The directory «Plots of stamps in the catalogue»

Swain Thomas Hill

About 25 minutes before midday on the 21 October, 1805, Thomas Hill Swain saw a flag-signal being hoisted on HMS VICTORY. He was an ordinary seaman, born at Hastings, Sussex, who probably couldn’t read but almost certainly, like the rest of Admiral Nelson’s well trained crew, could interpret the inspiring message "England expects that every man will do his duty"

Ferocious fighting soon developed between all major vessels and Thomas Swain was in the thick of it on VICTORY’s quarter deck. The bloodthirsty mayhem had run for about half an hour when Nelson was hit by a musket bullet fired by a sniper positioned high in the rigging of the French REDOUBTABLE. Nelson staggered and fell - into Swain’s arms! Swain survived the battle, and other naval vicissitudes for sixteen years, before emigrating to a quiet life on Tristan da Cunha.

Tristan da Cunha, 1971, HMD «Victory»; Thomas Swain helping wounded Nelson

Tristan da Cunha, 2005, Thomas Swain helping wounded Lord Nelson

Tristan da Cunha, 2006, Thomas Swain