HMS Pickle

HMS Pickle will be visiting Lymington River over the 5th and 6th July.

In 1803 Pickle was attached to the fleet of ten sail of the line and some frigates under Admiral William Cornwallis, Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, which sailed from Plymouth with orders to cruise off Ushant and watch the French fleet in Brest Harbour.

Pickle had three main roles: communications – carrying despatches between Cornwallis and the Admiralty; work with the Channel Fleet’s Inshore Squadron both close observation of the enemy and interception of the enemy’s coastal craft; and finally rescue – coming to the aid of damaged and stricken ships in Cornwallis’ fleet such as the Atalante and the Magnificent.

HMS Pickle carried the news of the victory at Trafalgar and the death of Nelson to Falmouth.