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Nelson memorabilia up for auction Nelson memorabilia up for auction
(about 10 hours later)
A box thought to be made from fragments of the barrel which transported Vice-admiral Lord Nelson's body back to Britain is to be auctioned.A box thought to be made from fragments of the barrel which transported Vice-admiral Lord Nelson's body back to Britain is to be auctioned.
It is among the Nelson memorabilia being sold by Bonhams in London, which also includes letters, a mourning ring and invitations from his funeral.It is among the Nelson memorabilia being sold by Bonhams in London, which also includes letters, a mourning ring and invitations from his funeral.
The commemorative box is expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200.The commemorative box is expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200.
Nelson died after being shot on board HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain in 1805.Nelson died after being shot on board HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain in 1805.
Lot 435 is a silver-mounted oak commemorative box, which is thought to have been made from the water barrel which transported his body. Lot 435 is a silver-mounted oak commemorative box, which is thought to have been made from the water barrel which transported his body back to Portsmouth onboard the ship.
The barrel was filled with brandy to preserve the body and this had to be replenished several times during the journey.The barrel was filled with brandy to preserve the body and this had to be replenished several times during the journey.
'Folk hero''Folk hero'
Lionel Willis, marine specialist at Bonhams, said the ship would not have had a coffin on board when Nelson died.Lionel Willis, marine specialist at Bonhams, said the ship would not have had a coffin on board when Nelson died.
He said: "It was normal for them to just throw bodies over the side. They would wrap them in their hammocks and attach a cannonball.He said: "It was normal for them to just throw bodies over the side. They would wrap them in their hammocks and attach a cannonball.
"The only thing which would have been big enough to carry him was a water barrel, made from oak.""The only thing which would have been big enough to carry him was a water barrel, made from oak."
Mr Willis said Nelson had an actual coffin waiting in the UK, which was made from the mast of the French flagship sunk in the Battle of the Nile.Mr Willis said Nelson had an actual coffin waiting in the UK, which was made from the mast of the French flagship sunk in the Battle of the Nile.
The auction is expected to be popular, he added, saying: "He still strikes a chord with people, he's a bit of a folk hero."The auction is expected to be popular, he added, saying: "He still strikes a chord with people, he's a bit of a folk hero."
Nelson was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, in 1758 and joined his uncle's ship as a seaman in 1771 before being appointed a midshipman.Nelson was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, in 1758 and joined his uncle's ship as a seaman in 1771 before being appointed a midshipman.
He moved through the ranks of the Royal Navy before taking command of a ship, the brig HMS Badger, in 1778.He moved through the ranks of the Royal Navy before taking command of a ship, the brig HMS Badger, in 1778.
In 1794, Nelson was wounded and blinded in one eye by cannon fire in Corsica. Nelson lost his right arm at the battle of Santa Cruz in Tenerife in 1797.In 1794, Nelson was wounded and blinded in one eye by cannon fire in Corsica. Nelson lost his right arm at the battle of Santa Cruz in Tenerife in 1797.