The Siege of Tarifa - Siege battlefield tours

THE 200^th ANNIVERSAY OF THE SIEGE OF TARIFA 20 DECEMBER 2011 - 5 JANUARY 2012

On the 18^th of December a party of 9 members of the Gibraltar Heritage trust travelled to Tarifa to commemorate the bicentenary of the Siege of Tarifa.

The party were greeted by a local historian Juan Antonio Patron Sandoval, and the Mayor of the town, Juan Andrés Gil.  Mr Patron delivered a short commentary of the siege which was followed by the laying of a poppy wreath.

In the afternoon the party went on to visit the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia before returning to Gibraltar.

 A short account of the siege of Tarifa

On the 19^th of December 1811 in a bid to stop the guerrilla attacks which were so troubling the French forces throughout the region. A contingent of 12,000 French troops commanded by Marshal Victor targeted the small town of Tarifa. British and Spanish soldiers and sailors numbering 3,300 prepared themselves for the inevitable.                                                                                                                                                     Through the severest of weather and totally outmanned, this disparate band of defenders held off the superior force.

On the 29^th of December the very first French cannon balls to be fired passed clean through the northern wall of the city; such had been the advance in siege weaponry since the city wall had been built by the Moors. Over that first full day of bombardment the French had succeeded in blowing a breach in the wall of some sixty feet, and deemed this breach as serviceable. A summons was then sent to the defenders which was swiftly rejected by General Copons.

On New Year’s eve 2012 the Breach was stormed by French grenadiers whilst their voltigeurs attempted to force the portcullis. Which were stoutly defended by elements of 47^th & 87^th of foot and the 95^th Rifles with the Irlanda and Cantabria. Under heavy fire the French resolve was broken and their troops fled from the walls.

Low French morale was further compounded by the foulest of weather and following a major storm on the 2^nd of January, a furious Marshal Victor conceded defeat. His dejected troops unable to recover more than three or their sixteen artillery pieces were forced to destroy their own equipment in order to prevent its subsequent capture.