 When Calder insisted on a court martial, he requested Lechmere, along with William Brown of and Philip Durham of to come back to London and testify in his defence.Durham refused but Brown and Lechmere did not, leaving their first lieutenants in charge of their ships.At the battle, on 21 October 1805, "Thunderer"s position was towards the rear of Collingwood's division, and so she did not reach the action until well on into the day.