LINK WITH TRAFALGAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

LINK WITH TRAFALGAR.

NELSON'S FAMOUS MESSAGE

SENDER'S GRANDSON IN CANADA

The recent 125 th.' anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar held an unusual interest to Vancouver, for James Sibbald, a resident of that city, is the grandson of the midshipman who sent Nelson's famous message, " England expects that every man this day will do his duty." It was also Midshipman James Sibbald who placed his kitbag to support Nelson's head, as the hero of Trafalgar lay dying. The grandson was born in Ontario, his father, William Sibbald, having settled there in 1842. Ex-Alderman J. A. Paton is also conected with this family, being a cousin of the president, Mr. Sibbald.

The James Sibbald who was with Nelson was one of a family of nineteen, fifteen of whom were in the army or navy. In fact it was said of the father, William Sibbald of Gladsvood, " Admiral of Leith," that he supplied more officers for England than any other man.

James Sibbald joined the navy at the age of 15 and was about 17 when the battle of Trafalgar took place. He had also fought with Nelson at the battles of the Nile and Copenhagen. He later obtained his captaincy at the age of 36, and was sent to China. His son, William, was the father of the present James Sibbald, and his brother Brigadier-General Hugh Sibbald was the first man killed in the Indian Mutiny. The family belong to the Sibbalds .of Balgonie, and the name, as Saebauld, figures twice in the list, of early British kings. Elizabeth, a daughter of Sir Andrew Sibbald, of Balgonie, married George Douglas, Earl of Angus. Their son, Archibald, was grandfather of that Archibald who married Margaret, Queen Dowager of Scotland, and whose daughter, Lady Margaret Douglas, was wife of Matthew, Earl of Lennox, and mother of Henry, Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, and father of James VI. " So that," says Nishet, (vol. 11), " of this ancient family of Sibbald of Balgonie, not only the P oval Family of Great. Britain are descended, but most all the crowned heads in Europe who have intermarried with that serene house."