Trafalgar Cemetery

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Trafalgar Cemetery
Trafalgar Cemetery.png
Panoramic view of the Trafalgar Cemetery
Gibraltar location map.svg
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Location of Trafalgar Cemetery (red dot) within Gibraltar
Details
Established1798
Location
Southport Ditch, Trafalgar Road
Country Gibraltar
Coordinates 36°08′05″N5°21′08″W / 36.134747°N 5.352273°W / 36.134747; -5.352273 Coordinates: 36°08′05″N5°21′08″W / 36.134747°N 5.352273°W / 36.134747; -5.352273
Owned by Government of Gibraltar
Find a Grave Trafalgar Cemetery

The Trafalgar Cemetery is a cemetery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Formerly known as the Southport Ditch Cemetery, it occupies a small area of land just to the south of the city walls, in what had been a defensive ditch during the period of Spanish rule of Gibraltar. Although it is named for the Battle of Trafalgar of 21 October 1805, only two victims of the battle are buried there. The remainder of the interments are mostly of those killed in other sea battles or casualties of the yellow fever epidemics that swept Gibraltar between 1804 and 1814. In addition, tombstones were transferred to the Trafalgar Cemetery from St. Jago's Cemetery and Alameda Gardens.

Contents

Trafalgar Cemetery Trafalgar Cemetery 18082014-001.jpg
Trafalgar Cemetery

The cemetery is no longer used for burials and was abandoned for many years, but was restored in the 1980s. In 1992, a memorial to the Battle of Trafalgar was erected in the cemetery. The graveyard is the site of an annual commemorative ceremony on Trafalgar Day, the Sunday nearest to the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Trafalgar Cemetery is listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

Location

The Trafalgar Cemetery is in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. [1] [2] It is a triangular parcel of land whose boundaries are formed by the Charles V Wall to the north, Prince Edward's Road to the east, and Trafalgar Road to the southwest. [3] Prince Edward's Gate is at the northeast corner of the cemetery; the Southport Gates are at the northwest corner. [3] [4]

The cemetery is just outside the old city walls, in a section of the Southport Ditch, part of the southern defences of the city. [5] The Southport Ditch was a large trench which extended on the south side of Charles V Wall from the South Bastion to the Flat Bastion. [6] It was depicted in a 1627 map of Gibraltar by Spanish engineer Luis Bravo de Acuña. On the map held by the British Museum, it is labeled in Spanish as Fosso (English: Ditch). [5]

Early history

The cemetery was formerly known as the Southport Ditch Cemetery. [5] [6] [7] It was consecrated in June 1798, seven years prior to the Battle of Trafalgar, which took place on 21 October 1805. The cemetery was sometimes considered to be part of St. Jago's Cemetery, the larger burial ground just to the north, on the opposite side of Charles V Wall. [8] [9] [10] St. Jago's, also known as Deadman's Cemetery, was the only cemetery within the walls of the city of Gibraltar. In addition, it may have represented Gibraltar's oldest known cemetery. [11] It was incorporated into St. Jago's Barracks playground in 1929, and repurposed as a rifle range and "ball alley." [12] There exists little evidence of the former cemetery. [11]

Interments

Headstone of Captain Thomas Norman of HMS Mars Thomas Norman Headstone.png
Headstone of Captain Thomas Norman of HMS Mars
Headstone of Lieutenant William Forster of HMS Colossus William Forster Headstone.png
Headstone of Lieutenant William Forster of HMS Colossus

The Southport Ditch Cemetery was used for interments between 1798 and 1814, after which it fell into disuse. The only exception was the grave from 1838 at the northeast corner of the cemetery, near Prince Edward's Gate. [8] [9] The renaming of the graveyard to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar apparently did not occur until many years after the victory. Only two of the interments are of those who died of wounds sustained during the battle. [8] [9] One of the victims was Captain Thomas Norman of the Royal Marine Corps and HMS Mars, who died in the Naval Hospital on 6 December 1805 at the age of 36. [12] The other was Lieutenant William Forster of HMS Colossus, who died of the wounds that he received in battle on 21 October 1805 at the age of 20. [9] [12] A plaque mounted by the Southport Gates reads: "Trafalgar Cemetery - Here Lie The Remains of Some Who Died of Wounds at Gibraltar After Nelson's Great Victory in October, 1805, Those Killed During The Battle Having Been Buried at Sea. Other Graves Date From 1798." [13]

Most of those who were killed during the battle were buried at sea. HMS Victory, Horatio Nelson's former flagship, was towed into Rosia Bay on 28 October 1805. Later, Nelson's remains were transported to England, where he was buried in a crypt in St Paul's Cathedral. [4] [8] [10] Casualties of the battle were brought to Gibraltar; those who died later of their injuries were interred in St. Jago's Cemetery, north of Charles V Wall. Many of the graves in Trafalgar Cemetery represent the victims of three yellow fever epidemics. Those epidemics in Gibraltar had been most severe during the years 1804, 1813, and 1814. [8] [14] Also interred at Trafalgar Cemetery were the sailors who died in other battles of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, including the First Battle of Algeciras in 1801 and conflicts off Cádiz and Málaga in 1810 and 1812, respectively. [8]

Transfer of headstones

In 1932, more than a century after the Trafalgar Cemetery fell into disuse, gravestones from St. Jago's Cemetery were mounted on the east wall of Trafalgar Cemetery. [11] [12] The oldest tombstone on the wall dates to 1738. The transfer of headstones was undertaken on the order of General Sir Alexander Godley, the Governor of Gibraltar. [11] [12] In addition, over the years, several tombstones were transferred from the Alameda Gardens; some of the free-standing gravestones date back to the 1780s. [5]

Recent history

Trafalgar Day ceremony at Trafalgar Cemetery in 2008 Trafalgar Day 2008.png
Trafalgar Day ceremony at Trafalgar Cemetery in 2008

For years, an annual ceremony has been held on Trafalgar Day, the Sunday closest to 21 October. On that day, the ceremony in the cemetery commemorates those who died in the Battle of Trafalgar. [10] [12] A general restoration of the Trafalgar Cemetery was undertaken in the 1980s. [9] In 1990, responsibility for the maintenance of the cemetery was transferred to the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, which completed repairs of the gates and walls. [5] [15] Gibraltar celebrated its tercentenary anniversary of British rule in 2004. That year, some veterans who had served there were invited to Gibraltar. The July 2004 schedule for the veterans included events at the Trafalgar Cemetery, Gibraltar Cross of Sacrifice, Gibraltar Museum, and St. Michael's Cave. [16]

In 1992, a monument was unveiled at the cemetery by the Governor of Gibraltar, Admiral Sir Derek Reffell. The memorial included an anchor donated by the Royal Navy, as well as an inscription. The quote was that of Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, who reported both the victory at Trafalgar and the demise of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson. [5] [8] Outside of the cemetery stands a life-size, bronze statue of Lord Nelson by British sculptor John Doubleday. It was erected in 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. [17] [18] [19] In addition, a small plaque was mounted at the former area of St. Jago's Cemetery to commemorate the site of interment of those sailors who later died of wounds inflicted during the battle. [5] Trafalgar Cemetery is listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. [20]

Related Research Articles

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HMS <i>Victory</i> 1765 first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy

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Rosia Bay Port in Gibraltar

Rosia Bay is the only natural harbour in Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. Formerly referred to as Rosia Harbour, it is located on the southwest side of Gibraltar. Rosia Bay was the site of the Royal Navy Victualling Yard complex which was constructed in the early 19th century, allowing vessels to anchor and obtain provisions, including food and water. Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson obtained supplies for his Mediterranean Fleet at Rosia Bay. It was to that same anchorage that his vessel HMS Victory was towed after Nelson's death in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. The area is also the location of gun batteries, including Parson's Lodge Battery at the south end of the bay and Napier of Magdala Battery at the north end. In the 21st century, Rosia Bay was the focus of controversy following the government's demolition of the historic Rosia Water Tanks and construction of the affordable housing development Nelson's View, which necessitated the relocation of the owners of the adjacent 19th century Rosia Cottages.

Jews Gate Cemetery

Jews' Gate Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located on Windmill Hill within a nature reserve in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Also known as the Windmill Hill Cemetery, it is the site of the earliest known Jewish burials in Gibraltar. The cemetery opened by 1746 and closed in 1848. It is the burial site of a number of Gibraltar's Chief Rabbis. The graveyard is protected by the law of Gibraltar.

North Front Cemetery

The North Front Cemetery is a cemetery located in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Also known as the Gibraltar Cemetery and the Garrison Cemetery, it is the only graveyard still in use in Gibraltar. It is also the only Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemetery in Gibraltar. The two CWGC monuments, the Gibraltar Memorial and the Gibraltar Cross of Sacrifice, are positioned nearby at the junction of Winston Churchill Avenue and Devil's Tower Road.

Rosia Water Tanks

The Rosia Water Tanks were large water tanks built at the turn of the nineteenth century at Rosia Bay in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. They were constructed based on the recommendation by Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent that the Victualling Yard complex be relocated to Rosia Bay. The complex allowed Royal Navy vessels to obtain both food and water at one site. The Rosia Water Tanks remained in the possession of the Ministry of Defence until 2004, at which time they were transferred to the Government of Gibraltar. Despite local and international criticism, and a court case brought by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, the tanks were demolished in 2006 to make way for affordable housing. When developer OEM International's funding proved insufficient to complete the project the government repossessed the site.

Flat Bastion Bastion in Gibraltar

Flat Bastion is a bastion which projects southward from the Charles V Wall in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Once known as the St. Jago's Bastion or the Baluarte de Santiago in Spanish, the fortification was built by the Spanish in the mid 16th century and formed part of the southern defences of the city of Gibraltar, together with Charles V Wall, Southport Gates, Southport Ditch, and South Bastion. In 1859, six guns, four 12-pounders and two 12-pound carronades, were installed on the bastion, and four years later, five 32-pounders were mounted on the fortification.

St. Jagos Cemetery

St. Jago's Cemetery was a cemetery in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Also known as Deadman's Cemetery, it was positioned just north of the Charles V Wall. The burial ground was initially used for the poor Spaniards of La Turba; following the 1704 capture of Gibraltar, it was utilised as a Protestant cemetery. In 1929, the burial ground was incorporated into the St. Jago's Barracks recreational facilities. Three years later, some of the remaining headstones were transferred to Trafalgar Cemetery. Little evidence of the former cemetery remains. It is notable as the earliest cemetery in Gibraltar as well as the only one within the city limits.

Prince Edwards Gate

Prince Edward's Gate is a city gate at the entrance to Prince Edward's Road in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It cuts through Charles V Wall, one of the 16th century fortifications of Gibraltar at the former southern limit of the city. The gate is adjacent to the west wall of the Flat Bastion, another 16th-century fortification. The gate was named after Prince Edward, the future Duke of Kent, and was opened in 1790, the same year the prince arrived at Gibraltar as commander of the 7th Regiment of Foot. While the gate now has a limited role in the defence of Gibraltar, it continues to provide vehicular and pedestrian access through Charles V Wall. Prince Edward's Gate is listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

Southport Gates

The Southport Gates are three city gates in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. They are located in the Charles V Wall, one of the 16th century fortifications of Gibraltar. The gates are clustered together, with the South Bastion to the west, and the Trafalgar Cemetery to the east. The first and second Southport Gates were constructed at present day Trafalgar Road in 1552 and 1883, respectively. The third gate, Referendum Gate, is the widest of the three and was constructed in 1967 at Main Street, immediately west of the first two gates. The Southport Gates are listed with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

Charles V Wall

The Charles V Wall is a 16th-century defensive curtain wall that forms part of the fortifications of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. Originally called Muralla de San Benito, it was built in 1540 and strengthened in 1552 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The wall remains largely intact and extends from South Bastion, which was once at the water's edge in the harbour, to the top ridge of the Rock of Gibraltar.

South Bastion, Gibraltar Bastion in Gibraltar

The South Bastion was part of the fortifications of Gibraltar, protecting the western base of the Charles V Wall. It was originally built by Spanish military engineers, later improved by the British. The South Bastion stands at the south end of the Line Wall Curtain which defends the town from attack from the Bay of Gibraltar. Another curtain wall runs east from the bastion to the base of a precipice. This wall is pierced by the Southport Gates, guarded by the South Bastion and the Flat Bastion on either side.

St. Jagos Arch

St. Jago's Arch is a historic sandstone arch in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is the original entrance to a 16th-century Spanish church located at the southern limits of the old town.

References

  1. ↑ "List of Crown Dependencies & Overseas Territories". fco.gov.uk. Foreign and Commonwealth Office . Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Roach, John (10 October 2006). "Neandertals' Last Stand was in Gibraltar, Study Suggests". National Geographic News. National Geographic Society . Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Map of Trafalgar Cemetery". Google Maps. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Trafalgar Cemetery". Discover Pocket Guide to Gibraltar. Discover Pocket Guide(s) Gibraltar Ltd: 19–20. 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Trafalgar Cemetery". Gibraltar Heritage Trust website. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 "The New Look at Old Southport Ditch". Gibraltar Chronicle . 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Gilbard, Lieutenant Colonel George James (1888). A popular history of Gibraltar, its institutions, and its neighbourhood on both sides of the straits, and a guide book to their principal places and objects of interest. Garrison Library. pp. 57–58. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Trafalgar Cemetery". aboutourrock.com. About Our Rock. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Summers, Julie (20 July 2010). British and Commonwealth War Cemeteries (illustrated ed.). Osprey Publishing. p. 8. ISBN   9780747807896 . Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 White, Colin (1 December 2002). The Nelson Encyclopedia (illustrated ed.). Stackpole Books. p. 133. ISBN   9780811700139 . Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "North Front Cemetery". aboutourrock.com. About Our Rock. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Trafalgar Cemetery". discovergibraltar.com. DiscoverGibraltar.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Monuments". wfraworcester.com. The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  14. ↑ Fremont-Barnes, Gregory (10 August 2005). Trafalgar 1805: Nelson's Crowning Victory (illustrated ed.). Osprey Publishing. p. 92. ISBN   9781841768922 . Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Projects & Events". gibraltarheritagetrust.org.gi. Gibraltar Heritage Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Gibraltar Experience". stosyth.gov.uk. St. Osyth Parish Council. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "John Doubleday, Esq's Biography". debretts.com. Debrett's. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Unveiling of Nelson Statue". Gibraltar news from Panorama. 2005. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  19. ↑ "Public Works". johndoubleday.co.uk. John Doubleday. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  20. ↑ "Gibraltar Heritage Trust Act 1989" (PDF). gibraltarlaws.gov.gi. Government of Gibraltar . Retrieved 18 October 2012.
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