The Revolution of April 25, 1974, 50 years later: a protagonist at Liceu Jaime Moniz

On February 16, 2024, students Lúcia Mariana Camacho and Carolina Nóbrega from class 11º32 at Escola Secundária Jaime Moniz, conducted an interview with Mr. António Gonçalves, Military of April.

This initiative was organized within the scope of the subject History B and also aims to participate in the national competition “Military History and Youth – the 25th of April in My Land”.

António Hermenegildo Gonçalves was a third sergeant at the time of the Revolution and was carrying out mandatory military service at the Santarém Cavalry Practice School (EPC). He revealed to the interviewers many curiosities that were part of his most intimate thoughts at that time, when he realized that perhaps something was about to change. He was referring to the strange authorizations he was receiving to repair damaged vehicles, something unprecedented and completely prohibited under so-called “normal” circumstances.

The suspicion that something was going to happen is strong and is discussed within the family when he comes to Madeira. He is warned by his father about the consequences of such involvement, but like a large part of the Portuguese military, he is disgusted and angry at being tied to the national causes of a rotten regime. In fact, it was mandatory to participate in the colonial war and António Gonçalves only stayed in Santarém because one of his brothers had already died there.

Participating in this operation was exciting. There was a lot of uncertainty throughout the journey and they faced moments of tension. However, they transformed history with their courage, they claimed victory in the center of confusion and are the faces of our Revolution.

His memories and reflections are yet another testimony of another era that leads us to analyze the importance of never forgetting the sacrifices of those who had to fight for a free and democratic country. May the lessons of the past continue to guide us towards a future of peace, progress and freedom for all Portuguese!