient to Your goal.
Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and in deed and helping me so to live that I can stand unashamed and unafraid before my shipmates, my loved ones and You.
Protect those in whose love I live. Give me the will to do the work of a man and to accept my share of responsibilities with a strong heart and a cheerful mind. Make me considerate to those entrusted to my leadership and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted to me. Let my uniform remind me daily of the traditions of the service of which I am a part.
If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith. Where I am tempted make me strong to resist. If I should miss the mark, give me the courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and keep before me the life of Him by Whose example and help I trust to obtain the answer to my prayer. In Jesus Christ Our Lord AMEN.
The hymn “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” preceded prayers read out by Padre Wakeham-Dawson of St. Cuthberts of MPA. After the “Our Father” the hymn “O God our Help in Ages Past” was sung. And, the final blessing was followed by the singing of the National Anthem.
After the service refreshments were served in the Parish Hall.
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