For some Englishmen, there's nothing better than seeing a monument to the glory days, something that makes pride swell their chests before they burst into “God Save the Queen”. HMS Victory is one of those monuments. HMS Victory is the only surviving warship that fought in the American Wars of Independence, the French Revolutionary wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Her most famous occupant was British Commander Admiral Lord Nelson and this ship brought him into one of the most famous battles of British maritime history. The battle of Trafalgar in Spain was a showcasing of British naval superiority and a decisive battle in the Napoleonic wars. It was also the battle where Nelson sent his famous flag signal, “England expects every man will do his duty” and also where he was to die, becoming a national hero in the process.

Today, HMS Victory is docked at Portsmouth's Royal Naval dockyard. The Victory currently has a dual role as the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and as a living museum to the Georgian navy. Tours of the ship are available, with changes depending on the time of year. The guided tours allow you to see parts of the ship such as the Great Cabin, where Nelson planned the famous battle and wrote his prayer, the spot where Nelson was fatally wounded and where he finally passed away. There's also the free-flow tour which lets you go around at your own pace.

There are other exhibitions near the ship, such as the showing of the last remaining sail from the battle of Trafalgar.

Written by  John Johnston.

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