Print. A commemoration of Northesk's role as third in command at the Battle of Trafalgar, in the 'Britannia' as his flagship. Although the ship suffered heavy casualties and did good rescue work in the post-Trafalgar storm, Northesk was one of those who failed to follow the spirit of Nelson's orders to 'engage the enemy more closely' in the early part of the action. He started it already out of position though direct responsibility for that lay with the captain, who would certainly have had difficulty in the matter: 'Britannia' was a notoriously slow sailer and this would have been made worse by the fact that it was long overdue for going into dock to have its bottom scraped of marine growth. Nevertheless, while Northesk was awarded the flag officer's gold medal for the action (as were Nelson, posthumously, and Collingwood) he did not serve at sea again. [PvdM amended 10/19]