The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14064   Message #119264
Posted By: AndyG
30-Sep-99 - 05:56 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Roll Agamemnon Roll / Mars for Evermore
Subject: RE: ROLL, AGEMEMNON, ROLL backround inf
MARS FOR EVERMORE lyric, for reference (DT)

Agammenons:
Original members of Nelson'screw from his period as captain of HMS Agammenon, a 74 gun ship of the line. (Numbers of this crew requested transfer to Nelson's new command when he left the vessel.)

Mars:
HMS Mars, another 74, not IIRC ever a command or flagship of Nelsons, but in his fleet at Trafalgar.

thirty ships of the line:
The combined fleets of France and Spain at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Year of Five:
1805, The Battle of Trafalgar.

Monday, October 21st, 1805.

At daylight saw the Enemy's Combined Fleet from East to E.S.E.; bore away; made the signal for Order of Sailing, and to Prepare for Battle; the Enemy with their heads to the Southward: at seven the Enemy wearing in succession. May the Great God, whom I worship, grant to my Country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious Victory; and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it; and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet. For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who made me, and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

AndyG