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Matthew Vella
It’s 200 years since the Battle of Trafalgar marked the end of Napoleon’s march across Europe, and now you can discover your Maltese ancestor who was part of the historic battle.
You can find your Trafalgar ancestor on the website of the National Archives in England, which celebrates the 18,000 plus individuals who fought in the Battle of the Trafalgar on the side of the Royal Navy. Collectively these individuals were born in a wide range of continents and countries. Only one woman is listed as having been the only female who served in the battle.
Trafalgar Ancestors can be searched by surname, but also using its advanced search facility, by first name; age on 21 October 1805; birthplace; ship's name; rating and rank.
Twenty-one sailors are listed, all enlisted as Malta-born men, the youngest of which was a 14-year-old boy whose name is Joseph Balderkin, a possible corruption of the surname Baldacchino. He was on board the Royal Sovereign.
Other higher roles include that of Corporal Giuseppe Abela, 31, who was on board the HMS Brittania. The eldest was Francisco d’Amico, 37, who served on the HMS Ajax as landsman.
Only four of the men whose birthplace is indicated as Malta fought alongside Admiral Horatio Nelson on the HMS Victory, some of which served in the Royal Navy for long after Trafalgar.
Today also marks the last day in the commemorative festivities for the 200 anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Between 9am and 11.30am today, English troops will be at the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa where they will be keeping guard whilst the French are cooped up in the Auberge de France.
A mock battle will be re-enacted at 4pm at the Valletta Waterfront when the noise of cannonballs will echo all around the Grand Harbour and the surrounding bastions.
The Battle of Trafalgar, fought on 21 October 1805 and led by Lord Nelson, is part of the War of the Third Coalition assembled by Britain against France, when a 27-ship Royal Navy fleet destroyed an allied French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships at Cape Trafalgar in south-west Spain. The allies lost 22 ships, the British none.
The victory put an end to Napoleon's plans to invade Britain across the English Channel, leaving the Royal Navy unchallenged as the world's foremost naval power until the rise of Imperial Germany during WWI.
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
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