Trafalgar First-Hand Accounts (2)
NELSON SENDS THE SIGNAL “ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY”, 11.56 a.m.
Lieutenant George Brown, HMS Victory

I was on the poop and quarter-deck whilst preparations for the fight were going on, and saw Lord Nelson, Captain Blackwood, and some other Captains of the frigates, in earnest conversation together, and a slip of paper in the hand of the former (which Captain Blackwood had looked at), yet I have no recollection that I ever saw it pass through other hands till it was given to Pasco, who, after referring to the telegraph signal book, took it back to his Lordship, and it was then that, I believe, the substitution of the words took place. I think (though not sure), the substitution was “expects” for the word “confides”, the latter word not being in the telegraph book, and I think the word “England” had been previously substituted for “Nelson” for the same reason, at the suggestion of Captain Blackwood.
………….
I was walking with him [Lord Nelson] on the poop when he said, “I’ll now amuse the fleet with a signal”, and he asked me if I did not think there was one yet wanting. I answered that I thought the whole of the Fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about, and to vie with each other who should first get nearest to the Victory or Royal Sovereign. These words were scarcely uttered when his last well known signal was made: “England expects every man will do his duty”. The shout with which it was received throughout the fleet was truly sublime. “Now,” said Lord Nelson, “I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all Events, and the justice of our case. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty.”
[Just minutes later, the battle commenced when the Fougueux opened fire on the approaching Royal Sovereign of Collingwood’s Lee column]