Minute-by-minute eyewitness accounts of 'Britain's finest hour' Trafalgar set the seal on British naval supremacy, the most strategically significant victory in the age of sail. It was also one of the bloodiest and most confused naval conflicts ever known, with English, American, Irish, Spanish and French seamen among choking fumes and in constant peril below and above decks. This is the largest eyewitness collection of the battle, with over 50 first-hand accounts from all those involved. Accounts include: Nelson Sends the Signal 'England Expects That Every Man. This Day Will Do His Duty', 11.56am, 21 October 1805 Lieutenant George Brown, HMS Victory The First Shots: Fougueux Engages Royal Sovereign, 12:00 noon Captain Pierre Servaux, Master of Arms, Fougueux Guillemard Shoots Admiral Nelson, 1.25pm Sergeant Robert Guillemard, Redoubtable 'Our Sides Grinding So Much Against Each Other that We Were Obliged to Fire the Lower-Deck Guns Without Running Them Out':