Historical Events

sir Frances Chichester

On the 27th of August 1966, Sir Francis Chichester sailed his 50' ketch, Gypsy Moth, on a single-handed voyage around the world,

circumnavigating on the Trade Route

taken by the Clipper Ships.

He returned home to Plymouth Harbour on the 28th of May 1967

to a hero's welcome and Royal Navy salute.

He later sailed Gypsy Moth up the Thames River to Greenwich London

where he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Her majesty knighted Chichester with the same sword

that Queen Elizabeth I used to knight Sir Francis Drake

aboard Drake's ship, The Golden Hind,

on the 4th of April 1581 AD.

The Battle of the Alamo san antonio Texas March 1836

The Texas Revolution

Colonel William Barret Travis' last letter

to General Sam Houston seeking reinforcements.

To All Americans and True Patriots in This World--

"We are completely surrounded and have been under siege for 13 days by over 1,000 Mexican troops, receiving reinforcements daily, under the command of

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna."

Our flag is still flying high on the Wall.

I have drawn a line in the sand asking all volunteers to stay and fight.

Under my command are approximately 129 soldiers, who will stay.

Also, under my command, a contingent of sixteen Tennessee Long Rifles

led by Colonel Davy Crockett.

Also, 32 Outlaw Volunteers under the command of Colonel James (jim) Bowie.

The enemy has called for an unconditional surrender

to which I have answered with a cannon shot.

We will never surrender.

I am an officer and will defend our honor."

"Give me Victory or Death"
signed Colonel William Barret Travis

Mission AlamoSan Antonio Texas.

With all Patriots put to the sword, they fought to the last man.

The Alamo fell on the 6th of March 1836.

Six weeks after the Fall of The Alamo, on the 21st of April 1836, and at pre-dawn,

General Sam Houston, while commanding the Texas Volunteer Army,

attacked General Santa Anna's Mexican Army at San Jacinto Texas.

General Sam Houston's Battle Cry--
"Remember The Alamo!"

It was a crushing defeat.

The Mexican Army surrendered and Santa Anna was taken prisoner.

The Battle of San Jacinto Texas was a decisive victory for Texas Independence.

Story by Ian O. Robertson

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt

Assistant Secretary of the Navy

1898

Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet

Support the Battleship U.S.S. Olympia

Admiral Dewey's Flagship.

Survivor of the Spanish American War 1898

Docked at the Independence Seaport Museum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Theodore Roosevelt, also commanded the volunteer cavalry known as the Rough Riders during the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War.

True Patriots

"When you're at the end of your rope,

Tie a knot and hold on." --Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt The Battle for San Juan Hill.

The Rough Riders Victorious atop San Juan Hill.

Story by Ian O. Robertson

Men of Harlech

The Siege of Harlech Castle, Wales, 1486 A.D.

Men of Harlech onto glory,

This forever be your story,

Men of Harlech,Cambria calling.

"Cymru Abyth"

On the battlefield,

See the barbed steads proudly prancing,

Mid the helmets in sunlight gleaming,

With the bow and lance tips shining,

Cambria heed the call.

Feel the hills and valleys shaking,

With the war cry thunder sounding.

See the foe on yonder vancing,

From the hills and rocks rebounding.

Men of Harlech stand ye ready.

"Cymru Abyth"

Men of Harlech on to glory,

This forever be your story,

With your banners famed in glory.

"Cymru Abyth"

"Wales Forever"

Men of Harlech

Adapted by Ian O. Robertson

The BAttle of Trafalgar October 21, 1805

The Days of Wooden Ships and Iron Men

The Napoleonic War, October 1805

Admiral Viscount Lord Nelson (pictured left)

Admiralty House in London sent the following message, with full dispatch to Admiral Viscount Lord Nelson aboard the Royal Navy Flagship H.M.S. Victory---

"The Main French Naval force has joined with the Spanish Fleet off the Southern coast of Spain and is in preparation to engage in battle with our Fleet. They are positioned off Cape Trafalgar. Seek and destroy."

On the early morning of October the 21st, 1805--Nelson and the Fleet approached the battle line of ships, three deep.

Ready to engage.

England approached the battle line with 33 Ships while France and Spain had a total of 41 Ships.

Before the battle began, Nelson instructed the signal flag message be sent to the Fleet--

"ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY."

"Splice the Mainbrace, Double Tot of Rum Issue, For All Hands."

The battle plan was to engage with a different strategy.

Nelson formed two division lines to sail into the battle-- Leading line one, Nelson on the H.M.S. Victory, Leading line two, Vice Admiral Collinwood on the H.M.S. Royal Sovereign.

The usual strategy was to send second and third rate ships in first to deflect the enemy crossfire.

The cannons roared and the Battle Raged On

The fighting was the fiercest around the Victory.

The Victory broke through the line with a triple shotted broadside port

and starboard.

Fully engaged with a three tier cannon bombardment, Nelson's strategy

was a success.

At a quarter past one, at the height of the battle on maindeck, Nelson was mortally wounded with a musket shot, which entered his left shoulder, and landed on his spine, surrounded by his crew and war-torn bodies.

At his command, Nelson still continued to lead the battle and in 5 hours had devestated the enemy, delivering one deadly round after another.

With precision accuracy, the enemy had lost 19 ships.

The English were winning.

The French Warship, Redoubtable, was pulling along side the Victory to board her.

The H.M.S. Temaraire, which the Royal Navy crew called her the Fighting Temaraire, came about the starboard stern and let off a triple shotted broadside, disabling the Redoubtable.

The gunners in battle would generally aim for the main brace and the rigging, 5 inches in diameter, the largest of the rigging.

If it was shot away, the ship would be unmaneuverable, staying on the same tack.

Nelson Succombs to His Wounds

At half past four, Nelson succumbed to his wound and died.

He was victorious in death.

His final words were--

"Thank God I have done my duty."

England had won the battle.

"Britannia Victorious"

Britannia

The victory suffered the highest casualties-- 61 Killed and 91 Wounded.

The Victory was unable to move under her own sail and was towed by the H.M.S. Neptune to Gibraltar for repairs.

Nelson's body was preserved in a canvas lined casket full of Brandy and returned back to England on the H.M.S. Victory for a hero's burial.

The funeral was held at Saint Paul's Cathedral, London, where Nelson was buried with full military and naval honors.

England was no longer in any threat of being invadedby Napoleon's forces.

The Battle of Trafalgar was one of the most decisive battles in Naval history.
In five hours, the British had defeated both the French and the Spanish fleets.

French Commander Villeneuve was held prisoner on his own ship--Bucentaure-- and taken back to England.

The Spanish Admiral Gravina escaped on his ship--Prince of Asturias--but later died of his battle wounds.

Three thousand prisoners were taken.

French and Spanish casualties--3,243 Dead and 2,538 Wounded.

England did not lose any ships but suffered heavy damage.

England's casualties--458 Dead and 1,208 Wounded.

Every man did his duty.

"God Bless The Royal Navy."

There is a monument for Lord Nelson at Trafalgar Square in London.

"Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules The Waves"

The HMS Victory is a 104 gun, First-Rate Man-O-War.

The keel was laid down in 1759.

Built in Chatham.

3,556 TonsLength: 227 FeetBeam: 49 Feet

Launched on July 23, 1765.

The victory is more than 250 years old.

Story by Ian O. Robertson

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

SAVES GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL FROM THE WRECKING BALL

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with Mayor Ed Koch and Friends

In 1965, Mayor Robert F. Wagner created the New York Preservation Landmarks Commission.

Not long after that, Grand Central Terminal become a Landmark Preserved Building.

In 1970, Builder and Investment Groups had planned to demolish Grand Central Terminal with proposals to build an office tower in its place.

The Landmarks' Preservation Commission denied any proposal for demolition but were struck down by the New York Courts.

That's when local preservationists along with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Municipal Arts Society sprung into action to save Grand Central Terminal.

They took their grand stand all the way to the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.

On June the 26th, 1978, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New York Landmark Preservation Commission.

And, Grand Central Terminal was saved from demolition.

Grand Central Station is there today for future generations to enjoy.

Story by Ian O. Robertson

Ocean Liner Row

Ocean Liner Row

Music by Jennifer Rush