Summer 2002

THE WELLINGTON SOCIETY
TWENTY- THIRD ANNIVERSARY

The Wellington Society was founded on the 18th of June, 1979. The inauguration and meal took place in the restaurant 'Pepe Botella' in Madrid, Spain. Both the date and name are of some significance to the Society. Pepe Botella was the nickname given to the 'Unwanted' king, Napoleon's elder brother, Joseph Bonaparte who, on the orders of his all powerful brother, established himself in the Royal Palace, Madrid and reigned on a very shaky throne from 1808 to the summer of 1813. A French army of a quarter of a million men secured his power in Spain during this time but he was tormented by impossible demands from Napoleon in Paris and the constant squabbling of the Marshals who commanded his forces throughout the country. In August 1812, King Joseph was forced to flee the capital as the victorious Allied Army commanded by Lord Wellington advanced after the victory over Marshal Marmont and his 50,000 soldiers at the Battle of Salamanca. The following year Joseph halted his army and massive baggage train full of looted treasure at the northern town of Vittoria. The following day, June 21st, Wellington launched a decisive attack from both the south and west. The French retired slowly until they reached the outskirts of the city then a full retreat was ordered towards the frontier with France. They left behind their entire baggage, artillery and many pretty ladies (a captured French officer complained that as while Wellington led a disciplined force the French were nothing more than a mobile brothel!). Even poor King Joseph had to abandon his royal carriage and escape on horseback as the 14th Light Dragoons galloped in hot pursuit (the 14th LD captured, amongst other trophies in Joseph's carriage, a silver chamber pot, they have forever since been known as 'The Chambermaids' and on the anniversary of the Battle of Vittoria officers drink champagne from the royal pot!) Many of the stolen paintings including those by Velazquez, Goya, and Correggio were presented to Wellington by a grateful Ferdinand VII on his return from forced exile in France. Today they can be seen hanging in the Wellington Museum at Apsley House, London. Back in France, a dejected Joseph was arrested on Napoleon's orders and placed in house arrest. He hardly deserved the nickname 'Pepe Botella' meaning Joe the Bottles, the drunkard. He drank no more than the next man, he first earned the title when he reduced the tax on cheap wine hoping to appease the masses. His wife, Julie Clary never set foot in Spain even though she was technically ‘Queen’, preferring the comforts of their villa in France. With the final downfall of Napoleon Joseph sailed off to Philadelphia and settled there only returning to Europe in 1832. The 'Unwanted' King of Spain died in Florence, Italy in 1844.

THE PLAINS OF WATERLOO

On the morning of 18th of June, 1815 at the insignificant village of Waterloo some miles south of the Belgium capital of Brussels, the by now Duke of Wellington left his HQ and rode to join his "infamous army" (many of his best troops had been sent to America and his Dutch and Belgium troops had once been on Napoleon's side). At 11.30am the big French 12 pounder cannons (Napoleon affectionately called them his most beautiful daughters!) fired across at the Allied lines to open the famous Battle of Waterloo. By nightfall many thousands from both sides lay dead on the 'Plains of Waterloo' Napoleon had fled the carnage and once again Wellington was victorious but at a dreadful price for most of his close officer friends were casualties. His brother-in-law, Lord Uxbridge was by Wellington’s side when a cannon ball smashed into his leg "By God! I have lost my leg" to which Wellington replied "By God Sir, so you have!” Uxbridge survived the amputation and bad the leg encased. The Duke once remarked, "Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won". However, every 18th of June for many years to follow, the Duke of Wellington invited the surviving officers to his home at Apsley House to dine in the great 'Waterloo' banqueting hall.

Therefore the restaurant and date are very important to all of us in the Wellington Society and long may we continue to celebrate our own anniversary in Pepe Botelia's on the 18th of June.

Stephen Drake-Jones

Chairman

Wellington Society of Madrid 18th June, 2002. Madrid, Spain