I was aware that there were a few individuals involved in the liberation of some of South America from Spanish rule – Thomas Cochrane being probably the most famous – but perhaps assumed that it was a few hand-picked experienced officers who the rebels felt would be able to add the expertise that they lacked.
This book put me right. Whilst there were many officers involved, there were far more rank and file – numbering, eventually, in the thousands.
This is not a history of the liberation of South America; it is specifically a history of those British soldiers who fought alongside Bolivar. It must be remembered that at this time that meant a lot of men from Ireland, who formed such an important part of the British Army.
It is a complicated story too.
Taking place just after the Napoleonic wars ended, there were thousands of ex-soldiers, and hundreds of ex-officers with nothing to do, and little to look forward to. As always, many were looking for a new adventure, and they found it in South America.
Although a simplification, the officers were largely motivated by a desire to make a name for themselves, the rank and file largely because they had nothing to go home to. The all too usual post-war depression was setting in, and Britain, in common with most nations at the time, was notoriously bad at looking after the men who had won the war.
It is the officer class who largely come out of the story badly. With a few very notable exceptions, most were of a type who simply couldn’t fit back into civilian life. Some were martinets, some charlatans, others verging on the insane. But for both officers and men, the reality was not far short of hell. Attracted, as always, by promises of wealth and a future in a new world paradise, they met disease, hunger, brutality and poverty.
That the liberation eventually succeeded was in no small part due to the efforts of the British and Irish volunteers, and many stayed on in the countries that they helped liberate, and some achieved high office and recognition for their efforts.
The story has subsequently been downplayed in most South American countries. This is perhaps understandable, to ensure that the efforts of the native populations took priority over the contribution of what were effectively foreign mercenaries. Although what constitutes the ‘native’ populations of most of South America is probably a moot point.
The book is well written, at a good pace, with plenty of firsthand accounts, and perhaps more personal detail than might be expected. Several veterans returned home and wrote books about their experiences.
Anyone at all interested in South American history will find this book interesting, and it has spurred me to look for other works about the liberation and also about Bolivar himself.
This is a review of the Osprey 2010 Kindle edition.
It is an extended version of my review previously published on Amazon and Goodreads.
