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William Sandilands
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Post Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 2:03 pm    Post subject: William Sandilands Reply with quote

From the Times. 1861.
Quote:
LAST RELIC OF NELSON.
To the Editor of the Times.

Sir,----In a back street near Avonside, Tewkesbury, is still living, in a very poor room, a man named Sandilands, now 83 years of age (on the Victory's books miscalled Sanders), one of the seamen who helped to carry Nelson down below after he received his death-wound at the battle of Trafalgar. At the peace Sandilands left the navy without claim to pension, went knocking about the world as sailors do, at last returned to his native place, Tewkesbury, and worked on the roads until old age and infirmity threw him on the parish. Some friend acquainted with is sad story made the fact known to the Nelson family, and they, after proper inquiry, forthwith agreed to allow him for life 2s.6d. per week for extra comforts. But can you believe, Sir, that then the parochial authorities, with true parochial munificence, treated the Nelson allowance as part of his weekly income, and reduced their wretched grant to 1s. per week, thus leaving this poor old man to exist upon 3s.6d. per week, occasionally increased by donations from kind friends in Tewkesbury?
His memory is as fresh as ever, and he repeated to me, among other things, Nelson's message of inquiry as to how many of the enemy's vessels had struck, which he carried to Captian Hardy on deck.
And now in his old age this poor old man, who stood by Nelson in his last moments, is slowly wearing away in a state next-door to want.
"They manage things better in France." Imagine him there in a parallel situation. Why, he would have been decorated, honoured, cared for, and nursed as a child of the state.
Do not think that I grudge true merit in high places its fair reward; but what I do ask for is that low as well as high should be more fairly and equally rewarded.
In conclusion, pray excuse my thus trespassing on your valuable space; but it struck me that your kind insertion of this communication
might bring frommany generous readers (regarding you often in your power as a kind of non-official Providence)some aid to smooth poor Sandiland's journey down hill, until, like the greatest of England's naval heroes, "He sleeps to wake no more."
I enclose my card, and remain, Sir, Your obedient servant.

R.A.Hullah.

P.S. --- The facts of the case are well known in Tewkesbury, and any sums forwarded to Mr.Frederick Prior, Mayor of Tewkesbury, would be thankfully received and properly applied.


From the Times. June 15th 1867.

Quote:
A RELIC OF TRAFALGAR.

In reply to the query of your correspondent LIOM F. as to the disappearnace from among us of one of the last relics of Trafalgar, it may interest your readers to hear a few particulars of the old seaman William Sandilands, borne on the Victory's books as William Sanders. He was first introduced to my notice by the Rev. Francis Laing of this place, who had been chaplain and private secretary to Sir Alex.Ball, the Governor of Malta, and, as is well known, one of Nelson's favourite Captains. Being myself the grandson of Nelson's public secretary, Scott, who was shot early in the day, I naturally took a great deal of interest in my grandfather's old shipmate, and exerted myself to obtain a comfortable support for the brave old man in his declining years. This, thanks to the Dowager Lady Nelson's long-continued kindness and to the liberal response made by the public of an appeal inserted in the Times, I was enabled to accomplish, and all his wants were supplied up to the day of his death. He was bedridden for years but always seemed perfectly happy with his Bible and Prayer-book, his pet cat and a little "baccy," spending most of his time in his little room above. His conversation was most amusing; he would now and then break in upon my exhortations with some story of the officers of the old war, including quarter-deck, racy enough, butscarcely suited to the polite ears of your readers.
He was paid off from the "Annybul" (Hannibal) just before the Victory left Portsmouth with Nelson on board, and being transferred to the latter vessel before he had time to spend the pay received after a voyage or cruise of some length, he had, he said, ninety pounds in his possession on the day of the battle.He always considered it a wonderful proof of carefulness and forethought that, fearing lest in case of his death his money should come into the hands of "the officers," he tied it all up in his "neckercher," "so as," said he,"if so be I were killed, it would be safe to go overboard along wi' me."
During the fight he was stationed at the aftermost gun on the starboard side of the quarter-deck, which he left three times: once to lash to the Victory by the rigging, another ship which was lying aboard her, but was beginning to drift astern, (this ship he called the Santissima Trinidad, but I fancy it must have been the Redoubtable); a second time, to carry down the heroic Lieutenant Rivers, who fell on the deck so severely wounded as to lose both legs; and a third time, to assist in carrying the admiral himself to the cock-pit. He said Nelson sent him up almost immediately to inquire of Captain Hardy what number of the enemy's ships had struck, bidding him make haste back, "if he didn't get killed by the way"; and he added, that Nelson seemed well pleased when he returned with the Captain's reply.
After the battle he obtained his discharge, and for many years lived an honest industrious life in this town, preserving with great pride his old blue jacket with its bright rows of mother-o'-pearl buttons, and latterly his Trafalgar medal.
He died a peaceful and, I trust, a Christian death, in humble reliance upon the merits of his Redeemer. He was escorted to his grave by the band and a firing party of our R.V.C., and two volleys over the coffin were fired as a last mark of respect to one of our country's gallant defenders in the old time of her greatest peril.

FRANCIS JOHN SCOTT.
Incumbant of Tredington.
Tewkesbury, June 10.


from http://www.tewkesburyhistory.com
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