Conqueror
Wood Location
nr Torbay, DEVON
Ship Information
Ship Commander - Capt Israel Pellew
Guns - 74
Constructed at - Harwich
Killed in the battle - 3
Injured in the battle - 12
Wood Information
Size - 11 acres
Owner - Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
To be planted - December 2005
The Trafalgar fleet used to shelter from westerly winds and re-stock food supplies in Torbay. After Napoleon was captured by the British in 1815, off the west coast of France, he was brought to Torbay on the Bellerophon to scenes of great excitement. Devon supplied more seamen than virtually any other County for the battle fleet. The captain of the Conqueror was Sir Israel Pellew, Admiral, K.C.B., (1758-1832) an Admiral in the Royal Navy and brother of Sir Edward Pellew, first Viscount Exmouth. He was born in 1758 and is buried at Christow near Exeter.
Conqueror Wood will be planted on 18 acres of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust land at Cockington. The site has a fantastic view of the whole of Tor Bay, which was an important anchorage of Nelson’s fleet. Approximately 10,000 trees will be planted. Tree species that will be planted will include oak, to commemorate the wood used the build the original HMS Conqueror, as well as ash, sweet chestnut and hazel.
The tree planting at Conqueror Wood will begin in 2005, with more trees being added in the coming years. It is planned to involve hundreds of local school children and people from local communities in a week-long tree planting event which will benefit the local environment and educate people about the important part of wood and trees in our naval and maritime history.
The planting of the wood will include open spaces and rides with views to the sea. The paths will be welcoming to everyone from occasional visitors to daily walkers, including people with disabilities. The wood also adjoins a 6 km network of paths, across the Cockington estate, with cycle and horse-riding routes.
More details on Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust at www.countryside-trust.org.uk
Events in Conqueror Wood
There was a week long schools planting programme for local schools.
A community planting day took place on Saturday 10th December 2005.
More information
Sir Israel Pellew, Admiral, K.C.B., (1758-1832)
An Admiral in the Royal Navy and brother of Sir Edward Pellew, first Viscount Exmouth. Born 1758, baptised 28 August at St. Mary the Virgin, Dover. Entered the navy 1771. Died 19 (30) July 1832. Married Mary Gilmore, daughter of George Gilmore. This Officer who distinguished himself on various occasions, commanded the Conqueror at the Battle of Trafalgar, 1815 and captured the French flagship, the "Bucentaure", and had issue, Edward, a Capt. in the Life Guards, killed at Paris, 6 Oct. 1819, in a duel, by Lieut. Theophilus Walsh, of the same regiment.
HMS Conqueror
HMS Conqueror was built at Graham’s yard, Harwich to a design modified from that of HMS Mars, also present at Trafalgar. She was launched in 1801 and first commissioned in 1803 when she joined the Channel fleet.
Captain Israel Pellew took command in 1804, and
Conqueror joined the Mediterranean fleet, taking part in the pursuit of the French fleet to the West Indies in 1805 before it returned to link up with the Spanish at Cadiz.
At the battle of Trafalgar, Conqueror was fifth in the line between HMS Leviathan and HMS Agamemnon, and reached the enemy fleet at 1.15 p.m. where she passed under the stern of the French flagship, Bucentaure (80 guns) discharging a deadly broadside into her stern before drawing up alongside her. The fierce musket fire from the mast tops of Bucentaure at this point drove the Conqueror’s crew off the forecastle and quarterdeck. But Lieutenant Senhouse commented on the steady behaviour of the gun crews during the battle, who only fired when they could see the enemy clearly through the gun ports: ‘with the determined coolness and skilful management of artillery men regularly bred to the exercise of great guns’. The Bucentaure soon lost her mizen and main masts, and trying to break away collided with the Santissima Trinidad, losing her foremast in the process. Bucentaure surrendered and the Captain of Marines James Aitcherley who was sent over by boat to take possession. He refused to accept the swords of the Admiral Villeneuve and other officers regarding this as more proper for his captain, and after inspecting and locking the magazine Aitcherley pocketed the key, posted sentries and tried to return to the Conqueror with the captive officers. Conqueror however had moved on to fight with other ships, and Aitcherley was forced to take temporary refuge with his prisoners on HMS Mars.
The Conqueror sustained only light casualties, 3 killed and 9 wounded, most of the damage being to the rigging, masts and bow where her figurehead was damaged. When it was repaired the crew obtained the agreement of the Admiralty to replace the original figurehead with one of Nelson. Conqueror was broken up in 1822.
Conqueror also had a Russian officer, Lieutenant Philip
Mendal, serving as a volunteer in her crew at Trafalgar, where he was wounded in the battle.
Captain Aitcherley retired from service in 1816 when Europe was at peace again and died in 1834.
Many thanks to Alan Aberg at the Society for Nautical Research for providing us with information on the ships and their commanders.
