The Battle of St. George’s Caye: How the celebration started.

An Editorial appearing in the Colonial Guardian newspaper of 1898 mentioned in part that “the subject of the celebration of the Battle of St. George’s Caye is now occupying the public mind. That such an event ought to be celebrated by the inhabitants of British Honduras with some pomp and circumstance goes without saying; for not only is it by far the greatest and most glorious event in the annals of this portion of Central America, but it secured forever for the Baymen and their descendants and successors civil and religious liberty and good government…That we have not suffered during the last hundred years what all Latin America for long suffered… is due to the heroism of the victors of the Battle of St. George’s Caye on the 19^th September, 1798, whose glorious deed of ‘derring-do’ may the inhabitants of British Honduras ever keep in grateful remembrance.” 

A few days later, on 6^th April 1898 a public meeting was held at Riverside Hall on North Front Street in Belize City to consider the celebration and commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle. Addresses were delivered by Henry Charles Usher, J.P., Dr. Charles R. Eyles, R.H. Logan, Sydney Gower Woods, and Carl Metzgen. Some of the resolutions made were that a) the event be celebrated, commemorated and duly observed each year after this; b) that 10^th September be declared a public holiday; c) a Committee of forty members be appointed with power to add to their number for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the resolutions.

Since 1898, the anniversary of the battle has been commemorated every year in the 10^th September with various levels of festivities. One sad incident marred the celebrations in 1931 when the worst disaster to affect the country in the form of a hurricane devastated Belize on the 10^th September and left 2,000 persons missing or dead. 

            There are several names that could be mentioned as playing significant roles in the Battle of St. George’s Caye and its aftermath, but there is one we would like to especially honor. He is remembered as, not as one who fought in the Battle, having been born 35 years later, but one who succeeded in preserving for us a significant yearly celebration of the Battle. 

Simon Lamb, born in 1833 and died in 1913, was described as a man of vision, who succeeded in allowing generations of Belizean to recognize the 10^th of September and celebrate accordingly every year. 

Source: Vernon, L. (1994) I Love to Tell The Story. Heritage Printers, Belize City