Friday, 18 June 2010
Ambassador Moncada speaks on diversity and loyalty of the British Legion in Venezuela

The 7,000 British soldiers who went to Venezuela to fight for the country’s independence against Spain in the XIX century were not a homogeneous group, as is commonly thought. Instead, they were as diverse as their original homeland: Catholics, Protestants, poor, middle class, highly-educated, illiterate, Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh, soldiers of low rank and military officers. All of them together set sail for South America seeking glory and adventure.

This was the focus of a speech given by the Venezuelan Ambassador in London, Samuel Moncada, who was invited to speak on the 200 years of the Venezuelan independence at the annual dinner of the Anglo Venezuelan Society held last night at the Caledonian Club in London.

“The soldiers from the British Legion and the llanero soldiers respected each other because of their ferocity in battle”, said Moncada. However, the Ambassador also noted that as many as 1,500 British soldiers died of malaria and yellow fever.

Ambassador Moncada went on to explain that before the British Legion came to Venezuela (1817 – 1823) practically no other foreign group had interacted with Venezuelans that closely.

“By dealing with the British, we learned that a republic had to be opened to anyone willing to share ideas of freedom and equality”, said Moncada to conclude his presentation.

Press Office of the Venezuelan Embassy in London