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Every year in May the Friends of the British Cemetery honour the British and Portuguese Regiments who fought at Albuera on 16 May 1811. We also remember those who fell at Badajoz. Elvas was the key to the defence of the Alentejo and the southern invasion route. Elvas has not been taken by storm since D. Sancho II captured it from the Moors in 1228.
A short tour of the massive fortifications gives some indication of why.
A short tour of the massive fortifications gives some indication of why.
May Remembrance Ceremony
2008
2008
Chairman's Report - May 2008
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Click on each photo to enlarge
For those coming from a beautiful summer in England, the cool weather with rain threatening in Portugal, came as a shock. This is the ninth year we have had a ceremony commemorating the battle of Albuera and the sun has always shone. In the end we had the best of both worlds; no rain but a pleasantly cool day.
Some 150 people gathered in the cemetery at mid-day, with, perhaps for the first time, the British in a minority. We were delighted that our Patron, Lady Jane Wellesley was able to attend and lay flowers on behalf of the ‘Friends of the British Cemetery’. The Mayor of Elvas, Senhor José Rondão Almeida took time out of his heavy schedule to be with us, as he has done ever since we had our first little ceremony in 1997. In his speech he said some very kind words about the British community in the region of Elvas. The military were well represented by General Casimiro San Juan of the Spanish army, Coronel Aragão Varandas of the Portuguese army, Commander Neil Sibbit, Defence Attaché Lisbon and Colonel Nick Lipscombe from the NATO Headquarters in Valencia.
Colonel John Lowles brought a small group of the 29th Worcestershire Regiment and they laid a wreath on the grave of Lt Col Daniel White who had commanded their battalion at the battle of Albuera. The Ayuntamiento of la Albuera was represented D. Julio Macho Quintero. Wreaths were also laid by Daren Norris for the Middlesex Regiment, Bryan Hazard for the Buffs, Peter Parker for the East Surreys, Mike Leavy for the Rifle Brigade and Lt Col Pam Leavy on behalf of all the Irish regiments. The Police and the Guarda Nacional Republicana also laid wreaths.
The Revd. Stephen Fletcher, a new member, lead the prayers with Don Romón Cuadrado the military chaplain attached to the Badajoz barracks.
Following the ceremony, many of us called into the Museu Militar to view an exhibition, opened that day, of maps available at the beginning of the Peninsular War, then on to the Clube de Tiro e Caça. During the lunch the following donations were made and were gratefully received:
·A plaque bearing the badge of the Worcestershire regiment for our Museum holdings
·A hassock with the badge of the Buffs, 3rd Foot, splendidly worked and donated by Sue Brunt for the Chapel.
·A hassock with our logo of an infantryman, designed and worked by Sarah King.
·A cheque for £120.00 towards the Chapel restoration, donated by Daren Norris from his fund raising talks.
With the active participation of Lady Jane, the subsequent auction made a goodly contribution to Stage II of the Chapel restoration; the culmination of a memorable day.
Some 150 people gathered in the cemetery at mid-day, with, perhaps for the first time, the British in a minority. We were delighted that our Patron, Lady Jane Wellesley was able to attend and lay flowers on behalf of the ‘Friends of the British Cemetery’. The Mayor of Elvas, Senhor José Rondão Almeida took time out of his heavy schedule to be with us, as he has done ever since we had our first little ceremony in 1997. In his speech he said some very kind words about the British community in the region of Elvas. The military were well represented by General Casimiro San Juan of the Spanish army, Coronel Aragão Varandas of the Portuguese army, Commander Neil Sibbit, Defence Attaché Lisbon and Colonel Nick Lipscombe from the NATO Headquarters in Valencia.
Colonel John Lowles brought a small group of the 29th Worcestershire Regiment and they laid a wreath on the grave of Lt Col Daniel White who had commanded their battalion at the battle of Albuera. The Ayuntamiento of la Albuera was represented D. Julio Macho Quintero. Wreaths were also laid by Daren Norris for the Middlesex Regiment, Bryan Hazard for the Buffs, Peter Parker for the East Surreys, Mike Leavy for the Rifle Brigade and Lt Col Pam Leavy on behalf of all the Irish regiments. The Police and the Guarda Nacional Republicana also laid wreaths.
The Revd. Stephen Fletcher, a new member, lead the prayers with Don Romón Cuadrado the military chaplain attached to the Badajoz barracks.
Following the ceremony, many of us called into the Museu Militar to view an exhibition, opened that day, of maps available at the beginning of the Peninsular War, then on to the Clube de Tiro e Caça. During the lunch the following donations were made and were gratefully received:
·A plaque bearing the badge of the Worcestershire regiment for our Museum holdings
·A hassock with the badge of the Buffs, 3rd Foot, splendidly worked and donated by Sue Brunt for the Chapel.
·A hassock with our logo of an infantryman, designed and worked by Sarah King.
·A cheque for £120.00 towards the Chapel restoration, donated by Daren Norris from his fund raising talks.
With the active participation of Lady Jane, the subsequent auction made a goodly contribution to Stage II of the Chapel restoration; the culmination of a memorable day.