Entering the galley of the HMS Victory, I ask the guide how much of the ship is original; about 30% is the reply. She points to the desk with navigational charts on it, this was Nelson’s in the Battle of Trafalgar. Only a few guns date from the era; you ask how we can tell which are real. She explains that the trick is to knock on them and if they don’t make a sound, they are cast iron guns from the 18th century. If they make a noise, then they are light-weight wood or fibreglass replicas. So off we go, knocking on the top of each gun to the amusement of tourists.
another fake
your laugh
genuine
After half an hour of knocking, we discover the gun which was used at Trafalgar. However, the historical importance of the find eludes you; you want to go up on deck and play games on my mobile phone. Grudgingly, I agree and we climb the stairs.
on the spot
where Nelson fell
a Pokémon
is an ecologist, poet, and children’s author from Manningtree in Essex, UK. His haiku have been published in Frogpond, Modern Haiku, and The Heron’s Nest, while his tanka have appeared in Atlas Poetica, Ribbons, and Skylark. His first collection of poetry, Wilderness, was published by Brambleby Books in 2015 with a second, On the Edge, following in 2017. Tim’s debut children’s book, The Voyage of the Queen Bee, was published by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in 2016 with a second, Geronimo the Grasshopper, appearing in 2017.
