R&I – FS
Hi
Soldier Million
Heroes are not, made to order, or that one can tell from birth that he or she will grow up to be a hero for his or her village, town, city or nation. Heroes are created, in a split second, with some who like the attention it brings and glorification. However, there are those heroes who are reluctant to accept the laurels of heroship. This discussion is about such a hero, but no ordinary hero, he was not honoured and decorated with medals in some palatial royal or presidential palace, no he received his awards on the battlefield in front and with his comrades in arms.
His name, Aníbal Augusto Milhais GOTE (1895-1970) nicknamed Soldado Milhões/ Soldier Million. Milhais was the most decorated Portuguese soldier in the Great War of WWI. The honour of GOTE means in Portuguese: Ordem Militar (Grande Oficial) da Torre e Espada do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito. It is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. Englisce: The Military Order (Grand Officer) of the Tower, and of the Sword of Valour, Loyalty and Merit.
The epithet Soldier Million refers to the fact that he was worth a million soldiers, the only person to receive such an epithet title of honour in both WWI and WWII. Milhais was a poor farmer, born in the small village of Valongo in a remote area of Portugal and was drafted in 1917. He arrived in France the same year, as a member of the Trás os Montes brigade from the 2nd Infantry Division from the Corpo Expedicionário Português (CEP)—Portuguese Expeditionary Corps.
During Operation Georgette or the Battle of Estaires in official British history, when the German Army attacked his division. Milhais stood-up with his Lewis machine gun and defeated, almost single-handed, two German assaults. Finally, the Germans decided to go around and Milhais, who found himself alone behind enemy lines where he stayed for three days almost without eating or drinking.
On the third day, Milhais, still carrying his Lewis, rescued a Scottish major from a swamp and the two could reach Allied lines. Milhais was warmly welcomed but did not tell anything about his adventures and was only thanks to the officer he helped and reported the story to the British HQ and several other testimonies that his deeds become know.
A few months later, Milhais held back the Germans again, standing alone with his Lewis Gun and allowing a Belgium unit to retreat safely to a secondary trench without casualties. Both the British observers present at the scene and the Belgium commander included Milhais action in their reports and awarded with honours from both countries and with the French Legion d´Honneur before 15.000 allied soldiers on the battlefield. http://www.hat.com/Othr8/Nuno43P.html
It is a sad story of a great hero and not a story from rags to riches, with movie contract and celebrity status. After the war, Milhais was forgotten by his government, with no pension befitting a hero. Probably, owing to the financial situation in Portugal after WWI, when his nation became one of the poorest in Europe. A vast difference from when Portugal was one of the powerful and wealthiest trading nations at the end of the medieval period. Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries. Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the 1755 earthquake destruction of Lisbon. Including the occupation during the Napoleonic Wars and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. The 1910 revolution that deposed the monarchy did not help as the next six decades saw several repressive governments ran the country.
Returning home to Portugal Milhais married Teresa de Jesus (he had nine children with her). Milhais had difficulty providing for his family. The Portuguese government promised to help, but instead of an allowance, named the village where he was born after him. On July 8, 1924, the Parliament renamed the town of Valongo to Valongo de Milhais. The shy Milhais lived in the village of Valongo of Milhais, more famous than ever, but as impoverished as before. He received many foreign decorations and much public praise, but the highly decorated soldier still could not provide for his family.
In 1928, he emigrated to Brazil in an attempt to improve his financial standing. The Portuguese community in Brazil received him as a hero. When the Portuguese living there realized that Milhais was in need, the community gathered funds to send him back to Portugal with enough money to provide for his family. The Portuguese public thought it a national indignity and was angry that the military had done little for Milhais.
On August 5, 1928, he returned to Portugal and agriculture. He received a small pension, enough to live on as a national hero.
He died on June 3, 1970, in the village named after him.
What do you say?
Keep Safe!
Cofion
Jero Jones
Article URL : https://breakingnewsandreligion.online/category/off-topic/