Book Description

Dr. Brian Kieran has shed more light on Sir John Moore and his heroic retreat during 1808 -1809 through the Galicia Mountains in the middle of Winter to Corunna in Spain. The tragic events of the retreat are graphically described leading to the sombre death of Sir John Moore at the moment of Victory. The one British Army of the time escaped through their evacuation from Corunna from Napoleon and ultimately his Marshals. Moore's skilful campaign caused Napoleon to return to Paris as he could not bear the thought of being defeated or outrun by the More's military skill. Moore's death occurred at the height of the battle at Corunna and he was aware of the victory before he died a painful death. More's death gave rise to the composition of a number of poem's yet the most famous was written by an Irishman; in England it became a children's Memorial to a Great Man. "But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him." Moore could have been given no greater honour at that time when Soult ordered the firing of a salute of Cannon.