Length: 8.5cm (3.3in)
Silver. In the form of a foul anchor with fitted ring, the anchor stock engraved with a crown between the ‘GR’ initials for Georgious Rex, the shank engraved ‘NELSON’, the arms of the anchor engraved ‘RULE BRITANNIA’, the whole fouled with several turns of a rope twist cable extending from suspension ring to fluke. The reverse applied with later pin fitting.
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Foul anchor badges in gold were awarded to flag officers and thirteen captains whom Lord Howe mentioned in his despatch to the Admiralty following the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794. They were worn by those officers on anniversaries of the battle. Other anchor badges illustrated in Admiral The Marquess of Milford Haven’s ‘British Naval Medals’ (1919) celebrate the battles of Camperdown, 1797, and the Nile, 1798. It is possible that the present anchor was made in this tradition to celebrate anniversaries of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is further thought these anchors were originally worn on the coat in the centre of a patriotic 'favour' or ribbon rosette (NMM).