Forget Me Not

It’s a day 200 years ago we have to thank for the wonderful Trafalgar Square in Central London, it is the previous Mayor of London, Ken Livingston we have to blame for removing the pigeons.

The Battle of Trafalgar took place during the Napoleonic Wars.  A battle fought between the British navy and the combined fleets of France and Spain.  Of course, as always, Britain prevailed against the those eaters of frogs legs.  It is also  sadly the battle in which Admiral Nelson received the fatal wound that killed him.

Just before the battle of Trafalgar, there had been a short (one year) period of peace between France and England.  This peace was the result of the Treaty of Amiens signed in 1802.  Obviously something went wrong.  In fact there were many somethings.  There were problems with aspects of the treaty, Britain did not wish to withdraw troops from Malta.  La France accussed the Brits of capturing all French ships in British ports.

Of course there were many many other reasons for ensuing battle but, this summary blog, live with it! 

France had therefore been not all to pleased with us Brits for a good while, however, Napoleon had the brains to realise that one does not attack the the British without backup.  He therefore waited until he had the support of Spain to attack Britain.  In the end there were 33 French and Spanish ships against 27 British ones.

The day marked Napoleon’s decicive failure to invade Britain. 

To this day the British and the French maintain what may be called amiable bad relations.  We hurl insults at each other over the channel and mock each others customs but maintain a sort of patronising fondness for each other. 

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