21 October 1805. The sea battle is raging. 27 British vessels are taking on the combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships off the south-west coast of Spain. The British are controlling the battle but suddenly the admiral is hit!

And here Nelson fell, on the deck of the ship. He died a short while later, below deck, while the British got on with fighting in the battle.

Memorialised across the country in columns and paintings, Nelson’s death is a key moment in the dramatic story that is British history. I like how the very place where it happened is commemorated with a simple brass plaque.

Today, HMS Victory is in dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It’s well worth a visit.