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Each year on October 21 Trafalgar Day is marked to both acknowledge the anniversary of the 1805 sea battle and to remember Lord Nelson, who was fatally wounded there, and all who fell with him.

HMS Collingwood held a commemorative service at the Nelson Monument on Portsdown Hill.

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Second Sea Lord Vice-Admiral Martin Connell (left) lays a wreath on the Orlop deck at the spot where Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson died, as Royal Navy personnel and guests take part in a ceremony on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth to mark the 217th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Commander Terry Tyack, the Royal Navy executive officer at HMS Collingwood, laid a wreath, on behalf of the Commanding Officer of the Fareham training establishment.

The event was also attended by a small contingent of naval staff and trainees from Victory Squadron, HMS Collingwood with the service lead by Base Chaplain Jon Backhouse.

Commander Tyack said: ‘Today allowed us to come together to honour the nation’s greatest naval leader.

‘It was really important for our young sailors to be here and for them to understand how significant the Battle of Trafalgar was in both the history of the Royal Navy and Britain. Admiral Nelson was highly regarded around the world.’

Commander Terry Tyack at the Nelson Monument

The Monument was constructed by Nelson’s ‘companions in arms’ following the Battle of Trafalgar as a memorial to him, but also serves a practical purpose as it can be seen by ships offshore where it is used as a seamark to bring them safely into Portsmouth Harbour.

The inscription on the monument reads: ‘Consecrated to the memory of Lord Viscount Nelson by the zealous attachment of all those who fought at Trafalgar to perpetuate his triumph and their regret MVCCCV (1805)”.

At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the traditional service was held on board HMS Victory.

Trafalgar Day is the most important day in the calendar of the Victory, which is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. Every year a service is held on the ship and a wreath is laid on the orlop deck where Nelson was wounded. Trafalgar Night is celebrated by the Royal Navy around the world, with toasts given to the ‘Immortal Memory’ of Admiral Lord Nelson. Nelson is said to have spent his final night in England in Old Portsmouth, before sailing to Trafalgar

Royal Navy marks Trafalgar Day on HMS Victory and at Nelson monument on Portsdown Hill