It has been a patriotic few days here in Argentina, with the bicentenary celebrations culminating yesterday, 25 May. This is the date of the May Revolution, which was actually a week of events climaxing on 25 May 1810, when the people of Buenos Aires rejected rule by the Spanish viceroy and set up their own government, paving the way to Argentina’s official independence six years later. At least, that’s how I understand it.

History was never my strong point. I don’t have one of those brains that soaks up significant dates and names for future recall. But the bicentenary extravaganza has inspired me to gen up on Argentinian history. My passion for Recoleta Cemetery has stirred my curiosity, too. Who were the people who are buried there?

Take this pantheon of the Paraguayan warriors. I’d not paid much attention to it until one morning last week, when the sunlight beckoned me. I was moved by the young face of this bronze marine guarding the entrance. Spirited inside by a reflection in the glass door pane, he stands solemnly between his country’s furled flag and an array of plaques honouring the dead. Men like him lost their lives in a war I’d not even heard of.

The Paraguayan War lasted from 1864 to 1870. Paraguay fought against the allied countries of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil (you can see the three flags represented side by side in the stained glass window here) – ultimately losing the war and more than half its population.

The word ‘PAX’ (peace) has reflected its way uncannily into the photo, eliciting the title War & peace. I find that having something visual helps me to connect with history. I will remember these warriors now.