Do you say that like it is a bad thing?

A nice take on the situation is what French kids are taught in school about Trafalgar.

"An inconclusive battle in which the enemy General was killed".

Which is true. The job was finished by a Geordie.

Collingwood.

Who very nearly blew it in the 6 day storm afterwards.

I can't 'bold' the bit I want to because the whole text is jumping about most irritatingly. But my point is this - Uxbridge was to blame for the Union Brigade over-running and 'going a bit too far'?

Since when were British Cavalry officers, of whatever rank or hue, able to issue any order that would be obeyed other than 'Charge!' British military history is redolent with examples of cavalry being almost completely uncontrolled - see Balaclava, Waterloo, Prince Rupert etc etc.

It simply isn't in the genes.

Still, being well controlled at Waterloo didn't do those Polish Lancers any good at all in the long run did it?

But he didnt. And where was soft, Southern Nancy Boy Nelson? Ah yes. Dead.

Case for the prosecution rests. Geordies defeated the frog. Dont thank us. Its what we do.

Strange really. Collingwood performed very well in the actual battle but seemed totally unmanned at having to take command at such a crucial time. His failure to anchor after the battle is seen by many as a major error that very nearly cost us all the benefit of the victory.

And of course in real terms, the battle was won by the time southern nancy boy Nelson died!

So, Collingwood - a great Admiral doubtless, but a better 2IC.

Just about right for Geordies!

Not at all. The Marine Sgt believed only Geordies were real men because they had been hardend by generations of warfare against the Scottish Border Rievers, who raided deep into the North of England. Raping the women and stealing the cattle. Or vice-versa if the women were fcuk ugly.

No need to thank us for toughning you up, old chap. It's what we do.

He was totally 'umanned' because they had just come through a shitstorm and the fleet was battered, broken and scattered over 500 square miles of sea, in a major storm with his boss dead and nobody knowing who had won on away goals.

Jesus. Sue us.

He did not anchour after the battle for several reasons.

1) He did not have a scoobie what was going on
2) Nor did anybody else
3) THE STORM
4) The possibility of the frogs creeping up and blowing him out of the water
4) His internet connection went down. Later, in despatches to Parliament, he blamed BT Home Broadband.

You want a proper Southern hero? Step forward Lieutenant General James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, KCB.

One of the Marine officers on board Victory sought out Captain Hardy after the battle to apologise for leaving the deck without the Captains permission. He had, to be fair had his arm blown off, but still felt guilty for not following protocol.

Sorry about Culloden. No hard feelings, eh?

Indeed; it has now been proven that Nelson's last words were not, "Kismet, Hardy". They were, in fact, "It's just a flesh-wound..."

Since there were at least two Scottish Regiments fighting against Charlie and his Jacobites, no hard feelings at all, old boy!

Jesus fucking Christ. We have fallen among the Campbells.

Actually, I'm a Farquharson.

Try that in the bars up north of Oban, Mr. Campbell.

Nelson ordered him to anchor before he died.

Presumably because he couldn't trust a chippy Northern type to command the Fleet.

My point is though that Collingwood found it difficult to cope with the pressure of command in such a difficult situation before the storm, not after it.

He's still a great Admiral though. Just not quite Nelson. Or Rodney, Or Hood etc etc.

Which is a pity because for all the vacillation after Trafalgar there was probably none better to take command.

North of Oban? They think The Wicker Man was a documentary up there!

<Cough!>, Nelson was not a Southerner - he was from Norfolk (Burnham Thorpe) and therefore an East Anglian.

I also believe that he was a bit of a "celebrity swordsman", so to speak.

What a guy!

Gosh. Sorry. East Anglia is way up North. Now, if you will excuse me, I must just deal with some uppity Southerners. And a Scotch git.


But then he died. And with the fleet scattered, and a storm on the way, an nobody knowing who had won or what was going on, he took command and finished the job, like the proper Geordie he was.


Was there? Tell you what. Put your hand in your pocket. Feel around. Pull out a coin.

Who's head is on that coin?

Your Queen? Or ours?

Where, pray tell, does HM have Her favourite holiday home? Where does she and the DoE go for some R&R? Here's a clue: it's not Newcastle.

And remember that the first King of the United Kingdom was Scottish.

Lighten up FFS - there's a view that Collingwood 'got away with it' after Trafalgar. It's one that is supported by many historians, sailors and academics.

If you wish to differ then it's worth doing so on a basis that is more than just 'he was a geordie so he must be brilliant'.