Royal Navy sailors will march through a west Cornwall village to commemorate the death of Nelson and victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The annual parade in the village of Madron, near Penzance, will take place on Sunday morning, October 20.

The village plays a central role in the story as it was, back in 1805, the principle church for Penzance.

At the time, Britain faced the very real danger of invasion by Napoleon and his allies. That danger was averted by the daring attack of the Royal Navy on the combined French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar, Portugal. In the bloody and hard-fought battle on October 21, the French and Spanish were decisively beaten.

But the victory came at a fearful cost in lives – symbolised most keenly in the death of the fleet’s lionised hero, Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson.

The Royal Navy schooner HMS Pickle raced back to Britain with news of the victory. The story goes that, on her way to first landfall in Falmouth, her crew met Cornish fishermen in Mount’s Bay who rushed back to Penzance with the sensational news.

The mayor and burgesses of Penzance hastily organised a service of thanksgiving at Madron Church and the tradition was born.

While the service continued for many years, it was in 1946 that Royal Navy sailors were invited to formally parade before the service by Reverend Michael Hocking, a former naval captain and the vicar of Madron at the time.

Taking part in the parade, which is now organised by Madron Parish Council, will be a colour party, guard detachment and platoon of trainees from RNAS Culdrose, led by the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band, and joined by Madron parish councillors, Sea Cadet Corps, Royal Naval Association and Royal British Legion members.

The parade steps off at 10.45am for the service at Madron Parish Church at 11am on Sunday, October 20.