- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- 19th century wars, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 2012 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Trafalgar in a Pickle
Some sharp eyed readers have queried the flags worn by HMS Pickle which featured on the cover of the September edition of this magazine. She displays the white ensign signifying she was part of the fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Lord Nelson. Nelson was promoted Vice Admiral of the White in April 1804 but with his death command of the fleet passed to Collingwood who was Vice Admiral of the Blue. It could therefore be argued that Pickle at this time should have worn a blue ensign. Upon checking with the artist he says he took technical advice on the flags worn and was told that Pickle’s white ensign might have been half masted and that the signal hoist signifies ‘I am carrying dispatches’. We trust this answers these queries.
HMS Pickle model
Dear Friends,
Thank you for my recent copy of the Review. I really like the frontispiece and article on HMS Pickle. Here is a photograph of my model of Pickle. I made this model a few years ago for the Nelson Society of WA. Didn’t have much to go on but it was a bit of fun. I seem to have given her four more guns than you list.
Best regards,
George Cook, Perth WA.
Editor: See attached picture of George’s model of HMS Pickle.