Nelson/Trafalgar/Royal Navy: Nelson/Trafalgar/Royal Navy: R...

Hammer

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Nelson/Trafalgar/Royal Navy:

Nelson/Trafalgar/Royal Navy: Rare commission to William Pilch, one of the youngest participants (aged 11) in the Battle of Trafalgar, dated September 1814 showing his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant.

William Pilch was born on 21st April 1794 to William and Margaret Pilch of Burnham Market, Norfolk. Baptised six days later, most interestingly the rector of the parish was The Reverend Edmund Nelson, father of none other than Horatio Nelson, who at that time was making a name for himself at the Invasion of Corsica. By family repute, the friendship between the families of Nelson and Pilch led to young William entering the Royal Navy on 4th October 1804 – at the tender age of 10 – as a First Class Volunteer aboard HMS Bellerophon, a 74- gun ship-of-the-line affectionately known in the service as the “Billy Ruffian”. She served with much distinction in three major fleet actions (the Glorious First of June, the Nile and Trafalgar), in addition to a host of smaller engagements throughout her 50-year career, but it is of course on that fateful day of 21st October 1805 that she played a prominent part in one of history’s most famous battles – along with the 11-year-old William Pilch.

He is next noted, still as a Volunteer 1st Class, aboard HMS Glory until July 1806, when he was appointed in swift succession to the 64-gun ships Sampson and Diadem; in the latter he saw further active service in the controversial campaign to capture Monte Video, and whilst aboard her was finally promoted Midshipman.

Upon his return from South America Pilch was appointed to the 74-gun HMS Defiance, another Lee-column veteran of Trafalgar, and saw action in her at the Battle of Les Sables-d’Alene (23rd February 1809), which took place off the town of the same name on the Biscay coast. During this engagement Defiance, under the command of Captain Henry Hotham, was first in line to attack three French 40-gun frigates anchored under protection of shore-based artillery batteries; due to her unusually shallow draught, Defiance was able to sail closer inshore than the remainder of the British squadron and fought alone for 20 minutes against the French vessels and gun batteries, until the remaining British ships could support her. Hugely outnumbered in men and guns, all three French frigates became so badly damaged that, unmanageable, they drifted ashore and became wrecked. Defiance had suffered casualties of two killed and 25 wounded: a small price to pay, perhaps, but the most of any ship in the British squadron.

Next appointed to HMS Valiant, another 74-gun ship, Pilch found himself heading further afield for the first time in several years – specifically to the North American station, where a much enlarged naval presence was required to combat their new foe in the War of 1812. Intriguingly, having served with Captain Henry Hotham aboard Northumberland for the engagement in May 1812, Pilch’s ‘Memorandum of Services’ notes that every subsequent ship he was appointed to (San Domingo, Asia, Tonnant, Forth and Superb) was either directly or indirectly commanded by Hotham: did Pilch make such a good impression upon his senior that he secured some patronage and active employment in these later years? The 80-gun Tonnant acted as flagship for the Chesapeake and New Orleans campaigns and the 74-gun Superb participated in the attack upon Wareham in Massachusetts, and whilst on this station (24th September 1814) Pilch was finally – and most deservedly – promoted Lieutenant.

William Pilch died – aged 70 – at Broadstairs, and is buried at the church of St Peter-in-Thanet in the centre of the town. A life-long bachelor, Pilch’s Grant of Probate left his effects (totalling just under £600) to a sister, Susan Youngs of Titchwell, Norfolk – a village not far from where he and his siblings were born.