Back in early November Colombian news was inundated with trolling comments and editorials expressing outrage regarding the commemorative plaque in Cartagena placed as a memorial for the fallen soldiers in the battle that took place in the city in 1741.
The statue of Blas de Lezo in front of the Castillo San Felipe in Cartagena, Colombia
It was frankly all a bit ridiculous. There are far more pressing issues to be debated in Cartagena. Revisionism aside, it really was not as serious as Colombian “academics” and “opinion makers” made it out to be.
This is where the commemorative plaque was placed
Recently, I had the good fortune of scoring a gig in Cartagena for a few days. Basing myself in Getsemani and with a couple of hours of downtime, I decided to wander over to the statue of Blas de Lezo and the base of the Castillo San Felipe. These photos detail what remains of the commemorative plaque.
A lone harpist plays before the former plaque
I asked after where I could find the remnants of the hammer-smashed and unloved plaque paying tribute to the estimated 12,000 soldiers from both sides (including Spaniards, Creoles, Slaves, English, Welsh, Scots, Irish, American Settlers) who lost their lives in this battle between colonial empires led by Blas de Lezo and Vernon. Alas, no one could or would tell me where the fragments could now be found.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the plaque, please get in touch, it would make for a nice collectible to put on show in my hotel!
Read my piece on this subject for the Latin Correspondent
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War of Jenkins’s Ear
La batalla de Cartagena de Indias"
The History of Royal Navy, the British Army and the US Marine Corps (which enlisted Cpt. Lawrence Washington, brother of the first president of the USA George Washington), fighting against the Spanish forces at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in 1740-1741.
More information: http://www.labatalladecartagenadeindias.com