Conquer or Die!: British Volunteers in Bolivar's War of Extermination 1817-21 — Very Good

Conquer or Die!: British Volunteers in Bolivar's War of Extermination 1817-21

This is a fascinating book. I was aware that there were a few individuals involved in the liberation of much of South America from Spanish rule - Cochrane being probably the most well known - but perhaps assumed that it was a few hand picked experienced officers who the rebels felt would be able to add expertise that they lacked. This book put me right. Whilst there were many officers involved, there were far more rank and file - numbering, eventually, in the thousands. This is not a history of the liberation of South America; it is specifically a history of those British (and at the time, this very much included Irish) soldiers who fought alongside Bolivar. It is a complicated story too. Taking place at a time just after the Napoleonic wars ended, there were thousands of ex-soldiers, and hundreds of ex-officers with nothing to do, and little to look forward to. As always, many were looking for a new adventure, and they found it in South America. Although a simplification, the officers were largely motivated by a desire to make a name for themselves, the rank and file largely because they had nothing else to do. It is the officer class who largely come out of the story badly. With a few very notable exceptions, most were of the type who couldn't exist in civilian life. Some were martinets, some charlatans, others verging on insane. But for both officers and men, the reality was not far short of hell. Attracted by promises of wealth and a future in a new world paradise, they met disease, hunger, brutality and poverty. That the liberation eventually succeeded was in no small part due to the efforts of the British and Irish volunteers, and many stayed on in the countries that they helped liberate, and some achieved high office and recognition for their efforts. The story has been downplayed by history in those countries, perhaps understandably, to ensure that the efforts of their own ancestors took priority over the efforts of what were effectively foreign mercenaries.