JUST TOO COOL: The ‘tricolours’ ensign of Le Généreux, captured by Nelson on display

Which it’s a post For you fans of the Aubrey/Maturin series. Which it’s all about that monstrous ol’ flag Nelson got off the Frogs at Malta but was at the Nile where Aubrey distinguished himself.

In another story, I read that, when they unrolled it, they could smell gun powder.

From The Mirror:

Huge flag captured from French battle ship by Admiral Lord Nelson to go on display for first time in 100 years

The ensign of Le Genereux, which is roughly the size of a tennis court, was taken by Nelson and his men in 1800 and is believed to be one of the earliest Tricolours in existence.

A huge flag captured from a French battleship by Admiral Lord Nelson is set to go on display for the first time in more than 100 years.

The ensign of Le Genereux, which is roughly the size of a tennis court, was taken by Nelson and his men in 1800 and is believed to be one of the earliest Tricolours in existence.

Volunteers are currently carrying out painstaking conservation works prior to it being unveiled to the public.

The 217-year-old flag is a remarkable survivor from the days of sea battles when national flags played a vital role in naval engagement so warring ships could identify who was the enemy through cannon smoke and the chaos of battle.

Le Genereux was one of only two ships to escape the British attack at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 – the battle that sealed Nelson’s reputation as England’s hero.

The British caught up with warship in February 1800, the Battle of the Malta Convoy.

On the morning of February 18, the English fleet chased the French squadron and Le Genereux covered allowing three French ships to escape before surrendering.

It is believed it could be the oldest surviving Tricolour, as it is thought it was present on the ship at the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

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The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels (Vol. 5 volumes) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)  UK link  HERE

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3 Comments

  1. mattg says:

    The thought that this is the oldest surviving tricolor must drive the French mad, considering that it is English possession.

  2. TonyO says:

    Talk about being driven mad: there is, (so far as I have seen, which I must admit is rather limited), an intense, deep-down schizophrenia in French culture and political philosophy, which at one and the same time adheres to the “principles” of the Revolution but denies the bloody outcome of it. The same kind of schizophrenia seems to apply to Napoleon: he was a “great” man that led France to greatness, except for all the exceptions one has to set aside when you say that.

  3. The original Mr. X says:

    I got to see that flag on display in Norwich a year or two ago. Seeing it in person really helped to emphasise just how enormous these Napoleonic warships were.

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