| Performance Title | Great Nelson Centenary Celebrations on Trafalgar Day, in aid of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society's Nelson Centenary Memorial Fund |
| Performance Date | 21 October 1905 |
| Performance Day | Saturday |
| Performance Time | 15:00 |
| Main Performers | Lord Brassey KCB (Presiding)
Rev. F B Meyer,
Mrs Herbert Beerbohm Tree,
Lady Dimsdale,
Richard Temple,
Marie Brema,
Ben Davies,
Alice Esty,
Evangeline Florence,
Rosa Olitzka,
John Coates,
Herbert Brover,
Charles Copland,
Ffrangcon Davies
H L Balfour - organ,
Francis Macmillen - violin,
W Bullock - flute
Miss Weston's Naval Boys' Brigade, Portsmouth |
| Secondary Performers | Cyril Miller,
F A Sewell,
Herbert Van Vleet |
| Orchestra or Band | The Band of the Royal Marine LI,
The Band of the Grenadier Guards |
| Conductors | J Wright,
A Williams |
| Set List | Grand Organ Recital,
'All People That On Earth Do Dwell',
Prayer (Rev F B Meyer),
Welcome (Lord Brassey),
'Recessional' (Mrs Beerbohm Tree),
Unique Nautical Display of Physical Drill with Field Gun (Miss Weston's Naval Boys' Brigade, Portsmouth),
'The Hero', Schumann (Marie Brema and Cyril Miller),
'The Anchorsmiths', Dibdin (Marie Brema and Cyril Miller),
Presentation of 'Victory' Souveniers bearing His Majesty the King's initials - the Nelson Busts and 'Victory' Blocks - to Captain Kaburaki, Japanese Navy (Lady Dimsdale)
INTERVAL
Field Gun Display (WNBB),
Hoisting the Flag Half Mast High at the hour the gallant Nelson died 100 years ago(WLM),
Silence,
'The Death of Nelson' (Beerbohm Tree, FAS),
Film (Cinematograph) Screening - 'Our Navy, 1805-1905', Alfred John West FRGS,
'The Marseillaise',
'God Save the King' (The National Anthem) |
| Performance Notes | To mark the Centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in which Nelson's fleet won a close and famous engagement with the combined French and Spanish fleets, events were held in various provincial and London venues, including the Royal Albert Hall. They were intended to raise funds for the 'Nelson Centenary Memorial Fund', which had been set up by the British and Foreign Sailors Society (BFSS).
Alfred John West (1857-1937) presented his film 'Our Navy, 1805-1905' at this event and wrote in his autobiography about it;
"On Trafalgar Day, 'Our Navy' pictures were in great demand. Apart from being shown in three provincial cities, they were also exhibited at the [Regent Street] Polytechnic, the Crystal Palace, the People's Palace, and the Royal Albert Hall, where special arrangements had been made for the Nelson Centenary celebration in aid of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, under the patronage of King Edward VII.
A bust of Nelson made out of oak and copper from the "Victory" was presented to me in recognition of my services in helping to organise and assist in the programme. Miss Weston's Naval Boys' Brigade from Portsmouth arrived with a field gun to give a display of drill, and a wreath sent from the Royal Sailors' Rest was placed upon another bust of Nelson and sent with it to Admiral Togo of the Japanese Navy from the boys of Britain. The Brigade, under Naval instructors, gave a unique display in the arena of the hall."
Alfred West's film 'Our Navy, 1805-1905' was made aboard HMS Victory and was described in his own words as following;
"The year 1905 being the centenary of the battle of Trafalgar, a special programme was arranged introducing Our Navy of the past. One of the films obtained was of an old naval veteran, 92 years of age, then living in Portsmouth, who had served under Admiral Hyde Parker, one of Nelson's captains. He was a little feeble on his legs and rather deaf, but otherwise well and hearty, and he was not only willing, but eager to take part in the film I outlined to him. He was taken aboard the "Victory", then lying at anchor in mid-stream, and accompanied by a Petty Officer from the Royal Naval Barracks and two Boys from the "Royal Seamen and Marines' Orphanage.
After climbing a gangway without assistance, a chair was placed for him to rest before proceeding to the Quarter Deck. Looking around, the old salt remarked that the ship was somewhat altered from when he was last aboard 72 years before. He seemed a little overcome as he saluted the Quarter Deck, and taking out his hand-kerchief to mop his face, he sat down to watch me act the part he was going to take. He understood what he had to do, and did it splendidly.
With one hand on one of the boys who were beside him, and the Petty Officer following behind, he slowly came to the spot where Nelson fell, and kneeling down with some difficulty he took he wreath which one of the boys was carrying, and placed it carefully and reverently over the tablet that marks the spot.
He had to be helped up by the Petty Officer, and then proceeding slowly to the poop, pointed out with his stick the famous words that are painted around the steering wheel :-"England expects that every man will do his duty."
Turning round, he points aloft, and the scene changes to the famous signal, which was hoisted for this occasion by the special permission of the Commander in Chief. Other films obtained included one of guns used at Trafalgar being worked by seamen in contemporary rig. These, together with lantern slides of the battle and the death of Nelson were included in the Centenary programme."
A Nelson charm of copper from 'Victory' was presented with each programme sold. |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1905/1) |
| Ticket Prices | 1s-£2 2s |
| URL | https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/edred70ed64n86 |