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...That Every Man Will Do His Duty.
At 11.15 am on Monday 21st October 1805, just minutes before the commencement of
the Battle of Trafalgar, a signal was sent from the poop deck of HMS Victory, Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship. The signal
read: "England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty". Aproximately two hours later, with the sounds of canon and gunfire
all around, Admiral Nelson was hit in his left shoulder by a French musket ball, which passed through his lung and broke
his spine. In immense pain the great Admiral was carried below decks where his condition worsened. During the next
three hours Nelson was kept updated on the progress of the battle and he died, aged just 47, at about 4.30 pm knowing
that victory had been won and the words: "Thank God I have done my duty" on his lips.
As well as being the most famous signal that emanated from the Battle
of Trafalgar, "England Expects" has now become a very well-known rallying cry at our various and numerous national sporting
events.
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