TENERIFE CELEBRATES VICTORY OVER NELSON

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Saturday July 24 2010

HUNDREDS turned out on Saturday for the annual re-enactment of the defence of Tenerife's capital from an invading British fleet.

by JAMES TWEEDIE

The event commemorates the failed attempt on July 25 1897 by British forces led by Admiral Horatio Nelson to capture the Canary islands from Spain.

Nelson lost his right arm to a Spanish cannon while leading the landings at the port of Santa Cruz. The force of 1,000 British soldiers was defeated by the port's garrison under general Antonio Gutiérrez, suffering several hundred casualties, and withdrew under a truce.

Ironically, Britain later came to Spain and Portugal's aid during the Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence after those nations were conquered by France during the Napoleonic Wars.

Re-enactors from Spain and Britain played the roles of the attackers and defenders in mock battles around the port-side San Juan castle at noon and later that night in Calle la Noria and Plaza de Isla Madeira in the city's historic old town.

The air was thick with acrid smoke from the 60 kilograms (132 lbs) of gunpowder fired from replica flintlock muskets and pistols, along with the spectacular muzzle flash and reports of the period firearms.

On Sunday a recreation of the British withdrawal was staged, bringing the celebrations to a close.

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