Fragment of flag Nelson flew at Trafalgar to go up for auction

A member of Sotheby's staff poses for a photograph with a large fragment of Lord Nelson's union flag which flew from the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - A piece of the Union Jack flag believed to have been flown from British military leader Lord Horatio Nelson's ship during the Battle of Trafalgar is to be auctioned in London later this month.

The item is part of a collection of Nelson memorabilia that is up for sale, which includes weapons, his "grog chest" and personal letters. It features in a sale of Royal and aristocratic heirlooms being held by auction house Sotheby's.

The 86 cm by 92 cm flag fragment (34 inches by 36 inches), dubbed "The Victory Jack", has an estimated price of between 80,000 and 100,000 pounds. ($108,000-$135,000)

A member of Sotheby's staff poses for a photograph with a decanter from the "Grog Chest" which forms part of a sale of items called Nelson's Legend, in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

"The flag has a wonderful story," Gabriel Heaton, specialist for books and manuscripts at Sotheby's told Reuters.

"It was used as part of the great ceremonial funeral of Nelson after his death at the battle. And pieces of it were broken up and kept by the loyal sailors who had lost their very, very deeply loved commander."

The last surviving complete Union Jack flag flown at the battle fetched 384,000 pounds in 2009, more than twenty times its estimated price.

A member of Sotheby's staff poses for a photograph with a marble bust of Lord Nelson union which forms part of a sale of items called Nelson's Legend, in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

The battle of Trafalgar was a naval clash that took place in 1805, and saw the British defeat a numerically superior French and Spanish fleet. Nelson was fatally wounded during the battle, which cemented his status as a national hero in Britain.

A member of Sotheby's staff poses for a photograph with a portrait of Emma Hamilton which forms part of the sale of items celebrating Nelson's Legend, including a dinner set called the Matcham desert service, in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

(Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Peter Graff)

A member of Sotheby's staff poses for a photograph with a portrait of Emma Hamilton which forms part of the sale of items celebrating Nelson's Legend, in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

A member of Sotheby's staff holds a signed letter written by Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton which forms part of a collection items to be auctioned, celebrating Nelson's Legend, in London, Britain December January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls