The First World War started 100 years ago and Portugal’s little-known role in the conflict is being celebrated in an exhibition in Silves where locals who went to the front are remembered with many of their records and photographs on display.
This exhibition has been organised by the municipal archivists and heroic names such as Coronel João Ortigão Peres from Alcantarilha are given due prominence.
The good Coronel was second to General Pereira d'Eca, the Angola governor and commander of the expeditionary forces who was tasked with defended the whole of Angola against German attack.
Also Lt. David Rodrigues Neto from Algoz who commanded a platoon from the 11th Company of Batallion RI4, Tavria, was part of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force and who, near Flanders, managed to capture a German patrol that had ventured close to the Portuguese position.
Neto’s bravery won him the British Military Cross, also the French Croix de Guerre and a promotion to Lieutenant.
David Neto was born in Algoz, the fifth son of poor peasants from Algoz (father) and Pêra, and did not have an easy childhood, starting working at an early age while still attending primary school. He entered the seminary in Faro but was expelled due to his rebellious nature and continued his studies at secondary school at the Lycée de Faro until he was called up for military service in 1915.
Neto was captured after the devastating 1918 Battle of la Lys (Batalha de La Lys) and was held in a German concentration camp from which he escaped and made his way to Denmark at the end of the war. Onn his return to Portugal, Neto married extremely well, retired from the Army as a Major, opposed the Salazar regime, was arrested by the secret police in 1952, was a generous benefactor to local causes and died in 1971.
In addition to these figures of derring-do, visitors can look over the military records of other local lads who were sent to the front, and look at photographs in an exhibition which aims to show that the Great War had an impact as far away as the sleepy Algarve.
By the armistice in 1918, the Portuguese Expeditionary Force recorded 2,160 dead, 5,224 wounded and 6,678 taken prisoner – 14,000 casualties out of a force of 60,000.
The exhibition at the council offices is on until July 31st, and can be visited from 9.00 to 17.00.
See also: http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/2732-france-pm-pays-tribute-to-portugal-s-wwi-dead
