On September 8, 2016 Chairman Searle lead the team of historians that presented at the Belize History Association Lecture entitled " Spanish Reports on the Battle of 1798: Preliminary Findings" on September 7th in Belize City and Belmopan.  The team has been working for the past two years on translating the documents that were found in the archives in Seville, Spain.  The archival documents were written in old Spanish and had to be translated to modern Spanish.  The team of historians that have been working on the translations include staff from NICH, UB and two universities in Mexico.  

The preliminary translations reveal the events surrounding the 1798 Battle are primarily the same as those revealed in the British reports, but there are more details about the planning and the movements of the Spanish fleet which provide additional information on why the early settlers in the British Settlement in the Bay of Honduras were victorious against such great odds.

While the Spanish had good details about the fortifications of the settlement, including the forts located at Haulover - now Belize River Mouth - they had to overcome many other obstacles.  

• They Lacked details on the navigational details on the seas leading to the harbor at St George's Caye and the mainland.
• Had many delays with executing their battle plan, which allowed the British more time to prepare and to develop a counter strategy.
• Some of the Spanish sailors were also reported to have Yellow Fever and some were interred at Caye Chapel.
• To reduce the draft of the larger Spanish vessels, provisions were unloaded to smaller vessels, resulting in provisioning issues.
• Decision by commander of two Spanish Frigates to not participate.  These vessels were armed with 40 cannons each and drew about 19 palmos, approximately 13 feet, and were sent from Havana to participate in the Spanish attempt to conquer the settlers.  However the commander of the fleet gave many reasons for not wanting to participate such as dangerous currents and other navigational hazards and did not want to put his fleet in danger.

This new information uncovered at the archives in Seville do indeed provide more intricate details on the events leading up to the Battle!

If you missed the lecture by the Belize History Association be sure to attend the 9th Annual Remembrance Ceremony at 11am on September at the Historic Cemetery on St George's Caye where some of the important findings will be presented!

​The origin of the symbol of the Most Noble Order of the Garter will probably never be known for certain as the earliest records of the Order were destroyed by fire.  However one story goes that at a Ball, possibly held at Calais, Joan Countess of Salisbury dropped her garter and King Edward seeing her embarrassment picked it up and bound it about his own leg saying in French, "Evil, (or shamed) be he that that thinks evil of it" this is almost certainly a later fiction. This fable appears to have originated in France and was, perhaps, invented to try and bring discredit on the Order. There is a natural unwillingness to believe that the World's foremost Order of Chivalry had so frivolous a beginning.

An alternative theory is that Edward III may outwardly have professed the Order of the Garter to be a revival of the Round Table, it is probable that privately its formation was a move to gain support for his dubious claim to the French throne. The motto of the Order is a denunciation of those who think ill of some specific project, and not a mere pious invocation of evil upon evil-thinkers in general. 'Shame be to him who thinks ill of it' was probably directed against anyone who should oppose the King's design on the French Crown."

It is thought more likely that as the garter was a small strap used as a device to attach pieces of armor, it might have been thought appropriate to use the garter as a symbol of binding together in common brotherhood.  Whilst the motto probably refers to the leading political topic of the 1340's, Edward's claim to the throne of France.

PATRON SAINT GEORGE
The Order of the Garter is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint. It is serendipitous how this Shako plate that was found buried in the sand at St George's Caye.  St George's Day is celebrated each April 23. Members of the British Forces who were stationed at the British Forces Adventure Training Center on the caye celebrated this day, and perhaps we should continue the tradition and honor St George who watched over the early settlers that became victorious soldiers in the Battle of St George's Caye.

ST GEORGE'S CAYE ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT
Dr. James Garber, Texas State University, and Dr Lauren Sullivan, University of Massachusetts at Boston, along with the Institute of Archaeology and the St George's Caye Village Council have conduct field studies since 2009 at St George's Caye.

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July 6, 2013 was a special day at St. George's Caye where oceanographer, aquanaut and ambassador for the sea, Dr. Sylvia Earle, made an appearance at Historic St. George's Caye with Mr. Leatherback!

Enroute to the Oceanic Society Field Station at Blackbird Caye, Sylvia Earle and Rod Mast, new President at Oceanic Society, dove first on the Belize Barrier Reef with Sea Sports and John and Linda Searle, where they dove at South Gallow's and saw a gigantic stingray and free swimming moray eel!  Between dives they visited Historic St. George’s Caye where Chairman Searle introduced Mr. Leatherback to some children on the island.

The Department of Elections and Boundaries has scheduled Village Council elections for St. George's Caye for Sunday May 19, 2013.  The elections will take place at the Historic Cemetery.   Nominations are open from 9 am to 10 am, and voting will take place from 10 am until 1 pm.  All residents are urged to come out and vote!