Wednesday 26 June 2013

The emotive bicentennial of Vitoria


On Sunday 23 of June there was a moving ceremony at the height of Júndiz near Vitoria.
The direct descendants from the Duke of Wellington, Charles Wellesley, and the General Alava (one of the Spanish ADC's of the Duke also present in Trafalgar and Waterloo), Gonzalo Serrats, were preparing to place a commemorative plate with a Latin inscription on the cross remembering the battle held on June 21, 1813.
At the last moment, a man came forward saying "My name is Peter Bult, and I am the grandson of the grandson of the grandson of Luke Smith, a soldier of the 40th Regiment Infantry of the Anson brigade. I want to put that plate"
The answer was a round of applause from those present, members of the Historical Association Vitoria 2013. When Mr. Bult took the drill to place the plate, he burst into tears. It was a very touching moment.

Taken from the Facebook wall of Miguel Ángel Garcia
More pictures at the Miguel Ángel's blog Guerra de la Independencia


2 comments:

  1. Good to see how history is kept alive so passionately. And what a connection to this momentous battle. Best, Dean

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  2. You keep finding and posting these 'gems' Rafa, thanks!

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