The name of the ship that brought the news of the Trafalgar victory to England, HMS Pickle, was a topsail schooner and though deemed too small to take part in the fighting, she distinguished herself as the ship commanded by Captain John Lapenotiere with the news of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar and sadly his death.
HMS Pickle set off on October 26th and after facing a gale off Cape Finisterre took 9 days to reach Britain. She anchored in Falmouth Bay on November 4th.
Lapenotiere started his journey to London (a trip that usually took a week was covered in 37 hours with 19 horse changes) in order that the news could be published in the Times.
Lieutenant (later Captain) John Richards Lapenotiere is understood to have started his life at sea in the Lower Deck aged 10, serving with his father Frederick, a Lieutenant. He then spent 6 years hard training under the tutelage of the American explorer Nathaniel Portlock. In 1802, Lapenotiere, then 32 years of age, was appointed in command of HM Schooner PICKLE which, because of her turn of speed and manoeuvrability, was employed as a messenger ship, ferrying dispatches between HM Ships, British shores, and overseas locations. Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood entrusted Lapenotiere to carry home the news of the victory of the Battle of Cape Trafalgar.
(The schooner) HMS Pickle set off on October 26th and after facing a gale off Cape Finisterre took 9 days to reach Britain. (After the Pickle) She anchored in Falmouth Bay on November 4tH, Lapenotiere started his journey to London (a trip that usually took a week was covered in 37 hours with 19 horse changes) in order that the news could be published in the Times. He thus achieved his orders arriving with the news at the Admiralty in London sometime on the 7th November 1805.
Upon safely delivering the news, he was immediately promoted to Commander, and, as with all the other Captains at the Battle, was presented by Lloyds Patriotic Fund, with a silver sword valued at 50 Guineas. He was, after a while, paid a gratuity of £500.00 (equivalent to about £35,000 today).
Warrant Officers and Senior Ratings have their own celebration around November 4th, Pickle Night, marking the arrival of HMS Pickle in Falmouth.
Submitted by:
David S C Lodrick MBE