When descendants of the men of Trafalgar gathered in Portsmouth this year to celebrate the battle and its impact on the world, it drew people from as far away as Canada, Australia and the Middle East.

Eager to praise and commemorate their ancestors’ role in the clash off Cadiz one October morning, many brought mementos, portraits and letters.

Trafalgar has never been far from the mind of Wynn Ossborn-Clarke from Bristol. Her great great grandfather Cdr James Keith was master of HMS Neptune in 1805. He left an account of the battle, plus other reminders of a proud Naval career.

“You have a great thrill when you realise you are connected with such a great victory. When I heard there was to be a reunion of descendants, I couldn’t wait to be involved,” she said.

On November 1 1805, James Keith wrote to his mother in Scotland. The letter remains in the possession of his family. This is the first time it has been published.

On the twenty-first of last month as you will hear by the newspaper, our fleet fought the combined force of France and Spain and though we were much inferior in numbers, we gained a decisive victory, after four hours hard fighting.

Fifteen of their ships struck. Our loss has been great, in as much as Lord Nelson, our Commander-in-Chief, was killed. His loss will long be felt by England as an officer.

We had two captains killed, three wounded and inferior officers many both killed and wounded, which I have no opportunity of knowing. Our loss in this ship was trifling; only nine killed and thirty-six wounded; which was very fortunate as we engaged the commander-in-chief of the French and the third in command of the Spanish, the last in a ship of 130 guns and the first 30 guns. However in about three and a half hours they struck to us, but not before all their masts were overboard. The carnage in both ships was lamentable.

My dear Mother a sea fight of itself is terrible, but a gale of wind on the shore which has continued now a whole week has added additional pangs to many a poor family, for many of the enemy’s ships after being dismasted in battle by us became the sport of the element, and after tossing about as the wind listed for several days they finished their earthly course in a watery grave.

Indeed our own situation was far from being pleasant. All our masts wounded, some seriously; with hundreds of prisoners on board, and us in a gale of wind on an enemy’s coast. I assure you it has given my constitution such a blow as I cannot expect to recover soon. And sorry am I that Scotland can never be a resting place for me except in summer, though I have the appearance of being a strong man.

A little cold and fatigue soon lays me up, and soon pulls down that fabric which a little before seemed to be immovable. I am always thankful to God for His great goodness to me, more particularly for the good health which I have formerly enjoyed and now really I make up my mind as about my age, with anxiety of mind frequently and the changes of climate, it can only be natural for a decay of bodily strength to take place.

My dear Mother, this is as much as you can understand. If I thought there were any nautical men near you I would have detailed the action from the beginning to the end with notes, but not expecting that, I rest satisfied with having told you that I have survived the fight, and that I shall be very happy to hear the trumpet sound peace over all the world.

May God continue you health and strength is the most earnest prayer of my dear Mother.

Your affectionate son