England expects that every man will do his duty
"England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty " ( English for "England expects that every man will do his duty" ) was the flag signal , which Admiral Horatio Nelson from his ship HMS Victory in the Battle of Trafalgar sent out (1805). Trafalgar was the decisive naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars , which finally ruled out a French conquest of the British Isles.
This flag signal is the most famous signal used by the British Navy and has been quoted and satirized on many occasions . Nelson originally wanted "England confides did every man will do his duty" ( "England trusts that ...") can signal, the signal changed but at the suggestion of signal officer from because "Expects" was included in the code book, while "confides" should have been spelled.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/England_Expects_Signal.svg/550px-England_Expects_Signal.svg.png)
Web links
- National Maritime Museum
- Sten Nadolny : ... and approach the enemy! DIE ZEIT, 43/2005 October 20, 2005
- aboutnelson.co.uk
- Royal Navy: HMS Victory
- A probable reproduction of Nelson's Signal: http://navalmarinearchive.com/research/england_expects_signalflags.html