Page 121 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

NELSON IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

SIMON PRESTON

lt is a great honour and a special pleasure to be invited to this the world's
most beautiful city, as one ofhis humble descendants to speak about my illustrious
forebear admiral Lord Nelson, perhaps the most celebrated naval commander of
any nation of ali time and the best known of ali british beroes.
'• Cowards die many times before their deaths
the valiant never taste of death but once''.
julius Caesar

To be a descendant of a great bero does not mean that one's blood is necessa-
rily, like Henry V'S Army, "Fett from fathers of war proof'. Howewer, Nelson's life,
his potraits on the wali, the tales told at the bedside and tbe example of generations
since who bave served in tbe navy, have ali meant tbat as cbildren we found oursel-
ves endeavouring to be at least somewhat less cowardly tban we would otberwise
bave been.
This drove me for instance, though then of diminutive size, to take up boxing
at school, and to join the royal marine commandos in national service, despite a
deep-seated instinct for self preservation.
My latest display of courage is to dare to appear today before tbis distingui-
sbed, international audience of experts in naval warfare to explain bow the britisb
presumruously from two tbousand miles away carne to dominate the mediterranean.
Admiral Jervis, Nelson's superior at the battle of Cape St. Vincent, tbe fitst
ofhis four great victories, described Nelson as baving ''animai courage''. He would
take his ship deliberately into the most dangerous parte of a battle, and then even
as an admiral take the lead in band to band fighting. To tbis rare courage was
alli ed a quality of endurance an d patience wbicb enabled bi m to sta y months even
years at sea in ali weathers, often ili and seasick, to pursue military ventures on
land in fearful conditions and to carry through battle tactics against tough opposi-
don without flinching.
His leadership was based on tbe love and affection in whicb he was held by
officers and men, due to bis care for their welfare and wish to improve their condi-
tions, the example he showed them of courage and endurance, his brilliant ship
handling and seamanship and the successes they knew he would achieve.
Nelson was an extremely effective instrument of war, briliiantly exploited by
the British Government of the day. He united the Nation. Wherever he went

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