Maltese seamen at Trafalgar

Further to Alexander G. Farrugia's letter (July 7) readers may be interested in further details about the six Maltese who served on board Nelson's flagship HMS Victory.

Three of the ordinary seamen, Jos (Joseph) Benjua, Emanuel Camelaire and Nathalino Perth joined Nelson's flagship on January 19, 1804 from HMS Niger; ordinary seaman John Tart joined the ship on April 19, 1804 from HMS Kent; Royal Marine Gaetano Altomare joined on October 4, 1804 from HMS Termagant and Royal Marine Dominique Gentile joined on February 21, 1805, from HMS Bittern.

They were all volunteers, having been recruited in Malta shortly after the outbreak of the Napoleonic war in 1803.

They took part in the blockade of Toulon, the chase of Admiral Velleneuve's fleet to the West Indies and back to Gibraltar and finally in the battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805.

After Trafalgar in August 1806 a grant of £300,000 voted by the British Parliament was apportioned to every officer, seaman and marine who took part in the battle. Each Maltese seaman and marine received the sum of £4.12s.6d.

From the Trafalgar prize money distributed in the following year, April 1807, each Maltese was given £1.17s.6d.

In 1847 a Naval General Service Medal was granted to the survivors of Trafalgar. Out of the six Maltese who fought in the battle only one was still alive to receive the medal. He was John Tart of Valletta, then aged 63.