On Friday night, 2000 beacons were lit across the country.  On Saturday, Admiral Horatio Van Niekerk, flanked by Rear Admiral Collier and Captain Trueman, stood on the quarter deck of HMS Sixways and surveyed the battle line-out.

The Warrior fleet was facing a French flotilla at a time when France was determined to win territorial success in Europe.  Awash with resources and manpower, she held all the cards. From Paris in the North to Toulouse in the South, the French were difficult to beat and Napoleon La Porte was already dreaming of world supremacy.

Now the two fleets faced each other off Cape Trafficisland.  The encounter was given an added edge because the British line included a French émigré who had fled the Revolution: le Duc de Lombard.

As the two navies lined up, massive French warships towered over their British counterparts.  Our fleet was outmanned and outgunned, but it was fighting fit thanks to a diet of fish oil, raw meat and organic vegetables. We also had the finest naval tacticians in the west: Admiral Brain and Vice Admirals Eddy and McGinty.

Flags fluttered in the breeze as battle was joined.  Deadly volleys were fired by both sides and surgeons repeatedly rushed to the aid of fallen combatants.  At first it seemed as though the superior fire power of the French might carry the day, but gradually the Warrior fleet breached the enemy line.  Broadside followed broadside from the big guns of HMS Sanderson and HMS Vaili.  The flagship, HMS Redoubtable Pack drove forward into the heart of the French fleet, while the lightly armed corvettes of HMS Hylton, Oduoza and Delport sniped around the fringes.  The men o’war, Lombard, Drahm and Gomarsall, zigzagged through the enemy ranks, controlling the course of the battle.  High in the rigging could be seen the steady heads and hands of Able Seamen Gillies and Hickie, supported by a Blaze of gunfire.

Finally, weighed down by bouillabaisse and Gauloise, the exhausted French fleet conceded defeat.  For the moment at least, Hearts of Oak had triumphed.  In the Hallmark Tavern there would be many a Drunken Sailor to-night and many a raucous chorus of “Tony is a Warrior…”

As expected, every man had done his duty – and Napoleon had been reminded that it is a long way to St. Helena.

Footnote:  Contrary to popular belief, Admiral Horatio did not expire at the moment of victory.  We are happy to report that he was last seen, one arm in a sling, reading a telegram from an aristocratic lady admirer.  A small smile crossed his face as he read:

Kiss me hard.  E

R.T.