Honouring Superb
Completed 29th October 2021
HMS Superb, 74 guns, was built in 1798 and was the fastest "Ship of the Line" at the time, after 7 years and overdue for a re-fit she sailed to Portsmouth with HMS Victory and Lord Nelson in August 1805, from Nelson's diaries and Logs - “On the 17th the Victory at daylight was abreast of Portland, at 11 she anchored off Pricessa Shoal near the Isle of wight, and the next day worked up to a good birth at Spithead, just two years and three months, adds Lord Nelson, from my arrival at Portsmouth in 1803”.
HMS Superb is the subject of Sir Henry Newbolt's famous poem "The Old Superb" and was the "lame duck" of the fleet by this time, it was only Captain Keat's determination that kept her with the rest - ever conscious of the welfare of his officers and men, Nelson wrote to Captain Keats "I am fearful that you think that the Superb does not go as fast as I would wish. however that may be (for if all went 10 knots, I should not think it fast enough) yet I would you assured that I know and feel the Superb does all that is possible for a ship to accomplish and I desire that you will not fret on the occasion". (How we fretted non but Nelson guessed - from poem).
Superb missed the Battle of Trafalgar because of the need for a re-fit, but she had the honour of returning to Portsmouth with Lord Nelson's Victory in August 1805 to undergo the much needed re-fit.
See Full Poem....
20" X 16" mounted £400
23" X 19" Framed £440
Completed 29th October 2021
HMS Superb, 74 guns, was built in 1798 and was the fastest "Ship of the Line" at the time, after 7 years and overdue for a re-fit she sailed to Portsmouth with HMS Victory and Lord Nelson in August 1805, from Nelson's diaries and Logs - “On the 17th the Victory at daylight was abreast of Portland, at 11 she anchored off Pricessa Shoal near the Isle of wight, and the next day worked up to a good birth at Spithead, just two years and three months, adds Lord Nelson, from my arrival at Portsmouth in 1803”.
HMS Superb is the subject of Sir Henry Newbolt's famous poem "The Old Superb" and was the "lame duck" of the fleet by this time, it was only Captain Keat's determination that kept her with the rest - ever conscious of the welfare of his officers and men, Nelson wrote to Captain Keats "I am fearful that you think that the Superb does not go as fast as I would wish. however that may be (for if all went 10 knots, I should not think it fast enough) yet I would you assured that I know and feel the Superb does all that is possible for a ship to accomplish and I desire that you will not fret on the occasion". (How we fretted non but Nelson guessed - from poem).
Superb missed the Battle of Trafalgar because of the need for a re-fit, but she had the honour of returning to Portsmouth with Lord Nelson's Victory in August 1805 to undergo the much needed re-fit.
See Full Poem....
20" X 16" mounted £400
23" X 19" Framed £440