This is spooky.

A few months ago we were researching family history through ancestry.com for my husbands family.  In a cencus we found my husband's GGGrandfather who was living in Shropshire.  The census said he was a Chelsea Pensioner.  

We delved a further and found his name on documents, which said he had been decorated with 2 broaches (medels we presume).  One was for Salamanca and the other was for Vitoria.

Presently we live in Spain about 4 hours for Salamanca.  We were telling our friends who live in Limerick that we plan to visit Salamanca and possibly Vitoria.  Yesterday our friend sent us this email:

"Hi. I was at the cathedral this morning and at coffee afterwards I met a girl who was from Salamanca.  What a coincidence! She said this is a good year to visit as it is the 200th anniversary of the battle. The battle field is at village outside called Arapile. However what was really coincidental was that my friend Louise who breeds horses was there and she said that Wellington's horse which he rode at the battle had been bred on a farm just outside Limerick."

Delving a little further we found, through you website, your article regarding the 200th anniversary of the battle.  The date is to the day!

The ancester who fought in the war was discharged because of "bad legs" - not surprising if they marched the length and bredth of Spain.

Sorry, just had to share!

Originally Posted By Jennym (22 JUL 2012 11:11pm)

This is spooky.

 

A few months ago we were researching family history through ancestry.com for my husbands family.  In a cencus we found my husband's GGGrandfather who was living in Shropshire.  The census said he was a Chelsea Pensioner.  

 

We delved a further and found his name on documents, which said he had been decorated with 2 broaches (medels we presume).  One was for Salamanca and the other was for Vitoria.

 

Presently we live in Spain about 4 hours for Salamanca.  We were telling our friends who live in Limerick that we plan to visit Salamanca and possibly Vitoria.  Yesterday our friend sent us this email:

 

"Hi. I was at the cathedral this morning and at coffee afterwards I met a girl who was from Salamanca.  What a coincidence! She said this is a good year to visit as it is the 200th anniversary of the battle. The battle field is at village outside called Arapile. However what was really coincidental was that my friend Louise who breeds horses was there and she said that Wellington's horse which he rode at the battle had been bred on a farm just outside Limerick."

Delving a little further we found, through you website, your article regarding the 200th anniversary of the battle.  The date is to the day!

 

The ancester who fought in the war was discharged because of "bad legs" - not surprising if they marched the length and bredth of Spain.

 

Sorry, just had to share!

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Some 100 serving British soldiers travelled in their Regimental ancestors footsteps to Spain to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Salamanca.  They came from The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Scots Guards, The Rifles, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, The Royal Anglian Regiment and the Royal Irish Regiment.  The soldiers were given a tour of the battlefield and The Rifles were then awarded the Freedom of the City of Salamanca.  A new plaque dedicated to those who fell was unveiled on a hill overlooking the battlefield at Arapiles, before there was a reenactment of the battle by more than 100 reenactors in period uniform.  The visit to Salamanca was the latest in a series of events organised by Peninsular War 200 (Link) to commemorate the bicentennial of the Peninsular War.

Great link redcoat2.