West London Sailors at the Battle of Trafalgar

Passing the Express Tavern adjacent to Kew Bridge, I noticed a plaque mounted on the external wall dedicated to the men from Brentford and Chiswick who served at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The names and information are as follows:

James Benfield Age 42 Landsman HMS Defence

James Chapman Age 20 Ordinary Seaman HMS Victory

Robert Denham Age 35 Ordinary Seaman HMS Bellerophon

John Easterbrook Age 29 Able Seaman HMS Royal Sovereign

Edward Hall Age 23 Ordinary Seaman HMS Minotaur

Edward Hearn Age 29 Yeoman of Powder Room HMS Minotaur

William Hindman Age 21 Ordinary Seaman HMS Defence

Thomas Hollyhock Age 25 Ordinary Seaman HMS Polyphemus

James Jones Age 21 Landsman HMS Agamemnon

John Martin Age 21 Landsman HMS Colossus

Josh Myers Age 27 Ordinary Seaman HMS Agamemnon

Thomas Newman Age 25 Ordinary Seaman HMS Bellerophon

George Pegg Age 35 Masters Mate HMS Achilles

James Peters Age 22 Ordinary Seaman HMS Temeraire

Richard Powell Age 24 Ordinary Seaman HMS Victory

Thomas Stokes Age 32 Quarter Gunner HMS Leviathan

John Thrift Age 19 Private Marines HMS Defence

William Tillier Age 21 Landsman HMS Agamemnon

John Warden Age 26 Ordinary Seaman HMS Belleisle

Note: Powell and Stokes were from Chiswick, and the rest from Brentford.

The plaques were erected by Hounslow Borough Council in September 2009 to commemorate the bicentenary of the battle, to inaugurate the Trafalgar Way from Falmouth to London and to honour the men of Brentford and CHiswick who fought of their country at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Trafalgar Way is the route that the Captain of the Schooner Pickle, Lieutenant John Richards, took by horse from Falmouth to the Admiralty in London to bring news of the great victory and also of Nelson’s death. He took 37 hours to cover the 271 miles and changed horses 21 times. The last change was at Hounslow on 5th November late at night but he continued on to Whitehall. The Express Tavern which the plaques are mounted externally is worth a visit to admire the decor of a bygone era and enjoy the excellently-kept ales.