On a guided tour of HMS Victory a French tourist asked if the cannon balls were real "No actually these are replicas " he was told he asked why? "Because you have all the real ones" came the reply!
fossy4321 - "Because you have all the real ones" came the reply!" Blimey - but that is BEAUTIFUL !!!!!! Many, many, many thanks for sharing....................................easily the FUNNIEST thing I've read this year. I shall CHERISH it.
As a Brit I thank you for such a positive review/tour of part of our history, I know we have our faults, as all Nations do, and anyone with such a long history as ours will have a few skeletons in the cupboard of which we are not proud, so again I thank you for focusing on the positive, after all we're each of us standing on the shoulders of giants no matter where in the world we presently find ourselves, and courageous figures from our past ought to be praised & never forgotten.
As a brit I'm immensely proud of our resolve and determination to succeed as a nation. However we should pay tribute to the foreign nationals who for money helped us in our quests. Plenty of foreigners served on the Victoria :)
I get to Portsmouth as often as I can, Victory is a very special ship, and I never miss the opportunity to look around her. From a Briton, and an Englishman, Thank you for your lovely words at the end of the video.
@@subwaysno1843 yes it is, serving members of the RN are still drafted to HMS Victory. She may not float anymore but she is still commissioned and is still the flagship of the first sea lord
There are British who sadly don't realise that you can barely throw a stone here without hitting some sort of History and I wish they would take more pride in our past, The men who served on those ships in Nelsons day were honed and trained to perfection in Cannon drill with endless repetitive manning of the guns wheeling them out and firing them at a phenomenal rate, The sailors of the time lived hard and dangerous lives, Thank you for taking such an interest in our history we have so much to share and I hope you discover much more which will only increase your understanding of the British as a people and how such a little island grew into a formidable world power and empire back then.
Geoff Horsfall I'm not so sure there were others before our Roman, Ottoman, Mongol, Japanese they've all come and gone, The trouble is with empires they grow too big and too corrupt which eventually leads to their downfall, But yes for a small island we had a very big empire mostly because of our Navy .
I read a hell of a lot of history, visited Ypres and the Somme multiple times to pay my respects. I am a proud Brit but the mindset of many does my head in. Most Brits don't read history full stop. Just accept old biased interpretations. Most don't realise that a sizeable portion of the Royal Navy was made up of foreign sailors. True it was a British institution and they were excellently drilled to British standards. But with all this anti foreign business that Brexit has unleashed has increased the siege moron mentality of a lot of Brits. Most who seem to get their history lessons from the Sun.
Another little known fact is that the Russian navy still revere Admiral Nelson. On the Russian sailors hat there are 2 black ribbons at the back to commemorate his death. He is considered the father of modern navies.
Mtsensk Mtsensk British and especially Scottish mercenary officers won great acclaim in Russia. General Patrick Gordon, an exciled Stuart soldier was absolutely critical to Peter the Greats bid for the throne, he reformed the Russian Army and was one of Peter's drinking buddies. He also crushed the skrelzy rebellion whilst Peter was in Europe. Admiral Thomas Gordon built the first modern Russian Navy. ADMIRAL Samuel Greig served under Catherine and won great acclaim.
An interesting, touching and very respectful film. Thank you for taking the time to talk about the men that worked there, often such a dangerous place. And your tribute to one of the truly great military leaders was done with taste. I hope you enjoyed your pint. Best wishes from an ageing ex British soldier. Cheers
Great video from a British perspective. The men you talked about were in the main uneducated, apart from most of the officers, many were 'pressed' into service and many set sail knowing the chances of ever returning home were minimal, but still they fought with incredible bravery in the most atrocious living and working conditions. It's near impossible for us to understand the mentality and the belief of right and wrong that drove these simple souls, yet our entire lifestyle and existence today was founded by their selfless commitment to their country and their monarch. I always feel blessed that in my lifetime America has been the world’s most powerful nation. It’s difficult to imagine how different it could have been if it were Germany, Russia, Japan or China. I guarantee it could only have been worse. So let’s not forget what these men did in bringing justice and democracy to the world through the British Empire, but also in forming the foundations for the America we have lived with so successfully for the last 70 years.
Felipe. Those are truly wonderful words given to the memory of the men who lived, fought and died in those very deck spaces. Coming from an American, even more beautiful in its description. Thank you kindly from a Brit.
It's a sad sight for an old sailor to see Pompey dockyard so bereft of ships. My memories of the 50's & 60's when there were Frigates, Destroyers, Carriers Et Al., two and three deep against the wall all around the yard and still ships at sea. The old Vanguard still anchored off when I was first there. Portsmouth herself now changed beyond recognition and how many matelots do actually see these days? Oh well, I suppose we have to bend a knee to progress.
A number of interrelated things I suppose. Finances and diminishing need probably at the top of the list although a number of us think they went overboard (no pun intended) with the lack of need angle. The city itself probably felt the need to drag itself into the 20th/21st century and who can blame them, but it was a shame to see those beautiful old buildings demolished. Naval and civilian. The old Victory barracks was a sight to behold and I believe they have left the old main gate standing.
My friend worked there both on active duty with the Royal Navy and as a MOD civilian employee. Try to go there every chance I get whenever I visit England. You can see HMS Victory and HMS Queen Elizabeth within a short distance of each other. Centuries of British naval history right there, along with Mary Rose, Warrior and other historic ships. Felipe's video was so British, my morning coffee turned into tea!
what happend was the eu pure and simple old son destroying the british way of life due to political correctness,and once we leave then maybe we can start to feel great about our selves again who knows,lets hope so
Hi Felipe, I try to watch all your videos and am impressed by your acceptance and attitude towards British culture and historic sites. However, even at 72 years old this one has moved me to tears. The music, I vow to me my country, should be the national anthem. The courage and fortitude of those sailors makes me think that if we could revert back to their values the world would be a much better place. Did you know that the biggest killer of men in naval warfare at the time was a splinter. This was the shrapnel caused when canon balls hit masts and decking. At high speed you never stood a chance.
Ron Seymour I understand your view. It is beautiful music. A national song. But as an ex serviceman the National Anthem focuses the mind on who we serve and why.
HMS Victory is THE most famous and historic ship in the whole history of the Royal Navy. The flagship of Nelson, the most famous and revered British naval commander of all time. In his day he was as famous as Napoleon himself. In this ship he took on and utterly defeated the larger combined French and Spanish fleets, thereby preventing an invasion by Napoleon and giving Britain absolute naval supremacy for well over a century. No British ships were lost, whilst almost two thirds of the French and Spanish ships were either captured or destroyed. The Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, is one of 3 great celebrated victories, against the odds, in British history, which prevented imminent invasions. The other two being, the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and the Battle of Britain in 1940.
P.S. Nelson died during the battle. Upon the fleets return, Nelson received the largest state funeral and procession ever received by a non-royal. He's one of the great heroes in British history. Trafalgar Square, right in the heart of London, is named after the battle. Nelson's column stands at the centre of the Trafalgar Square. It's an tall column, supporting a large statue of Nelson. The bronze relief panels and lion sculptures at the base of the column were made from captured French and Spanish cannons.
You Sir and your beautiful family are truly respectable of our British ways, I hope you all have a wonderful and fabulous life in our wonderful country and have the time to visit my Brilliant home City Newcastle Upon Tyne, come and see us you may be surprised xx
The 5000 calories were needed.The old Naval Hospital Graveyard was disinterred recently.Studies of the Skeletons showed massive upper body development and injuries consistent with a brutally hard life of labour. Some of those surcomed to battle injuries and had amputations.The youngest was 8 years old.
Why "I Vow to Thee My Country" is not our national anthem I'll never know. Its easily the most moving piece of music that's ever been written and never, ever fails to make me want to get out there and do something, anything for my nation. Beautiful. Thank you for putting it on your excellent film.
I live in Sussex and along with the history of the Norman Conquest, not far from where I live is Pevensy Castle which was built on the site of a Roman fort, there is history on our doorstep, as the man said in Britain we are blessed with such vibrant history
I would suggest that you take a look at the Golden Hind replica in London . Drake circumnavigated the world in 1580 with no maps and a ship so small that it seems like a toy. They really were a special breed of men in those days.
@@ThePostmodernFamilysadly those men were born into a world that still needed to be explored, I don't think we will see this kind of man until we crack the whole how to survive in space and travel at the speed of light thing.... sigh
I am proud to say that I had a relative on board HMS Victory at Trafalgar. He was Master at Arms, and he survived the battle, unlike so many others on both sides. Tough men!
If you liked seeing HMS Victory, then take a trip along to Buckler’s Hard on the coast of the New Forest. There they built timber warships and there’s a great museum there showing how. And a nice boat cruise along the Beaulieu (pr B-you-lee) River.
You are most welcome. It is my high honour to shed some light on the incredible greatness of your patrimony. Something you guys must never surrender or be ashamed of!
The heritage you point out is like the green grass , we dont see it till someone mentions it to us as a Brit vet of twenty years ... thank you for the compliments .... you sir are a scholar and a gentleman... of the first magnitude
It is my pleasure and great honour to shed a little light on the amazing history and glory of this wonderful island people. Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for an unbiased commentary, and a sensitive account of what you saw and percieved aboard HMS Victory. The UK is a unique country. Those who upheld the values of the country, by serving this leading nation, are always remembered and respected ; and you have done so also.
I was part of the RN display team 1979(I think) when we were detailed to do some film work on HMS Victory. We had to dress up as 19thC sailors and fire the cannons - they were replicas - we had to do it all late at night so that they didn't have to stop the public seeing it during the day. I always wondered what the locals must have thought about cannons going off at 2 in the morning for a couple of weeks. At least i can genuinely say I am one of the few folk still alive that has fired cannons on HMS Victory. Just to ass to the comment about how much food sailors ate, as part of the RN Display team we must have been putting away around 4000 calories or more day, the amount of physical training we had to do for the window ladder display was impressive - not quite up to the level of the field gun crews but plenty of hard work all the same
well said gravy davy, the men would have needed every calorie they could get for the amount of hard manal, labour, whether the foremast jacks or the "waisters" there would have been little standing about with their thumb up their bum!
Felipe, you say you don't know much about naval history, but you clearly appreciate it. This video was magnificent and moving. You said little, but what you did say was utterly on point.. Seeing your reaction to the Victory was priceless, it's great when someone 'gets' it so completely. And "I Vow to Thee My Country" in the background? It must've got a bit dusty in here because my eyes are tearing up. Thank you.
I was a guide on the Victory in 1977, when it was manned by Serving Matelots and Marines, great times, and a great laugh, have a copy of a video, which was made by the BBC, I get interviewed in the Surgeons Cabin! Kieren Prendeville of 'thats Life Fame' made it!
When the Victory was renovated in 1922, some of the old timbers were salvaged. I have a pocket knife, the handle of which is made from from that timber. It is one of my most favourite possessions. I have told my family that it must be looked after after I die, because it is the sort of thing that could easily be thrown away as just another old knife of no historic interest.
I just watched your his victory vid!!!!! That was the best vid iv e seen yet on THE HIS VICTORY!!!!!!! We'll done. Excellent job 10 thumbs up 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
I assume you're aware that "I Vow To Thee My Country" uses the tune from the middle stanza of "Jupiter" from The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst ? (Who despite the name was British)
Excellent and enjoyable video. Your appreciation of what you were seeing clearly comes across. I too recognise the difference that time and progress has made and one finds oneself questioning could I cope with the realities of their day. As an interesting;g side note it’s well worth looking into the history of Nelson himself. A small and vain man who loved wine and women in equal measure but he knew how to lead a ship and had the total respect of his men because he lead from the front; literally the first man when boarding enemy vessels. I think it was his experience of having his arm severed without anaesthetic that inspired the use of rum to dull the senses for future naval amputees
Nice work Sir, I joined the Royal Australian Navy at 15 and served for 12 years and am very proud of our service lineage. Worked with the US Navy coastal forces in Vietnam and have nothing but respect for the USN. Well done.
Wonderfully put Felipe. They were a completely different breed of men. I was born in Portsmouth and my dad worked in the Dockyard when it was a fully functioning yard and not the "Historic" version that it has now become. Because I'm very old and because of my dad's job, I was fortunate enough to have been able to spend 2 tours of 3 years each in Malta and 1 tour of 4 years in Gibraltar. I left Gibraltar in 1970 when I was 17 years old and I knew at the time that I had had the most wonderful childhood. Because I came back to the UK in between each tour I was able to make a comparison between both sorts of life. I suspect that those visits in that time left me with a love of The Mediterranean and that was a big factor in making me decide to retire to Spain instead of staying in the UK.
I remember going there'when I was six. I never forgot being inside that ship. I have a photo (black and white!) of me sitting astride a cannon! Thank you for your lovely video.
As you said the Brits back then were something special , maybe they still are? But when the first Brit made it to Japan through Magellan's pass he narrowly avoided death from the Japanese just for being there, he survived and eventually became Samurai!!! The Spanish and Portuguese had been there for 10s of years yet non became Samurai. Must say something? There is historically still one British Samurai, a descendant of the original, he returns occasionally for ceremonial duties. Men like those we will never know again!
_"Men like those we will never know again!"_ You are wrong... Great Britain is an island nation - a nation of warriors! Time and time again, the shores of these fair isles have been threatened by tyrants and misfits, and time after time, the goodly and strong stock of this island fortress has proven themselves worthy... If you want to _"know men like those,"_ then do no more than look around you. These fellows you see around you, may look like pie eating chavs, tracksuited halfwits and general good for nothings, but ever has it been thus... Within these folk, when roused, lies a fearsome foe that fights lion like when foe stand without our door! The sons of Hengist and Horsa live still in these islands!
The Postmodern Family... The British will never be enslaved, but we will endure bad times and good, bad governments and -good- less bad governments and all manner of shenanigans inbetween. We very, very rarely rise up in revolution... It is just not the British way. Instead we tend to slowly change things within for the better. Political correctness etc makes a Brit sigh, makes him angry, even... But never revolutionary! We are like our climate... Temperate.
A wonderful video and a beautiful ship, its hard to believe that she is still a commissioned Warship and Flagship to the first Sea Lord. Talking of Trafalgar its a very sobering walk if you ever have the opportunity to walk through the Trafalgar cemetery in Gibraltar.
If you are not already aware of them, may I highly recommend the "Aubrey, Maturin" series of novels by Patrick O'Brian. The film "Master and Commander" staring Russell Crowe was based on three of the books. A very good film, but the books are much better. O'brian is noted for his great depth of knowledge of the navy at the time of the Napoleonic wars and goes into great detail about day to day life aboard ship.
I would also add Alexander Kent's "Bolitho" series and Dudley Pope's "Ramage" series as an excellent study of life aboard the 18th Century British Navy ships.
y0utubeu5ername - "series of novels by Patrick O'Brian" ABSO - bloody - LUTELY !! They are QUITE without parallel (and outstrip even good ol' C S Forester - IMHO). EVERY novel would have made a FABULOUS full-length feature film - even if you COULDN'T have a compulsory Pushy Dame, and a compulsory Clever Black Man to go with our English/British heroes. Damn the unimaginativeness of today's film execs !!!!!! And their gutlessness...................................
I love how you're necking San Miguel at HMS Victory. If anything, sinking a Spanish beer at the historical resting place of a warship that fought Spain (and France) shows the real progress we've made in getting along with eachother and not being arseholes.
Great video. I love visiting this ship. You forget just how tall we have all become until you are on the lower decks of that ship. The guided tour done by the Royal Navy ratings is fantastic. They speak at 300 words a minute, are able to give you information you simply don’t find too easy. Then you look over to one of the Aircraft Carriers that simply dwarf this ship and think it’s only manned by 1650 people and Victory had 700 on it
If you get the chance visit Bucklers Hard in the New Forest, where many Royal Navy warships were built, and spend an hour or two in the museum. It's the nearest thing to a DIY guide to building a ship such as Victory.
Sometimes it takes the prospective of a non-Brit to remind us what we take for granted. Cheers :) Sadly you talk to most youngsters here about Admiral Nelson, they think you're talking about a pub :)
Hi, I enjoyed your little "vlog" about the Victory. I was down from London recently and visited the Mary Rose museum right there - did you not visit? It is fascinating being the oldest warship from 1510 (build date). The Mary Rose was King Henry v111's flagship sunk off Portsmouth 1545. Personally I have never been on the Victory but hope to soon (I hate other tourists!). glad you enjoyed the visit and appreciate your kind comments on our British naval history.
We wanted to go into HMS Victory the last time we were in Portsmouth, but it was undergoing repairs, so thanks for taking us in there. It's obvious that your sense of awe is not about glorifying war, nor taking sides in the conflict that took place well over 200 years ago. I know it's about your sense of respect for the brave men who fought it. That came through well enough. You enjoyed the deep sense of history, as I do. War takes away so many talented and brave people on all sides. I just wish it could all end. Thanks again for an inspiring and very respectful video.
An emotional tribute ' Thank you Mr America ' We have an under celebrated history , of pride and Valour ... The EU hate our balls ' I'd like to give all those canons , and More are you listening Mrs May
Please not just Englishmen. 514 English, 89 Irish, 66 Scottish, 30 Welsh, one Manx and one merely designated only as 'British'. six Maltese, two Canadian, two Indian and one from Jamaica. four West Indian and one African. 22 men listed as 'American'. As we shall see below at least one of these was from a prominent English family. Most of the others were probably impressed at sea. nine Italians, seven Dutch, four Swedish and two each from Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. There were also one each from Portugal and Brazil. Four Frenchmen were listed as members of the crew. Whether they had been prisoners-of-war, or men fleeing the rule of Napoleon, is not recorded. The last 48 are listed as 'nationality unknown'.
Many Frenchmen fought against Napoleon, they were aristocrats and refugees from revolutionary and then Napoleonic France. There's was as doomed a fight as the loyal Americans who fought for the King during the revolutionary war
The point is he was fighting for Britain not just England.The quote "England expects......" reveals the true attitude and opinions of the ruling class of that era, or any era.
Karma Bomb linguistically England was interchangeable with Britain back then and more commonly used, impressing modern day ideas on the past is somewhat naive especially without taking account if context.
Okay... ive said before how i am low-key in love with Lillian (my youtube name was Kami Sof, and old gaming name but i changed it now) but you, Felipe, are a dying breed. Hunted almost to extinction in fact. A man who is unapologeticly masculine and proud of the achievements and courage of other men. A strong, independent man in an age when those qualities are frowned upon, unless you're a woman. You speak of the heroism of those men but in your own small way you're displaying heroism yourself, refusing to be cowed and shamed. I salute you, Sir.
My late father was undergoing officer training on HMS Victory in 1945. He took me to see the ship when I was quite young (about 5 or 6) and showed me the plaque that says “Here Nelson fell”. He said very loudly “I’m not surprised, I fell over it myself”! - much to the disgust of several onlookers. He had to explain that he had served throughout the war before being sent to Victory when the war was nearly over!!
Great video, as always, Felipe. I was researching a friend's ancestry recently and found that he served on the Victory but only after it was withdrawn from the line. He also served on the Queen Charlotte, was first mate of an armed sloop, and was on a number of training vessels in his later career. He ended his days as a naval pensioner. Not bad going for a Romany boy from the New Forest. And the best part is that my friend has always been mad about the Age of Sail and he knew none of this.
I believe Victory is still officially recorded as being an active ship in the British navy. Also the navy were still holding courts martials aboard until the 1960s when an unfortunate incident involving two american tourists occurred. I love the saying "not enough room to swing a cat". Visiting the Victory gives you a real sense of the true meaning of the phrase... The cat, being the cat o'nine tails....
I have a book about Trafalgar and HMS Victory. There were 703 men on the ship's books, average age 22. The youngest aged just 10. Although the crew were predominantly British (English 452, Welsh 24, Scots 72 and Irish 74) there were 53 from other countries and 28 Americans.
It's been said that the old-time sailor-man was almost a different species from the landsman - went to sea as a young boy and spent most of the rest of his life afloat, until he was really out of his element ashore. P C Wren is interesting on the subject - writing c. 1900 says the British sailor ashore is an abject creature, lewd, drunken and spendthrift, but put him back in his proper element and he's a hardworking, skilful craftsman, cheerful, hardy, careful of his comrades' welfare. . .
This such a trip down memory and I use to work in No.1 rigging house on SRJ, (south railway jetty). I used to work with men who had skills that went back centuries. It was a titular trade the training of which lasted 5 years. During that time I worked on H.M.S. Victory, a fantastic experience but sometimes a dangerous one. Very little of the ship is original, apart from the Orlop deck. Very few but us old boys remember the vibrance of the dockyard at that time. My father worked there from 1915 until he joined the army in 1921. I followed my fathers' footsteps almost all my life, from the dockyard to merchant navy, then to the army. Strange how life can sometimes repeat itself.
If you go again, I highly recommend you take a guided tour, lead by one of the sailors actually serving on the Victory.. ( it's still listed on the naval register , for ceremonial duties). The one who showed us round had a great sense of humour and excellent knowledge of the ship.You learn where so many common phrases originated
Small fortune just spent on this fabulous ship...now with computer-controlled struts to imitate normal water-pressure that virtually keeps the old wooden ships together. Now you're able to walk UNDER the keel for the first time ever! A great symbol of the great city, birthplace of Dickens, Isambard K Brunel, the great engineer, comedian Peter Sellers, and 'birthplace' of Sherlock Holmes, the first reference made by Conan Doyle whilst a doctor in Portsmouth. Incidentally Felipe, Portsmouth is known globally as 'Pompey'. Bless your wonderful family, stay safe!
The remarkable thing to me is that I think that these men on HMS Victory and the rest of the ships in the British fleet knew exactly what was in store for them when they went into battle -yet they went anyway. That no-nonsense "call of duty" is true heroism. And it still exists in the Royal Navy, from Trafalgar up to the present day.
Basically the RN went into battle three sheets to the wind. The daily alcohol ration was a gallon of beer or half a pint of rum! Rations were doubled before going into battle. It was not until 1850 that the ration was reduced to one eighth of a pint, still pretty potent!
Been there. These were also made in Holland around thirty years ago. Time you go and see the VOC-Batavia replica that made a world tour few years back.
Wow I have to visit this ship. I love history, all different fields of it. Naval history is where you hear a lot of proverbs such as 'Shake a leg and a ships mate'.
Somewhere in this video Felipe's speaks in awe of the men who manned the guns on HMS VIctory. There were similar men in the US Navy in 1812 - often they would have previously been in the Royal Navy. Until recently the RN was showing that the spirit is still there - I have seen them practising with telegraph poles. This competition finished in 1999 but there are still smaller scale local ones around Portsmouth and Fareham. Try this for size: just look up "Royal Navy Field Gun Competition 1997"
On a guided tour of HMS Victory a French tourist asked if the cannon balls were real "No actually these are replicas " he was told he asked why? "Because you have all the real ones" came the reply!
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Lol that's funny 😁😁😁 it's part of the banter 😂😂😂😂
fossy4321 -
"Because you have all the real ones" came the reply!"
Blimey - but that is BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!
Many, many, many thanks for sharing....................................easily the FUNNIEST thing I've read this year.
I shall CHERISH it.
Very good.
I third it, you are absolutely right. The best books I have ever read.
As an Englishman i'd like to thank you for your enlightening videos about my homeland. Your closing summary was beautiful. I salute you sir.
As a Brit I thank you for such a positive review/tour of part of our history, I know we have our faults, as all Nations do, and anyone with such a long history as ours will have a few skeletons in the cupboard of which we are not proud, so again I thank you for focusing on the positive, after all we're each of us standing on the shoulders of giants no matter where in the world we presently find ourselves, and courageous figures from our past ought to be praised & never forgotten.
well said sir.
JustBanter well said sir
Except for the French.
As a brit I'm immensely proud of our resolve and determination to succeed as a nation. However we should pay tribute to the foreign nationals who for money helped us in our quests. Plenty of foreigners served on the Victoria :)
Victory
I get to Portsmouth as often as I can, Victory is a very special ship, and I never miss the opportunity to look around her. From a Briton, and an Englishman, Thank you for your lovely words at the end of the video.
You’re most welcome.
Thanks for the Respect for the Royal Navy. Did you know that Victory is still Commissioned? She's the oldest Commissioned Flagship in the world. 👍🏼🇬🇧😊
jonnibegood1 it’s not mate it’s not been used in over 100years
@@subwaysno1843 yes it is, serving members of the RN are still drafted to HMS Victory. She may not float anymore but she is still commissioned and is still the flagship of the first sea lord
@@cornishbluebird
You are correct Gareth.
Though not the oldest one still afloat of course. That is the USS Constitution
@@cornishbluebird yes, still the Flagship. Just not floating around anymore. A fitting vessel considering all the action she has seen.
Thank you for the kind words, that would make many British politicians and intellectuals shudder, such is their disdain for our country's history.
There are British who sadly don't realise that you can barely throw a stone here without hitting some sort of History and I wish they would take more pride in our past, The men who served on those ships in Nelsons day were honed and trained to perfection in Cannon drill with endless repetitive manning of the guns wheeling them out and firing them at a phenomenal rate, The sailors of the time lived hard and dangerous lives, Thank you for taking such an interest in our history we have so much to share and I hope you discover much more which will only increase your understanding of the British as a people and how such a little island grew into a formidable world power and empire back then.
lance allison the greatest Empire the world has ever witnessed (before or since)
Geoff Horsfall I'm not so sure there were others before our Roman, Ottoman, Mongol, Japanese they've all come and gone, The trouble is with empires they grow too big and too corrupt which eventually leads to their downfall, But yes for a small island we had a very big empire mostly because of our Navy .
@@SuperDancingdevil Non of those mentioned were as large as the British Empire by a long way!
Lance allison. Can I suggest you don't throw a stone. You could hit something historical.
I read a hell of a lot of history, visited Ypres and the Somme multiple times to pay my respects. I am a proud Brit but the mindset of many does my head in. Most Brits don't read history full stop. Just accept old biased interpretations. Most don't realise that a sizeable portion of the Royal Navy was made up of foreign sailors. True it was a British institution and they were excellently drilled to British standards. But with all this anti foreign business that Brexit has unleashed has increased the siege moron mentality of a lot of Brits. Most who seem to get their history lessons from the Sun.
Another little known fact is that the Russian navy still revere Admiral Nelson. On the Russian sailors hat there are 2 black ribbons at the back to commemorate his death. He is considered the father of modern navies.
Thank you for that....
Mtsensk Mtsensk British and especially Scottish mercenary officers won great acclaim in Russia. General Patrick Gordon, an exciled Stuart soldier was absolutely critical to Peter the Greats bid for the throne, he reformed the Russian Army and was one of Peter's drinking buddies. He also crushed the skrelzy rebellion whilst Peter was in Europe.
Admiral Thomas Gordon built the first modern Russian Navy. ADMIRAL Samuel Greig served under Catherine and won great acclaim.
Three white stripes on nearly all sailors uniforms around the world,are meant,I believe to represent nelsons three most famous battles
Adrian Stent Thanks for that did not know.
I had no idea that's what those ribbons were for, many thanks for sharing.
Thank You Felipe for your kind comments about the wealth of history which the U.K. has to offer. So pleased that you enjoyed your day out.
You are most welcome. It is my honour to experience these things here in your incredible country!
As a Royal Navy (Submarines) veteran, I thank you for your kind and heartfelt words.
An interesting, touching and very respectful film. Thank you for taking the time to talk about the men that worked there, often such a dangerous place. And your tribute to one of the truly great military leaders was done with taste. I hope you enjoyed your pint. Best wishes from an ageing ex British soldier. Cheers
as an ex sailor i had to sub afte watching this. thanks for such a warm and respectful video
Thank you for your service, sir.
my father served in the royal navy on the arctic convoys in world war 2 and always revered nelsons legacy
Great video from a British perspective. The men you talked about were in the main uneducated, apart from most of the officers, many were 'pressed' into service and many set sail knowing the chances of ever returning home were minimal, but still they fought with incredible bravery in the most atrocious living and working conditions. It's near impossible for us to understand the mentality and the belief of right and wrong that drove these simple souls, yet our entire lifestyle and existence today was founded by their selfless commitment to their country and their monarch. I always feel blessed that in my lifetime America has been the world’s most powerful nation. It’s difficult to imagine how different it could have been if it were Germany, Russia, Japan or China. I guarantee it could only have been worse. So let’s not forget what these men did in bringing justice and democracy to the world through the British Empire, but also in forming the foundations for the America we have lived with so successfully for the last 70 years.
Amen amen amen
And they were of many nations
Felipe. Those are truly wonderful words given to the memory of the men who lived, fought and died in those very deck spaces. Coming from an American, even more beautiful in its description. Thank you kindly from a Brit.
Honoured to have the opportunity to say them, record them, and post them. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
William Rance Guys you're making me tear up.
Great video and comments. Thank you. England expects.
It's a sad sight for an old sailor to see Pompey dockyard so bereft of ships. My memories of the 50's & 60's when there were Frigates, Destroyers, Carriers Et Al., two and three deep against the wall all around the yard and still ships at sea. The old Vanguard still anchored off when I was first there. Portsmouth herself now changed beyond recognition and how many matelots do actually see these days? Oh well, I suppose we have to bend a knee to progress.
😔 what do you think happened?
A number of interrelated things I suppose. Finances and diminishing need probably at the top of the list although a number of us think they went overboard (no pun intended) with the lack of need angle. The city itself probably felt the need to drag itself into the 20th/21st century and who can blame them, but it was a shame to see those beautiful old buildings demolished. Naval and civilian. The old Victory barracks was a sight to behold and I believe they have left the old main gate standing.
My friend worked there both on active duty with the Royal Navy and as a MOD civilian employee. Try to go there every chance I get whenever I visit England. You can see HMS Victory and HMS Queen Elizabeth within a short distance of each other. Centuries of British naval history right there, along with Mary Rose, Warrior and other historic ships. Felipe's video was so British, my morning coffee turned into tea!
Captally There are certainly a real lack of ships at Devonport as weĺl
what happend was the eu pure and simple old son destroying the british way of life due to political correctness,and once we leave then maybe we can start to feel great about our selves again who knows,lets hope so
As a Brit, certainly brought a lump to my throat with the music alone in the 1st part, good choice (of music). Many thanks, great video!
Hi Felipe, I try to watch all your videos and am impressed by your acceptance and attitude towards British culture and historic sites. However, even at 72 years old this one has moved me to tears. The music, I vow to me my country, should be the national anthem. The courage and fortitude of those sailors makes me think that if we could revert back to their values the world would be a much better place. Did you know that the biggest killer of men in naval warfare at the time was a splinter. This was the shrapnel caused when canon balls hit masts and decking. At high speed you never stood a chance.
- and disease...
Ron Seymour I understand your view. It is beautiful music. A national song. But as an ex serviceman the National Anthem focuses the mind on who we serve and why.
HMS Victory is THE most famous and historic ship in the whole history of the Royal Navy. The flagship of Nelson, the most famous and revered British naval commander of all time. In his day he was as famous as Napoleon himself. In this ship he took on and utterly defeated the larger combined French and Spanish fleets, thereby preventing an invasion by Napoleon and giving Britain absolute naval supremacy for well over a century. No British ships were lost, whilst almost two thirds of the French and Spanish ships were either captured or destroyed.
The Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, is one of 3 great celebrated victories, against the odds, in British history, which prevented imminent invasions. The other two being, the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and the Battle of Britain in 1940.
P.S. Nelson died during the battle. Upon the fleets return, Nelson received the largest state funeral and procession ever received by a non-royal. He's one of the great heroes in British history. Trafalgar Square, right in the heart of London, is named after the battle. Nelson's column stands at the centre of the Trafalgar Square. It's an tall column, supporting a large statue of Nelson. The bronze relief panels and lion sculptures at the base of the column were made from captured French and Spanish cannons.
I would say HMS Victory is the most famous navy ship, from amongst all navy ships of all countries in all of history, in the world.
Ditto
HMS Victory is still technically a flagship of the Royal Navy which I think is pretty cool
Codex7777 the Ark Royal is older or what about the Mary Rose
“That level of heroism is hard to believe.” Exactly. Well put.
You Sir and your beautiful family are truly respectable of our British ways, I hope you all have a wonderful and fabulous life in our wonderful country and have the time to visit my Brilliant home City Newcastle Upon Tyne, come and see us you may be surprised xx
that my friend is a great video, you showed great respect. You would be a great news reporter.
Thanks for your kind words about my country!
Enjoyed the vlog very much, thank you.
The 5000 calories were needed.The old Naval Hospital Graveyard was disinterred recently.Studies of the Skeletons showed massive upper body development and injuries consistent with a brutally hard life of labour. Some of those surcomed to battle injuries and had amputations.The youngest was 8 years old.
Indeed, also no central heating on board!!
solatiumz not even any 'elf and safety
Why "I Vow to Thee My Country" is not our national anthem I'll never know. Its easily the most moving piece of music that's ever been written and never, ever fails to make me want to get out there and do something, anything for my nation.
Beautiful. Thank you for putting it on your excellent film.
@Janice----Instead we have the dreary funeral dirge --god save the queen . [ No capitals needed.]
I live in Sussex and along with the history of the Norman Conquest, not far from where I live is Pevensy Castle which was built on the site of a Roman fort, there is history on our doorstep, as the man said in Britain we are blessed with such vibrant history
I live in Eastbourne - small world eh.
Thanks so much. With the current PC culture vilifying the west and rewriting its history, this is very refreshing.
I’d love to see our present day snowflakes pressed into service on the Victory back in the day.
Swing that cat.....
I would suggest that you take a look at the Golden Hind replica in London . Drake circumnavigated the world in 1580 with no maps and a ship so small that it seems like a toy. They really were a special breed of men in those days.
Thanks for the suggestion! And yes, special breed indeed. How can we generate those men again?
@@ThePostmodernFamilysadly those men were born into a world that still needed to be explored, I don't think we will see this kind of man until we crack the whole how to survive in space and travel at the speed of light thing.... sigh
@@ThePostmodernFamily hard times breed great men - little real hardship these days compared with 1805
I am proud to say that I had a relative on board HMS Victory at Trafalgar. He was Master at Arms, and he survived the battle, unlike so many others on both sides. Tough men!
wow that's cool so your relative is William Elliot ? he was master at arms on HMS Victory at trafalgar. one of the most respected men on the ship.
Quite right on all counts.
@@grahamlong6870 That's so awesome you must be so proud because I would be I love the HMS Victory...
If you liked seeing HMS Victory, then take a trip along to Buckler’s Hard on the coast of the New Forest. There they built timber warships and there’s a great museum there showing how. And a nice boat cruise along the Beaulieu (pr B-you-lee) River.
Excellent recommendation!
Your beautiful comment at the end gave me goosebumps ..thanks
You are most welcome. It is my high honour to shed some light on the incredible greatness of your patrimony. Something you guys must never surrender or be ashamed of!
Did you know that Nelson`s body was kept in a barrel of brandy for preservation on the journey home.
The heritage you point out is like the green grass , we dont see it till someone mentions it to us as a Brit vet of twenty years ... thank you for the compliments .... you sir are a scholar and a gentleman... of the first magnitude
It is my pleasure and great honour to shed a little light on the amazing history and glory of this wonderful island people. Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for an unbiased commentary, and a sensitive account of what you saw and percieved aboard HMS Victory. The UK is a unique country. Those who upheld the values of the country, by serving this leading nation, are always remembered and respected ; and you have done so also.
I was part of the RN display team 1979(I think) when we were detailed to do some film work on HMS Victory. We had to dress up as 19thC sailors and fire the cannons - they were replicas - we had to do it all late at night so that they didn't have to stop the public seeing it during the day. I always wondered what the locals must have thought about cannons going off at 2 in the morning for a couple of weeks. At least i can genuinely say I am one of the few folk still alive that has fired cannons on HMS Victory.
Just to ass to the comment about how much food sailors ate, as part of the RN Display team we must have been putting away around 4000 calories or more day, the amount of physical training we had to do for the window ladder display was impressive - not quite up to the level of the field gun crews but plenty of hard work all the same
well said gravy davy, the men would have needed every calorie they could get for the amount of hard manal, labour, whether the foremast jacks or the "waisters" there would have been little standing about with their thumb up their bum!
Thank you for a beautiful video, everyone should be proud of where they come from.
What a beautiful documentary, successfully conveying a due sense of awe.
Felipe, you say you don't know much about naval history, but you clearly appreciate it. This video was magnificent and moving. You said little, but what you did say was utterly on point.. Seeing your reaction to the Victory was priceless, it's great when someone 'gets' it so completely. And "I Vow to Thee My Country" in the background? It must've got a bit dusty in here because my eyes are tearing up. Thank you.
I admire your video and the sincerity of which you spoke about the men of that period in British naval history. Thank you and God bless!
Hey Postmodern. Top quality. Keep up the good work.
I was a guide on the Victory in 1977, when it was manned by Serving Matelots and Marines, great times, and a great laugh, have a copy of a video, which was made by the BBC, I get interviewed in the Surgeons Cabin! Kieren Prendeville of 'thats Life Fame' made it!
Wow that's amazing!
When the Victory was renovated in 1922, some of the old timbers were salvaged. I have a pocket knife, the handle of which is made from from that timber. It is one of my most favourite possessions. I have told my family that it must be looked after after I die, because it is the sort of thing that could easily be thrown away as just another old knife of no historic interest.
I just watched your his victory vid!!!!! That was the best vid iv e seen yet on THE HIS VICTORY!!!!!!! We'll done. Excellent job 10 thumbs up 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
This is a thoughtful and respectful account of your visit to HMS Victory. Thank you.
The choice of music is just so brilliant and beautiful
There is something about I Vow To Thee My Country that makes me all emotional.
I'm not even English and it gets to me. I seriously tear up.
I assume you're aware that "I Vow To Thee My Country" uses the tune from the middle stanza of "Jupiter" from The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst ? (Who despite the name was British)
Excellent and enjoyable video. Your appreciation of what you were seeing clearly comes across. I too recognise the difference that time and progress has made and one finds oneself questioning could I cope with the realities of their day. As an interesting;g side note it’s well worth looking into the history of Nelson himself. A small and vain man who loved wine and women in equal measure but he knew how to lead a ship and had the total respect of his men because he lead from the front; literally the first man when boarding enemy vessels. I think it was his experience of having his arm severed without anaesthetic that inspired the use of rum to dull the senses for future naval amputees
Mark Roberts "never mind the manouvers, always go straight at 'em"
Joanna Godfrey is that a direct Nelson quote?
Nice work Sir, I joined the Royal Australian Navy at 15 and served for 12 years and am very proud of our service lineage.
Worked with the US Navy coastal forces in Vietnam and have nothing but respect for the USN.
Well done.
Wonderfully put Felipe. They were a completely different breed of men.
I was born in Portsmouth and my dad worked in the Dockyard when it was a fully functioning yard and not the "Historic" version that it has now become. Because I'm very old and because of my dad's job, I was fortunate enough to have been able to spend 2 tours of 3 years each in Malta and 1 tour of 4 years in Gibraltar. I left Gibraltar in 1970 when I was 17 years old and I knew at the time that I had had the most wonderful childhood. Because I came back to the UK in between each tour I was able to make a comparison between both sorts of life. I suspect that those visits in that time left me with a love of The Mediterranean and that was a big factor in making me decide to retire to Spain instead of staying in the UK.
I remember going there'when I was six. I never forgot being inside that ship. I have a photo (black and white!) of me sitting astride a cannon! Thank you for your lovely video.
I thought the words Lord Nelson said as he was dying “thank God I have done my duty” - so touching, God Bless him.
As you said the Brits back then were something special , maybe they still are? But when the first Brit made it to Japan through Magellan's pass he narrowly avoided death from the Japanese just for being there, he survived and eventually became Samurai!!! The Spanish and Portuguese had been there for 10s of years yet non became Samurai. Must say something? There is historically still one British Samurai, a descendant of the original, he returns occasionally for ceremonial duties. Men like those we will never know again!
His name was William Adams.
What do you hope was a joke?
_"Men like those we will never know again!"_
You are wrong... Great Britain is an island nation - a nation of warriors! Time and time again, the shores of these fair isles have been threatened by tyrants and misfits, and time after time, the goodly and strong stock of this island fortress has proven themselves worthy... If you want to _"know men like those,"_ then do no more than look around you.
These fellows you see around you, may look like pie eating chavs, tracksuited halfwits and general good for nothings, but ever has it been thus... Within these folk, when roused, lies a fearsome foe that fights lion like when foe stand without our door!
The sons of Hengist and Horsa live still in these islands!
N Albertsson let’s rouse them once more. They are under an internal, rather than an external, oppression-political correctness and self-loathing.
The Postmodern Family... The British will never be enslaved, but we will endure bad times and good, bad governments and -good- less bad governments and all manner of shenanigans inbetween.
We very, very rarely rise up in revolution... It is just not the British way. Instead we tend to slowly change things within for the better. Political correctness etc makes a Brit sigh, makes him angry, even... But never revolutionary!
We are like our climate... Temperate.
A wonderful video and a beautiful ship, its hard to believe that she is still a commissioned Warship and Flagship to the first Sea Lord. Talking of Trafalgar its a very sobering walk if you ever have the opportunity to walk through the Trafalgar cemetery in Gibraltar.
Proud to have you on board HMS England! Keep up the great work with these videos.
All your videos are very likeable. Here I'm impressed by how knowledgeable your music choices are.
That song gets me everytime!🥲🇬🇧
Well said Felipe. .lovely words...I vow to thee my country brought a tear to my eye...
Your last words brought a little prickling to my eyes. Thank you, Felipe.
Good man...well said and you were clearly touched by the sense of history that's HMS Victory, Lord Nelson and his men. Hard as nails.
Amazing video, thank you 🇬🇧👊🏼
You’re welcome! What a great country!!
The Postmodern Family I loved your Easter egg one to 😂😂😂 I bet your little girl didn’t talk all the way through.
Your best ever. I have some strange eye leakage going on.
If you are not already aware of them, may I highly recommend the "Aubrey, Maturin" series of novels by Patrick O'Brian. The film "Master and Commander" staring Russell Crowe was based on three of the books. A very good film, but the books are much better. O'brian is noted for his great depth of knowledge of the navy at the time of the Napoleonic wars and goes into great detail about day to day life aboard ship.
I would also add Alexander Kent's "Bolitho" series and Dudley Pope's "Ramage" series as an excellent study of life aboard the 18th Century British Navy ships.
Best books I have ever read
Paul Neal Alexander Kent writes the same novel again & again & again and then Again as his real name, Douglas Reeman.
I've read the entire series of 21 books about 5 times! (Due for re-read sometime soon...)
y0utubeu5ername -
"series of novels by Patrick O'Brian"
ABSO - bloody - LUTELY !!
They are QUITE without parallel (and outstrip even good ol' C S Forester - IMHO).
EVERY novel would have made a FABULOUS full-length feature film - even if you COULDN'T have a compulsory Pushy Dame, and a compulsory Clever Black Man to go with our English/British heroes.
Damn the unimaginativeness of today's film execs !!!!!!
And their gutlessness...................................
Its a great day out iv been there a few times...very thought provoking when you can literally smell the history on that ship ...good video matey
It was no idle boast in the words of the song " Hearts of oak have our ships, Hearts of oak have our men,"
I love how you're necking San Miguel at HMS Victory. If anything, sinking a Spanish beer at the historical resting place of a warship that fought Spain (and France) shows the real progress we've made in getting along with eachother and not being arseholes.
Great video. I love visiting this ship. You forget just how tall we have all become until you are on the lower decks of that ship. The guided tour done by the Royal Navy ratings is fantastic. They speak at 300 words a minute, are able to give you information you simply don’t find too easy. Then you look over to one of the Aircraft Carriers that simply dwarf this ship and think it’s only manned by 1650 people and Victory had 700 on it
If you get the chance visit Bucklers Hard in the New Forest, where many Royal Navy warships were built, and spend an hour or two in the museum. It's the nearest thing to a DIY guide to building a ship such as Victory.
Sometimes it takes the prospective of a non-Brit to remind us what we take for granted. Cheers :) Sadly you talk to most youngsters here about Admiral Nelson, they think you're talking about a pub :)
I enjoyed watching this one. Thanks
Great video, well presented and very complimentary, thank you. Interesting fact is that this ship is older than you're lovely country.
Hi, I enjoyed your little "vlog" about the Victory. I was down from London recently and visited the Mary Rose museum right there - did you not visit? It is fascinating being the oldest warship from 1510 (build date). The Mary Rose was King Henry v111's flagship sunk off Portsmouth 1545. Personally I have never been on the Victory but hope to soon (I hate other tourists!). glad you enjoyed the visit and appreciate your kind comments on our British naval history.
We wanted to go into HMS Victory the last time we were in Portsmouth, but it was undergoing repairs, so thanks for taking us in there. It's obvious that your sense of awe is not about glorifying war, nor taking sides in the conflict that took place well over 200 years ago. I know it's about your sense of respect for the brave men who fought it. That came through well enough. You enjoyed the deep sense of history, as I do. War takes away so many talented and brave people on all sides. I just wish it could all end. Thanks again for an inspiring and very respectful video.
As a proud British patriot i loved your video. Thank you for your support to our great nation
Excellent video! Thoughtful and sincere. Thank you.
An emotional tribute ' Thank you Mr America '
We have an under celebrated history , of pride and Valour ...
The EU hate our balls ' I'd like to give all those canons , and More are you listening Mrs May
I love how the flagship of the royal navy (HMS queen elizabeth) can be seen from nelson's quaters
Please not just Englishmen.
514 English, 89 Irish, 66 Scottish, 30 Welsh, one Manx and one merely designated only as 'British'.
six Maltese, two Canadian, two Indian and one from Jamaica.
four West Indian and one African.
22 men listed as 'American'. As we shall see below at least one of these was from a prominent English family. Most of the others were probably impressed at sea.
nine Italians, seven Dutch, four Swedish and two each from Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. There were also one each from Portugal and Brazil.
Four Frenchmen were listed as members of the crew. Whether they had been prisoners-of-war, or men fleeing the rule of Napoleon, is not recorded.
The last 48 are listed as 'nationality unknown'.
Many Frenchmen fought against Napoleon, they were aristocrats and refugees from revolutionary and then Napoleonic France.
There's was as doomed a fight as the loyal Americans who fought for the King during the revolutionary war
BumBum II Fair play but I think it's very important we recognise those who served us. The debt for our achievements should never be forgotten.
The point is he was fighting for Britain not just England.The quote "England expects......" reveals the true attitude and opinions of the ruling class of that era, or any era.
Karma Bomb linguistically England was interchangeable with Britain back then and more commonly used, impressing modern day ideas on the past is somewhat naive especially without taking account if context.
Didn't realise that the crews were so diverse. Thanks.
Okay... ive said before how i am low-key in love with Lillian (my youtube name was Kami Sof, and old gaming name but i changed it now) but you, Felipe, are a dying breed. Hunted almost to extinction in fact. A man who is unapologeticly masculine and proud of the achievements and courage of other men. A strong, independent man in an age when those qualities are frowned upon, unless you're a woman. You speak of the heroism of those men but in your own small way you're displaying heroism yourself, refusing to be cowed and shamed. I salute you, Sir.
Thank you, it was a moving video, and so neutral minded, it's appreciated.
My late father was undergoing officer training on HMS Victory in 1945. He took me to see the ship when I was quite young (about 5 or 6) and showed me the plaque that says “Here Nelson fell”. He said very loudly “I’m not surprised, I fell over it myself”! - much to the disgust of several onlookers. He had to explain that he had served throughout the war before being sent to Victory when the war was nearly over!!
Great video, as always, Felipe. I was researching a friend's ancestry recently and found that he served on the Victory but only after it was withdrawn from the line. He also served on the Queen Charlotte, was first mate of an armed sloop, and was on a number of training vessels in his later career. He ended his days as a naval pensioner. Not bad going for a Romany boy from the New Forest. And the best part is that my friend has always been mad about the Age of Sail and he knew none of this.
Of course, I meant my friend's ancestor. I don't have any 200 year old friends :D
Intelligent commentary on the HMS Victory..Well done..
I believe Victory is still officially recorded as being an active ship in the British navy. Also the navy were still holding courts martials aboard until the 1960s when an unfortunate incident involving two american tourists occurred. I love the saying "not enough room to swing a cat". Visiting the Victory gives you a real sense of the true meaning of the phrase... The cat, being the cat o'nine tails....
Good job here mate. Informative and respectful. Nice one!
I found your report very moving. As a Brit, thank you!
Really like you both and your friendliness and intelligent sincerity ....
Thank you very much!!
Great video, hope you enjoyed your time here in portsmouth .... come back and visit again soon...
I have a book about Trafalgar and HMS Victory. There were 703 men on the ship's books, average age 22. The youngest aged just 10. Although the crew were predominantly British (English 452, Welsh 24, Scots 72 and Irish 74) there were 53 from other countries and 28 Americans.
An excellent, respectful piece of documentary film making.
Thank you!!
i wouldent aspire to be like them,
it was a bloody hard life
BUT THEY WERE BORN INTO THAT ERA OF TOUGHNESS AND DEPRIVATION, THEY KNEW NO OTHER, ALTHOUGH MANY WERE 'CONSCRIPTED' BY FORCE.
It's been said that the old-time sailor-man was almost a different species from the landsman - went to sea as a young boy and spent most of the rest of his life afloat, until he was really out of his element ashore. P C Wren is interesting on the subject - writing c. 1900 says the British sailor ashore is an abject creature, lewd, drunken and spendthrift, but put him back in his proper element and he's a hardworking, skilful craftsman, cheerful, hardy, careful of his comrades' welfare. . .
Yes, I would like to know what the average life-span of a sailer from that time was.
At least you are honest.
Many sailors volunteered as the food and money was far better than being a serf on a farm.
This such a trip down memory and I use to work in No.1 rigging house on SRJ, (south railway jetty). I used to work with men who had skills that went back centuries. It was a titular trade the training of which lasted 5 years. During that time I worked on H.M.S. Victory, a fantastic experience but sometimes a dangerous one. Very little of the ship is original, apart from the Orlop deck. Very few but us old boys remember the vibrance of the dockyard at that time. My father worked there from 1915 until he joined the army in 1921. I followed my fathers' footsteps almost all my life, from the dockyard to merchant navy, then to the army. Strange how life can sometimes repeat itself.
If you go again, I highly recommend you take a guided tour, lead by one of the sailors actually serving on the Victory.. ( it's still listed on the naval register , for ceremonial duties). The one who showed us round had a great sense of humour and excellent knowledge of the ship.You learn where so many common phrases originated
Great video. Nelson is a hero of mine and I second your sentiments.
Great video and I also appreciate the sentiments expressed too.
Small fortune just spent on this fabulous ship...now with computer-controlled struts to imitate normal water-pressure that virtually keeps the old wooden ships together. Now you're able to walk UNDER the keel for the first time ever! A great symbol of the great city, birthplace of Dickens, Isambard K Brunel, the great engineer, comedian Peter Sellers, and 'birthplace' of Sherlock Holmes, the first reference made by Conan Doyle whilst a doctor in Portsmouth. Incidentally Felipe, Portsmouth is known globally as 'Pompey'. Bless your wonderful family, stay safe!
True warriors mate. Not knowing what was ahead without any fear. Some could say stupidity, but i say pride. Great vlog. Thanks.
The remarkable thing to me is that I think that these men on HMS Victory and the rest of the ships in the British fleet knew exactly what was in store for them when they went into battle -yet they went anyway. That no-nonsense "call of duty" is true heroism. And it still exists in the Royal Navy, from Trafalgar up to the present day.
Basically the RN went into battle three sheets to the wind. The daily alcohol ration was a gallon of beer or half a pint of rum! Rations were doubled before going into battle. It was not until 1850 that the ration was reduced to one eighth of a pint, still pretty potent!
Well, Churchill would second that motion!
Been there.
These were also made in Holland around thirty years ago.
Time you go and see the VOC-Batavia replica that made a world tour few years back.
When I served sometime at HMS Nelson I cold see the masts of Victory from my Dorm/Sleeping Quarters. Those masts fascinated me
I vow to them my country was sung at my wedding,and being Portsmouth born and bred this vid was spot on,thanks.....subscribed
Wow I have to visit this ship. I love history, all different fields of it. Naval history is where you hear a lot of proverbs such as 'Shake a leg and a ships mate'.
Somewhere in this video Felipe's speaks in awe of the men who manned the guns on HMS VIctory. There were similar men in the US Navy in 1812 - often they would have previously been in the Royal Navy. Until recently the RN was showing that the spirit is still there - I have seen them practising with telegraph poles. This competition finished in 1999 but there are still smaller scale local ones around Portsmouth and Fareham. Try this for size: just look up "Royal Navy Field Gun Competition 1997"