The Schooner HMS Pickle is not a name that is familiar to most of todays lovers of all things maritime ,but during the Napoleonic wars she had her moment of glory. Pickle was a very fast vessel and on the 26th of October in 1805 she was tasked by Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood to take his despatches relating to the Battle of Trafalgar back to England. They contained the immortal line "The ever to be lamented death of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson,who ,in the late conflict with the enemy,fell in the hour of victory......" It was the Pickle, and her commander Lieutenant John Lapenotiere ,who brought to England the news of this great victory and the loss of Nelson. Although the Pickle has been lost to popular memory she still lives on the Royal Navy when Warrant Officers have their own celebration on Pickle Night,the 5th of November
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