"Whatever happened to Black Bob?" Topic

I am lucky enough to be in Salamanca for my Wife's work. After a day yesterday at los Arapiles I ventured further afield to Ciudad Rodrigo this morning. The city is a pleasant surprise, the defences are largely intact and the locations of the breaches made during the 1812 siege clear to see.

My question to TMPers is this, I understand Bob Craufurd was buried in the ruins of the breach in which he was wounded, from which wounds he later died. This has now been turned into a road ramp and a gate in the walls which was not present in Jan 1812. I could find no sign of a grave marker or memorial. Is he still there? Is he under the pedestrian crossing? There was a rather sorry concrete lump which might have once been a memorial? Has he ever had a memorial? Should we build one? Any info gratefully received.

Not sure about his mortal remains, but, there's a memorial in St Paul's commemorating he and Mackinnon, both killed at Ciudad Rodrigo.

His remains were interned in the breach near where he was killed. Details are in John Hall's Biographical Dictionary of British Officers Killed and Wounded 1808-1814.

I'm sure there's a plaque on the interior of the Walls somewhere. May have a photo of it in the depths of my hard drive!

According to Gleig of the 85th, who's account of the funeral is said to be the best. " The coffin was born to the lesser breach and deposited in an area that had been specially prepared for his remains close to it." And according to General Stewart, "Lord Wellington decided he should be interred by his own division near the breach which he had so gallantly carried".

So it seems that he was buried close to, not in' the breach ruins.

Paul :)

Yes there's a plaque there alright. I have found the photo.

Its on the inside of the wall where the "lesser breach" was. That being repaired sometime later its not immediately obvious to a visitor where it was made.

So if you don't know the geography of the place and haven't a handy book, or indeed miss the signs, I guess its easy to miss it altogether.

Its a plain rectangular metal plaque set into the wall, written in both English and Spanish and was placed there in October 1993 courtesy of the Green Jackets.

Go on Google Maps and enter the town via Street View along the Avienda Yurramendi. Up the ramp and through the arch.

To your right are some trees and a man in a green shirt. Stop and pan right to see the main wall. Half way up there are two plaques. Zoom in an the grey one on the left is the memorial.

Obviously Google Maps is not sharp enough to show the words but that's the one I have the photo of!

He was buried in the breach of the fortress where he had met his death, and a monument in St Paul's cathedral commemorates Craufurd and Mackinnon, the two generals killed at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo.

My goodness, there seems to be an echo in here!

Thanks all. Subsequent googling revealed that there is indeed a plaque but I missed it on the day. Good to know he is commemorated. I'm still curious about his actual burial place though given the breach appears to be a road now.

Back to painting 20mm Portuguese, while the feeling lasts!