Statue of Carvalho Araújo - Vila Real

The Estátua de Carvalho Araújo pays tribute to José Botelho de Carvalho Araújo (1881–1918), a naval officer and national hero.

The monument was unveiled on October 14, 1931 , exactly 13 years after his death in World War I. The bronze statue shows Carvalho Araújo in a determined pose, symbolizing the seriousness of his decision and his courage.

Carvalho Araújo was born in Porto, but grew up in Vila Real . He served as a first lieutenant in the Portuguese Navy and became famous for his courageous action on 14 October 1918. During a mission near the Azores, he escorted the passenger ship São Miguel with the minesweeper Augusto de Castilho . When a German submarine, the U-139 commanded by von Arnauld de la Perière, attacked the passenger ship, Carvalho Araújo placed his ship between the enemy and the passenger ship, thus saving the lives of the crew. He was killed in the action , just one month before the end of the war.

Willem Vandenameele