1918-2018 - Albufeira remembers its WWI soldiers in new exhibition

Paul Rees 05 October 2018

ww1 With the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI approaching in November, Albufeira Council has launched two exhibitions in commemoration.

Both are in the Espaço Multiusos de Albufeira. The first, roughly translated as 'Tears and mud... 14-18 through the eyes of a soldier,' has been created by the Portuguese-French association, Cívica, represented by Paulo Marques.

A parallel exhibition has been arranged by the Historical Archive of Albufeira which concentrates on those from the municipality who marched off to war and includes memories of soldiers' relatives.

The Cívica exhibition shows photographs from the trenches that are displayed using a 3-D technique.

The exhibition has the support of the French inter-ministerial committee for the 100th anniversary, the sponsorship of the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Defence and the local council.

At the inauguration ceremony for the two exhibitions, Albufeira’s mayor, José Carlos Rolo, said he was especially pleased that the Council archive had been able to provide a part of the commemorative exhibition, especially as Rolo’s maternal Grandfather took part in WWI but in Mozambique rather than the trenches.

Paulo Marques said the exhibition had travelled to locations in Germany and France over the past four years, that it finishes in Albufeira and that the names of the 125 local soldiers who went to war are commemorated in the exhibition.

The material includes themes such as the role of women in the war, newspaper headlines and caricatures, life in the trenches, the battle of La Lys in April 1918 and the armistice at 11:00am, on November 11th, 1918.

The exhibition is free and can be seen from Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closes for lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.) and at the weekend between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., until October 31st.

Comments

0 #9 Darcy 2018-10-08 11:38

John sturridge,
If the Mc Cann's had not abandoned their three small children to have drinks with their friends, then little Maddie could still be with them.

-5 #8 John Sturridge 2018-10-07 11:11

Historyman is treading an increasingly well worn path. Many of us British are now becoming clearer, following the wildly excessive negative response to the missing 2007 McCann child, about the real Portuguese opinion of us. No longer deniable although as we strangely still see on the expat sites; many of the 'pretend Brits' still claim ignorance of much of what Historyman has outlined to us ADN readers; even of the original motivation of the Portuguese National Anthem!
Perhaps in summary of the Portuguese WW1 fallen "Greater love hath no man than that he lays down his life for no good reason at all"

-3 #7 Historyman 2018-10-07 07:18

The insult to the WW1 Portuguese soldiers memory (as we north Europeans have all experienced and making a mockery of the EU intent of 'convergence') is that these 'Lads' could return tomorrow, 100 years later, and see no essential evolution in Portuguese society. Still the Have's - the Winners, and the Have Not's - the Losers. Just a lot more EU funded roads, bridges and buildings!
Much of Portugal's historical narrative is clearly borrowed from other countries so we can assume the Portuguese soldiers in WW1 would have hoped that they would be returning to a land (Portugal) fit for Heroes. With much greater equalities and opportunities, better public administration and higher values shown by their leadership amongst much else. Now tell that to the Algarve coastal communities about to be bulldozed!

+2 #6 Darcy 2018-10-06 21:16

History man ?
All i can suggest at this point is, please check your medication ...

-6 #5 Historyman 2018-10-06 20:00

Why is AL, like so many Portuguese still so coy in 2018? Imagine British Empire or newly arrived US troops listening to singing across the 1917 WW1 trenches. A bouncy, cheerful tune you could hum or trip the light fandango to. Not since Christmas 1914 had it been Germans singing in the trenches so it cannot be them.
A passing officer telling these Lads "No, it was not Germans. It was newly arrived Portuguese in the neighbouring trenches singing their National Anthem. The louder less catchy chorus being their words for "Attack the British" Go on, try it. Find an honest Portuguese - (this is the hard part so avoid the AL's) -, then ask them about Contra os bretões in WW1!)

+2 #4 AL 2018-10-06 13:33

"Historyman's" comments are mostly ignorant of historical facts, which are easily researched on the Internet but also with the aim of insulting Portugal and the Portuguese. To insult the memory of men that gave their lives battling in a war that meant little to them and in a land far from their own, is not only disrespectful but also reveals a lot about one's character.
Perhaps "Historyman" would like to educate himself a little bit more about historical facts by avoiding ex politicians memoirs and sticking to reputable historian books.
By the way Germany declared war on Portugal on the 9th of March 1916 after seizing 36 German and Austro-Hungarian merchant ships anchored in front of Lisbon at the request of Britain.

-6 #3 Historyman 2018-10-06 10:40

Lloyd Georges memoirs refer to most Portuguese 'soldiers' being put to work in the docks unloading armaments, with many falling ill there and being returned to Portugal. As they were unreliable and unmotivated in the Trenches. After all this was just a few years after the 1890 Ultimatum, Regicide and Declaration of the Portuguese Republic - all blamed, then as now, on those of us who are British. Portugal not sending replacements to the La Lys sector of over-stretched Portuguese. The shortest route to the Channel Ports - exactly where the German Army attacked, reinforced by great numbers of Eastern Front transferals, in order to stop US reinforcements arriving.

+1 #2 Tbr 2018-10-06 08:59

Those Portuguese who fell alongside British, and Commonwealth troops during WW1 are commemorated on memorials throughout Portugal.
Poorly armed , poorly led over 15000 lost their lives.

0 #1 Historyman 2018-10-05 20:16

We never hear that Germany declared war on Portugal in WW1. So the dates of any exhibition should be March 1916 to November 1918. Then add in that few Portuguese were actually fighting in the Western Trenches for over a year. So a short War.

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