Legionarios Britanicos en la Gest Boliviriana

jaramillo says on May 19, 2009, 10:06:

This might interest you, if you haven't see it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Rooke

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tirofijoisback says on May 19, 2009, 10:40:

Thanks Jaramilo - that's great!

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markobhoy says on May 19, 2009, 11:51:

I don't want to be pedantic, but Rooke, from Dublin, is obviously Irish.
Ireland actually has been surprisingly influential in Latin American political struggles-Admiralte Brown of Argentina, Bernardo O'Higgins, Liberator of Chile, Che Guevara attributed his rebelious nature to being part irish...and even recently there has of course been the case of the irish boys found 'teaching' in the colombian jungle.

prior to this, there had been many irish volunteers (including the irish comunities of glasgow and liverpool as well) helping the republicans and fighting facism in the spanish civil war. even to this day, support for basque independence is fairly strong in irish comunities

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jaramillo says on May 19, 2009, 16:11:

Bolivar's aid de camp was general Daniel O'leary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Florencio_O'Leary), Irish, and quite a character and an accomplished commander. In his memoirs he has a pretty unforgettable description of his boss.

The story with Rook is that when the the tropps were ascending to cross the Andes (from los llanos) the suffering was great, but that Rook looked like he was on his way to an enjoyable picnic. His men's morale was highest.

The Irish distinguished themselves, except for Rupert Hand, who hacked to death José María Cordova who was lying down injured (in a house) after the battle of Santuario.

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tirofijoisback says on May 20, 2009, 00:25:

Markobhoy - Ireland was part of Britian at the time and the upper classes who joined Bolivar as officers were happy to be reffered to as (and thought of themselves as?) English. Educated in England and mixing with the ruling classes they were certainly more British than Irish. Rooke spent many years of his life in England - several years living near Oxford - and the rest on campaign with the British army or imprisoned in Verdun. His father's family were from Gloucestershire. Also as regards the Spanish Civil War - more Irish (700) fought on Franco's side than on the Republic's (277) - perhaps swayed by Catholic propoganda? - Have you ever heard of Eoin O'Duffy?
Jaramillo - O'Leary was in charge at the Battle of Santuario. It was him who ordered Hands to kill Cordova as he had rebelled against Bolivar.
Many of the Irish did not distinguish themelves. About 400 of the Irish Legion mutinied at Riohacha in 1820.
Rupert Hand had his balls blown off in a duel fought at Maturin in November 1819.

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jaramillo says on May 20, 2009, 07:08:

Right, tirofijo, I meant the British legion distinguished itself (I did not know about Riohacha). I had forgotten O'Leary's part in Cordova's death. The whole thing was pretty infamous and I think Bolivar denied having anything to do with it. But you can create a climate. It's like Cesar crying because the egyptians killed Pompey. Crying like a crocodile.

The Irish in Spain might have been swayed by Catholic propaganda, or by Catholic conviction. They are not necessarily the same.

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kalder says on May 20, 2009, 07:32:

"Also as regards the Spanish Civil War - more Irish (700) fought on Franco's side than on the Republic's (277) - perhaps swayed by Catholic propoganda?"

Didn't fire a shot. Confined to barracks for most of the time they were there.

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tirofijoisback says on May 23, 2009, 09:31:

Kalder - "didn't fire a shot' is not quite right - Eoin O'Duffy's men had a fight with some troops on the way to the front line at the battle of Jarama. It turned out they were a facist Falangist unit on thier own side. Four Irish died and several Spaniards.

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