Activities and exhibitions are being organized throughout the country to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson in 1805. Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum will be creating a display to reveal the local connection with this important event.
The display will feature a recent gift to the Museum of a gilt snuff box said to have been given by Nelson to his coachman at Merton. We have not been able to verify its authenticity with absolute certainty, but the latest research seems to suggest that this providence is quite possible. Ian Pickford (BBC T.V. “Antiques Roadshow”) has confirmed that the snuff box dates from this period.
The main focus of our ‘Year of the Sea’ display reports on the heroic deeds of the handsome Irish-born James Spratt who lived in Teignmouth with his family until his death in 1852. ‘Jack’ Spratt, as he was familiarly known, was a distinctive figure around town seen wrapped in a weather – stained naval cloak and riding his sturdy Dartmoor pony. The injury sustained by his gallant action at Trafalgar when serving as Master’s Mate on the “Defiance” had left him lame.
His tale is quite extraordinary. During the battle Spratt had volunteered to swim to the French ship “Aigle”. The report states “His offer being accepted, he instantly with his sword in his teeth and his battle-axe in his belt, dashed into the sea”. He boarded the vessel, single handedly fought his way through the decks to the poop while fending off three grenadiers. At this point his leg was severely injured by musket shot, but still fighting he retreated behind two guns until relieved by some of his own shipmates. Spratt then hauled down the French colours, holding up his shattered leg and calling out “Poor Jack Spratt’s done up at last”. However, he was certainly not ‘done up’. He steadfastly refused the amputation of his leg and spent many weeks recovering in Gibraltar Hospital. He was granted a Lieutenant’s Commission for his action and returned home to take charge of Teignmouth Signal Station until 1813 - though this was by no means the end to his career or exploits. You will have to visit the museum to find out the full story.
