England Expects

When I took this photo on my way to work this morning I had no idea of its significance. But as fellow bloggers know, the photo urge is irresistible. A busy day then followed, and I put the flags out of my mind.
On the way home, I saw that that flags were fluttering in similar array on the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.

I was on a bus, for once, and asked the person beside me if she had any idea why the flags were flying. She thought, and I agreed, that it was hardly likely to be an ironic commentary on the Defence Spending Review, which this week has announced cuts of 8% in funding for defence over four years.
Google to the rescue. Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, fought in 1805 between the Royal Navy and a Franco-Spanish fleet. At the start of the battle Admiral Lord Nelson signalled to the British fleet, 'England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty'. And that is the signal flying today, until sundown.