Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Uruguayan Navy

Programme:

2:15 pm: PEDRO CAMPBELL: The Irish sailor who became the first Uruguayan Navy Commander.

15 November 2017 marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Uruguayan Navy and its first commander in chief was not born in here in Uruguay, but far away in the folkloric town of Tipperary in Ireland!  In this talk we will look at the fascinating life of Pedro Campbell, the Irish sailor tuned “Gaucho”, who so impressed Artigas that he named him as the first head of the Uruguayan Navy.  We will also take a brief look at the revealing history of one British ship, HMS Agamemnon, which sailed to the River Plate during the times of Artigas – in fact no ordinary vessel, but the one which the famous British Navy commander, Lord Horatio Nelson regarded as his “favorite”. Starting with Pedro Campbell we will look at his early life and arrival in the River Plate area as part of the First British Invasion in 1806.  Then how he settled in what is now Argentina, becoming by all accounts a “gaucho” before returning to military service, briefly as part of the forces of Buenos Aires and later enlisting with “Liga Federal”.  We will look at some of Campbell´s important military campaigns, including his techniques of battle which won him the respect of his opponents as well. Finally following Campbell´s appointment as Navy Commander, the talk will look at his capture and subsequent life in exile in Paraguay.

Afterwards, we will take a brief look at the history of HMS Agamemnon – a ship captained for a time by Horatio Nelson and which later took part in the decisive Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.  In 1809, HMS Agamemnon sailed for the River Plate taking part in a secretive British mission – but sank near Punta del Este. Parts of the ship were rescued 200 years later and are on display in the Naval Museum.

Derek Tyler:
Derek Tyler worked for many years as a freelance business executive undertaking finance and project management work in a wide variety of countries. He now lives in Uruguay where he has given a number of successful talks for Anglo Cultural such as “Tour of Peñarol”; “BREXIT” and “The Montevideo Rowing Club”.

15:15 Interval: 15 mins
15:30 pm: The Graf Spee, and the making of myths.

The battle of the River Plate, being one of the first successful Allied/British victories in World War II was an ideal opportunity for propagandists to boost morale, in Britain especially, at a time when good news was hard to find. To do this is it was important to cast the events in a simplistic narrative, thus creating and continuing various myths regarding German strength and notions of invulnerability, together with British skill and bravery in the face of a frightening enemy. Other myths regarding Captain Langsdorff and his personal and military characteristics, the power of the ships involved and the nature of the battle itself also grew, until the true facts became obscured by the mythical story. This story, which many British people of the post war generation grew up on is some way from the truth.

But that is the nature of myths, be they of nationhood, creation or of persons, they tell a simple story, usually one that their creators wished to tell, in order to inspire loyalty, awe, conformity and notions of identity.
In this talk the presenters view of the battle itself and the nature of the protagonists will be examined against the myths that grew up from it; the ships themselves and their relative strengths and weaknesses, the personalities involved and their motives for action both on land and at sea, and the fate of Captain Langsdorff and the Panzerschiff Admiral Graf Spee and the British ships, Ajax, Achilles and Exeter as well as their commanders. The nature of myths will also be examined, paying special attention to British views on their nation, its history and perhaps its future.

John Robinson (UK)

John has lived in Uruguay since 2009, but before that he was for many years a consulting Naval Architect at the University of Southampton in England. He has given talks with Anglo Cultural on Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, the true nature of the Titanic disaster, and the British involvement with Conchillas and the construction of the port of Buenos Aires, as well as a series of talks connected with the TV series Downton Abbey.

16:30: Visit to the Naval Museum and guided tour (in Spanish). The Museum looks after an internationally renowned collection which covers a wide range of material relating to both talks.

Saturday 4th November at 2:15 pm. Yacht Club. Puerto del Buceo, Montevideo.