"Iconic" Battle of Trafalgar flag that led Lord Nelson's fleet could be lost as fund set up to save it
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A historic Union Jack which was flown during the Battle of Trafalgar could be lost overseas - with a campaign being launched to keep it in the country.
The battle-scarred flag attached to HMS Royal Sovereign in 1805 may be sent abroad if a large sum of money can’t be raised. It was at the centre of Lord Nelson’s fleet that faced the ships of Napoleon and Spain.
The government has placed an export bar on the Union Flag to allow time for a British buyer to be found and raise £450,000. Campaigner James Trotman set up a fundraiser to support the cause.
He said his family’s deep connection with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines spurred him on to set up the campaign. “It’s an iconic part of our history,” he told The News. “I’d hate to see it go overseas.
“I just thought there seems to never be any crowdfunding for these sorts of campaigns, so thought I’d set up my own. I’m probably not going to raise £450,000 individually, I’m very confident of that, but any money will be sent to the institution that’s leading on the fundraising through the arts council.
“I have strong familial connections with Portsmouth. I’m not a fundraiser normally, but I thought it would be nice to raise some money to keep it in the country.”
James’ father Michael served as a Sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy before transferring to the Royal Marines. He got married to his wife in the officers mess at the Royal Marines Barracks in Portsmouth, proceeding to service on HMS Ark Royal and various other vessels.
The Union Jack flag is believed to have been made and maintained by sailors aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, making it entirely unique. It is constructed from hand-stitched wool bunting with a weighted edge - bearing the bullet holes that show the ferocity of the battle itself.
HMS Royal Sovereign was the first vessel to engage the French and Spanish as part of a headlong charge into the enemy. Roughly 4,500 sailors lost their lives, including Lord Nelson. The British victory is recognised for establishing British naval supremacy across the following century.
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Mr Trotman hopes the flag can find a new public home and be preserved for future generations. He added: “Every schoolkid knows about the Battle of Trafalgar. It was a make or break fight. With Nelson’s column in central London, the history reverberates around the country.
“That flag was flying on that ship, in that battle, in what was a really iconic event for the country and our cultural history. I’d love it to go somewhere connected with naval history and heritage, either at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or the National Maritime Museum in London, where it can be put up in pride of place so anyone can see it and understand the history behind it.”
The export bar was implemented by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). Culture minister Baroness Twycross said: “Few symbols in our country are as evocative as the Union Flag, and this flag in particular is an extraordinary representation of Britain’s history and national identity.
“This flag was made by ordinary Britons and now epitomises a defining moment in our national history. I hope this profoundly important historical artefact can remain in Britain for the public to enjoy.”
Committee member Pippa Shirley added: “The flag’s evocative connection to our national life and the establishment of the long period of British naval dominance runs so deep that its departure would be a great loss.”
The export bar is in place until March 16, 2026. Mr Trotman’s fundraiser can be found online here. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the flag should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or [email protected].