Trafalgar Cemetery Gibraltar
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Trafalgar Cemetery Gibraltar
The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement fought by the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).
As part of an overall French plan to combine all French and allied fleets to take control of the English Channel and enable Napoleon's Grande Armée to invade England, French and Spanish fleets under French Admiral Villeneuve sailed from the port of Cádiz in the south of Spain on 18 October 1805. They encountered the British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson, recently assembled to meet this threat, in the Atlantic Ocean along the southwest coast of Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, near the town of Los Caños de Meca.
Villeneuve was uncertain about engaging, and the Franco-Spanish fleet failed to fully organize. In contrast, Nelson was decisive, organizing the British fleet into two columns sailing straight into the enemy to pierce its wavering lines.
In a fierce battle, 27 British ships of the line fought 33 French and Spanish ships of the line. Although the lead ships of the British columns were heavily battered, with Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory nearly disabled, the greater experience and training of the Royal Navy overcame the greater numbers of the French and Spanish navies.
The Franco-Spanish fleet lost 22 ships; the British lost none. During the battle, Nelson was shot by a French musketeer, and he died shortly before the battle ended. Villeneuve was captured along with his flagship Bucentaure. He later attended Nelson's funeral while a captive on parole in Britain. Admiral Federico Gravina, the senior Spanish flag officer, escaped with the remnant of the fleet. He died five months later from wounds sustained during the battle.
The Trafalgar Cemetery is a cemetery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Formerly known as the Southport Ditch Cemetery, it occupies a small area of land just to the south of the city walls, in what had been a defensive ditch during the period of Spanish rule of Gibraltar. (1)
To move forward and face our future, it’s important to first know where we come from and who we are. There are parts of our history that need to be uncovered like a buried treasure, unfolding right before our eyes. If you have an ancestor that fought and died in the Gibraltar area during the period of 1708-1835 the chances are they will be buried here. Have a look at the Cemetery map with the list of tombstones numerically indexed below.
Death stones are an important part of family history
Family history isn’t just about weddings or births or photos of family homes—death is just as much an important part of family history as people’s lives. Death stones provide key information regarding the year and usually the day and month that people died, along with their birth date; death stones can also provide information regarding where people died or where family plots are located. And in some cases, depending on the style of the stone itself, they can provide an interesting insight into family history. For instance, some death stones may contain quotes, poetry or imagery that was important or relevant to a person in their life.
You can truly preserve your family’s stories in a unique and meaningful way by encouraging family members to tell their stories while being filmed—as well as the stories of any family members who have passed away and are no longer with us. For instance, your mother might sit with a photo of her great-aunt, and explain the history of the woman in the photograph. Who was she? When was she born? What was she like? What did she do? This way, the story of the great aunt (which otherwise would be lost to time) is passed on for the next generation. Check out our article on How to Film a Family Interview with your Smartphone here.
The other option you have is to call us! We could film your own family documentary for you and your family (and future generations) to enjoy!