IBMT 2-08:IBMT 2006-2 18/5/08 13:21 Page 1 IBMT Newsletter www.international-brigades.org.uk Issue 20 / Spring 2008 INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE MEMORIAL TRUST Reenacting Clarion’s 1938 cycle ride

By Jim Jump

The National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 will this summer be reen- acting a Glasgow to Barcelona fundraising bicycle ride undertaken by two members, Ted Ward and Geoff Jackson, in May 1938. Jackson and Ward Flyer for the 1938 ride. aimed to collect about £70 for the women and children of Republican Spain; in fact they raised over £300. Proceeds from this year’s anniversary ride will go to the IBMT. The original ride went through France; this year’s will go by ferry across the Bay of Biscay and then through northern Spain. The Scottish International Brigade banner drapes the coffin of the last surviving veteran from north of the border. Over a dozen cyclists, including Spanish rid- Steve Fullarton, whose portrait stands above his coffin, died in February. He was one of the 500 men and women from ers, will be visiting a number of towns and Scotland who volunteered to fight for democracy in Spain and who wrote a remarkable chapter in the history of cities between 29 July and 8 August on the first Scottish political and labour movement activism. See obituaries on page 3. leg to Portsmouth. They will arrive in Bilbao on 10 August and make their way to Barcelona, arriving on 19 August, taking in various memorials and battlefields. Two Clarion members were killed in Spain Invitation to Barcelona while serving with the : Ray Cox (Boadilla, December 1936) and Roy By Marlene Sidaway The provisional programme includes a visit to Watts (Ebro, September 1938). A new banner the monument to the International Brigades in has been commissioned by the Clarion Cycling Events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Barcelona; wreath-laying at the Fossar de la Club to commemorate them. the farewell to the International Brigades will be Pedrera; a reception hosted by the Catalan held in Barcelona from 23-26 October. They are government at the Palacio de la Generalitat; a trip See contact details in “Diary dates” on page 4. being organised by the Generalitat (Catalan gov- to Sitges for the inauguration of the exhibition ernment), the AABI (Friends of the International “New York and the Spanish Civil War”; a lunch Brigades) and other organisations. of honour; and an evening meal with musical Veterans from around the world are being invit- entertainment. ed. The organisers also hope that many other At the farewell parade for the International friends, families and supporters of the Brigades in Barcelona on 27 October 1938, International Brigades will attend. Dolores Ibárruri, “La Pasionaria”, the deputy IBMT members wishing to take part should let speaker of the Spanish parliament, told them: me know as soon as possible (my contact details “You can go proudly. You are history. You are leg- are on page 2). Veterans and their companions/ end. You are the heroic example of democracy’s partners will have all their expenses covered, solidarity and universality… We shall not forget including flights. Everyone else will have to pay you and, when the olive tree of peace is in The banner for Ray Cox and Roy Watts. their own flight and accommodation costs. flower… return!” IBMT 2-08:IBMT 2006-2 18/5/08 13:21 Page 2

IBMT FROM THE SECRETARY

Keeping alive the memory and IBMT Chair Sam Lesser looks on as Stefany Tomalin reads two poems spirit of the men and women who written by her father and Brigader volunteered to defend democracy Miles Tomalin at the Viva la República in Spain from 1936 to 1939 fiesta in London on 26 April. Sam read C Day Lewis’s poem “The Volunteer” in an evening that saw dancing, singing, film and music before a packed house International Brigade of more than300 people. I was proud to read two poems by David Marshall. Memorial Trust Congratulations go to our own Jim www.international-brigades.org.uk Jump and to Manuel Moreno, Chair of the Basque Children of ’37 Association, Charity no: 1094928 for organising such a memorable Patrons:Ken Livingstone and Paul Preston event. Hopefully, it will now become an Life President:Jack Jones annual fixture, bringing together the various communities, British and Chair:Sam Lesser Spanish, whose lives were touched by Secretary:Marlene Sidaway the Spanish Republic and civil war. 37 Reginald Road, London E7 9HS Tel/fax:020-8555 6674 By Marlene Sidaway Butler MSP honoured Steve’s memory with this Email:[email protected] motion in the Scottish Parliament on 5 March Treasurer:Mike Anderson President’s birthday which was supported by 41 MSPs. It reads: “That 16 Meadow Way, Heathfield, East Sussex Our President Jack Jones celebrated his 95th. the Parliament notes with great sadness the TN21 8AL birthday and the launch of a new edition of his passing of Stevie Fullarton, the last surviving Tel: 01435-864 978 autobiography “Union Man” (see page 11) in Scot to have fought in the International Brigades Email:[email protected] April. Over 200 people gathered in Transport during the Spanish Civil War; commends the House, London, and Tony Benn, Neil Kinnock, heroic contribution of the estimated 500 Scots Membership Secretary:Pauline Fraser Rodney Bickerstaffe and Paul Preston were who fought valiantly on the side of the democrat- 90 Roding Lane North, Woodford Green, among those who paid tribute to Jack. Actors ically elected government of Spain against the Essex IG8 8NG Alison Steadman, Michael Elwyn and Chris fascist forces during the course of the war, and Tel: 020-8506 0088 Tranchell read poems and extracts from the auto- sends its sincere condolences to Mr Fullarton’s Email:[email protected] biography and Jack gave a speech of encourage- family and friends.” Other committee members:Gerry Abrahams, ment for the future, ending with his signature Mike Arnott, Richard Baxell, Geoff Cowling, song “Keep Right on to the End of the Road” – a Scottish names Jack Edwards, Mary Greening, Mick Jones, truly memorable evening. One of Steve Fullarton’s last wishes was that his Jim Jump, Dolores Long/Hilary Jones comrade William Gauntlett’s name should be (jobshare), Manus O’Riordan, Richard Fundraising run included on the plaque in the Scottish TUC Thorpe (co-opted), Alan Warren Chris Hall is organising a 10km jog in Sheffield on headquarters in Glasgow. Efforts are being Annual membership rates are £15 standard 7 September, ending at the International Brigade made to do this and to correct other mistakes and £7.50 for concessions; affiliating memorial in Peace Gardens, to raise money for and omissions, probably on a supplementary organisations by arrangement. Further the IBMT. Contact Chris by mid-June to register on plaque. details and membership forms are avail- 0161-861 744 or [[email protected]] and able from the Membership Secretary, along Dolores Long for sponsorship forms on 0161-226 At the Tolpuddle festival with standing order and gift aid forms. 2013 or [[email protected]]. The IBMT will have a stall at this year’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival in Dorset on 19/20 July. Next Ebro memorial year we hope to adjust the date of our Jubilee We’ve decided to postpone the inauguration of Gardens commemoration so that the two events monument near Gandesa commemorating the don’t clash again. IBMT NEWSLETTER last action of the British Battalion at the . It had been scheduled for 23 Jewish volunteers from Palestine The IBMT Newsletter is published three September, but will take place next spring Martin Sugarman has written in to challenge times a year and is sent free to all members of instead. remarks reported in the January 2007 issue of the IBMT. Members living overseas can the Newsletter that Cyprus provided proportion- access the current issue by using a password Spanish nationality ately more International Brigade volunteers than on the IBMT website. Back numbers can be Following the Spanish government’s decision to any other country. Kim Economides had said that downloaded from the IBMT website on offer Spanish nationality to all Brigaders without between 40-60 Cypriots joined the IBs out of a [www.international-brigades.org.uk/ them having to renounce their current nationali- population of 350,000. But Sugarman says that newsletter.htm]. For information about ty (see story on page 1 of our last issue) we are the island’s population was actually 371,000 and receiving the IBMT Newsletter on tape, con- hoping to arrange a ceremony at the Spanish that the British Mandate of Palestine – including tact the IBMT Secretary. Embassy in London at which those who wish to the current state of Israel, which did not exist at Send all items for inclusion in the next issue can receive some form of official recognition the time – sent a higher proportion: between to the editor by 31 August 2008 at the latest. from the ambassador. 200-300 from a population of 1.38 million. He Editor:Jim Jump adds that, if the Arab population were excluded 6 Stonells Road, London SW11 6HQ Farewell Steve and only the 386,000 Jews counted, the propor- Tel: 020-7228 6504 We were sad to lose our last Scottish Brigader, tion would be even higher as only one Palestin- Email:[email protected] Steve Fullarton (see obituary on facing page). Bill ian Arab is thought to have gone to Spain.

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OBITUARIES FROM THE PRESIDENT

Andy Andrews: As this issue of the Newsletter goes to press, we learn the sad news of the death of Howard “Andy” Andrews, our oldest surviving Brigader, who celebrated his 101st birthday in February (see page 6). Andy served as a medic in Spain for nearly two years, having driven there in an ambu- lance in August 1936. A fuller tribute will appear in our next issue.

During the Spanish Civil War, Maloney was Steve Fullarton assigned to the British Battalion’s machine-gun By Jim Jump company and received a shrapnel wound in the chest at the Battle of the Ebro in August 1938. Steve Fullarton, who died on 29 February, aged Earlier, he met the singer and US civil rights 88, was the last of the 500 Scots who fought with campaigner Paul Robeson and got his auto- the International Brigades. Aged just 18 and graph, which he sent home to his mother. She halfway through his engineering apprenticeship had been heartbroken by his decision to go to when he crossed the Pyrenees in April 1938, he Spain, though politically supportive of the cause. was also one of the youngest volunteers, having He returned to England in December 1938 and had to lie about his age to be accepted. continued campaigning for the Spanish Republic He decided to go to Spain after seeing cinema until its defeat three months later. “Joining the newsreel of the bombing of Spanish cities by International Brigades was one of the more Franco’s German and Italian allies. “There were worthwhile things I’ve done in my life,” he said as women running around with terror in their eyes,” an old man. he recalled. “Some people could ignore it and say: ‘It’s none of my business’. I made it my busi- ness,” he later said. Also remembered… After basic training with wooden rifles near Figueras, Fullarton was sent to Marsa on the Described by Ernest Hemingway as “as brave north bank of the Ebro where the British and as good a soldier as any that commanded Battalion and other units of the XV International battalions at Gettysburg”, Milton Wolff, who died Jack Jones (left) with fellow International Brigader Brigade were billeted. on 14 January at the age of 92, was the last Bob Doyle beside the IB memorial at Morata de He took part in the Ebro offensive with the rest commander of the US volunteers in Spain. He Tajuña, where the two veterans attended a 71st of the battalion in July 1938 and was injured by a joined the International Brigades in March 1937, anniversary commemoration of the bullet in the groin on 1 August near Gandesa. He aged 21. By the time he was 22 he was leading the on 16 February. was rushed to a cave hospital near the front and Lincoln-Washington Battalion as it crossed the operated on without anaesthetic. Following con- Ebro in July 1938 in the Republic’s last offensive in By Jack Jones valescence at Vich, he arrived home on 23 the war. Born into a New York Jewish family, after December. the war he was active in the US Committee for a elcome to another packed issue of In 2003 he returned to the Ebro battlefield. “We Democratic Spain and led the US veterans in our excellent newsletter. Such a lot fooled ourselves into thinking we had a chance, demonstrations against the Vietnam War, W has been happening and there are so but we had no chance from the beginning,” he organised aid to a children’s hospital in Cuba and many interesting and worthy events coming recalled. “If I had known that, though, I would still sent ambulances to Nicaragua. up that sometimes it is hard to keep pace with have gone. It was a question of morality.” everything. Carmen Walker(née Gil) died in January, aged I enjoyed the 71st anniversary commemora- 94. Carmen was Basque and was with her mother tion of the Battle of Jarama in Spain in Febru- Terry Maloney going to market in when it was bombed. ary. It took place just before the Spanish They survived because their train driver reversed general election and I was personally very By Jim Jump into a tunnel, where they remained during the relieved to see the PSOE socialist party raids. She volunteered, aged 21, to travel with the returned to power. However belatedly, they Terry Maloney, who died niños(Basque children) on the Habanain May have done much to honour those Spaniards on 16 March, aged 90, 1937 and worked in the colony at Percy Park in and volunteers from abroad who fought for volunteered to join the Tynemouth. She married into a family of democracy in Spain 70 years ago. International Brigades in Newcastle Labour Party activists –her husband I also enjoyed the Viva la República event in November 1937 while a had been a luminary in the local Basque London in April. It was wonderful to see so student at the Richmond Children’s Committee –and lived in Penrith. many children and young people, especially School of Art and was to from the Spanish community in London, find- spend most of the next Antonio Díez writes to pay tribute to Ruth Frow, ing out more about their heritage. nine years as a soldier, who died on 11 January at the age of 85. She was Now we must look forward to our commem- first in Spain and during the Second World War in the founder of the Working Class Movement oration in Jubilee Gardens, London, in July. I the Royal Corps of Signals, serving in France, Library in Salford, which holds an extensive plan to travel to Barcelona in October for the Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. archive on the Spanish Civil War and the anniversary of the farewell to the Internation- He worked as a commercial artist following dis- International Brigades. Díez writes: “What she al Brigades and, before then, go to Dundee for charge from the army, as well as becoming the art and Eddie [her husband] have done in the our Annual General Meeting. I hope to see as editor of Spain Today, the magazine founded in Manchester area for the working class memory many of you as possible at these events. 1946 by the International Brigade Association to can never be forgotten and the library will be their We have lost two more comrades this year publicise the repression in and best legacy for future generations, a valuable and they will be greatly missed. But they will the underground struggle being waged against tool to keep fighting against fascism and not be forgotten and it is up to us to continue the regime. He later worked on the Dan Dare strip imperialism.” He adds: “The book I wrote about keeping alive their story and that of the Inter- in The Eagle comic and wrote and illustrated sev- the Manchester IBers and some other articles are national Brigades. eral books on astronomy and related topics. entirely thanks to the library.” ¡Salud y suerte !

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DIARY DATES

1937, along with his brother, Michael, and Michael Brennan and Sean Dowling. For Viñas demolishes more information contact Ciaran Crossey; email: [[email protected]]. 4/5 July 2008: Anniversary walk over the anti-Republican Brunete battlefield, plus poetry and music; meet at CAUM, Plaza de Tirso de Molina 8-1º, myths Madrid 28012 on Friday evening for a recep- tion and on the Saturday walk the route of the By Jim Jump offensive finishing on Mosquito Hill; more information from Alan Warren on tel: 01495- The Spanish Republic never stood a chance of 775 561 or email: [[email protected]] defeating the coup d’état led by reactionary ele- or Seve Montero [[email protected]]. ments of the military in July 1936 for two reasons: 19 July 2008: Annual commemoration at the the massive assistance given to the rebels by the International Brigade Memorial, Jubilee fascist powers and the negative attitude of the The annual commemoration at the International Gardens, London SE1; 12.30 for 1pm; speakers democracies, especially the UK, towards the Brigade Memorial in Jubilee Gardens, beside the include Tony Lloyd MP, Jack Jones and Sam plight of the Republic. London Eye, takes place on 19 July. This image of part of Lesser; followed by a get-together with an This was the core argument presented by Pro- the memorial and London Eye is taken from the optional lunch at the adjacent Premier Inn fessor Ángel Viñas at the Imperial War Museum, documentary “Memories of a Future”. See listings (formerly Travel Inn), Belvedere Road, London London, on 8 March. below for details of the commemoration and screenings SE1 7PB. Delivering the IBMT’s annual Len Crome of “Memories of a Future”. 24-27 July 2008: Events marking the 70th Memorial Lecture, Viñas demolished various anniversary of the start of the Battle of the common myths nurtured on the political right Ebro, including a conference at Mora d’Ebre, and left suggesting, for example, that the Repub- 11 June 2008 Screening of “Memories of a music and theatre and a commemoration in the lic was defeated because of its internal divisions. Future”, a documentary by Margaret Dickinson Sierra de Pandols; organised by Terre de Prime Minster Juan Negrín successfully united and Pepe Petos about the 70th anniversary of Fraternité; among those participating will be the various factions on the Republican side after the formation of the International Brigades; IBMT Patron Professor Paul Preston and taking office in May Showroom Cinema, Sheffield; tel: 0114-275 Angela Jackson; more details from 1937. Where difficul- 7727 for times. [www.terredefraternite.eu] or email ties did exist 14 June 2008 Screening of “Memories of a [[email protected]]. between the anar- Future” (see above); Phoenix Cinema, East 29 July- 18 August 2008: Clarion Cycling chists and the com- Finchley, London; tel: 020-8444 6789 for Club’s Glasgow to Barcelona bike ride, com- munists and times. memorating 1938 fundraising trip; first leg to socialists, these 21 June 2008 (NB: Changed from original Portsmouth (arriving 8 August), then ferry to were the result of date):Talk by Professor Michael Alpert, “The Bilbao for second leg to Saragossa and local rivalries and Blockade of Bilbao”, 2.30pm, Marx Memorial Barcelona; proceeds to IBMT; more details not top-down dik- Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R from Charles Jepson [[email protected]] or tats, with Soviet 0DU; organised by the Basque Children of ’37 Alan Warren (see above); IBMT member Brian advisers and Com- Association; contact Natalia Benjamin at Ferris has spare seats in his hire-car and is mintern (Communist Viñas: No communist plot. [[email protected]] to register. offering a lift from Reus airport; contact him at International) officials, for example, urging the 21 June 2008: “Sussex and the Spanish Civil [[email protected]]. Spanish communists to work cooperatively with War”; Lewes; organised by the local trades 10 & 14-15 August: Events to commemorate the anarchists. council as part of the town’s cultural week, it the Battle of the Ebro at Vilalba dels Arcs, La Nor was it true that Stalin was planning to will use verse, prose and song to tell the story Fatarella and Gandesa; more details from Alan impose a communist dictatorship in the event of of Sussex’s involvement in the International Warren (see above). a Republican victory in Spain – for which, Viñas Brigades and the Aid Spain movement; con- 7 September: 10km fundraising run for the said, there was “not a single piece of documen- tact Mike Anderson for more information: IBMT in Sheffield; see page 2 for more details. tary evidence”. [[email protected]]. 9 October 2008: Bill Butler, MSP for Stalin, he added, did not consider Spain a prior- 27/28 June 2008: Commemoration of the Glasgow Anniesland, hosts a reception for the ity for Soviet foreign policy. He was much more Kilkenny men who fought in the International IBMT at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh; concerned about helping the Chinese in their war Brigades. They included George Brown, who veterans, their families and Trust supporters against Japan and ignored the pleadings of Sovi- was killed at Villanueva de la Cañada in June are invited; if you would like to attend, contact et advisers and diplomats in Spain to send more Marlene Sidaway tel: 020-8555 6674 or email military aid. In the critical 12 months from Novem- [[email protected]]. ber 1937 to November 1938, the USSR did not Left: IB veteran 10-12 October 2008: IBMT’s Annual General send a single shipment of arms to the belea- Bob Doyle in Meeting in Dundee, plus other related events; guered Republic. It was only after the Anglo- Figueras in 2006 see more details on page 5/6. French Munich pact with Hitler and Mussolini in in a still from the 23-26 October 2008: Commemoration in September 1938, when Stalin felt that it was in “Memories of a Barcelona of the 70th anniversary of the the Soviet interest to check the installation of a Future”, which farewell to the International Brigades; more fascist regime on France’s southern border, that is being shown information on page 1. he decided to resume supplies. in London and 8-9 November 2008: Commemoration at As far as Britain was concerned, Viñas hinted Sheffield (see Els Guiamets of the withdrawal of the that its policy of “non-intervention” masked above). International Brigades from the Priorat district much more sinister motives and activities. New of Catalonia; more details from Angela Jackson evidence, for example, had only recently at [[email protected]]. emerged about the MI6 intelligence officer Hugh

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NEWS Exhibition appeal The IBMT has launched an appeal for funds for a permanent travelling exhibition about the British and Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. The aim is to create an exhibition which would make the general public aware of the history and legacy of the International Brigades. It would be made available to schools, colleges, trade unions, libraries and other groups and institu- tions around the country. The estimated cost of the exhibition exceeds £15,000. Donors will be credited in the exhibi- tion’s acknowledgements.

Send donations to IBMT Secretary Marlene Sidaway, 37 Reginald Road, London E7 9HS; email: [secretary@ international-brigades.org.uk] for more information.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (standing, left) at the unveiling of the memorial to the US volunteers. New plaque in Benicàssim Pollard who piloted the plane that took General for the Spanish government in Washington, Bonn Saturday 12 April saw the unveiling of a new Franco from the Canary Islands to Spanish and Brussels. monument honouring the International Morocco to launch the uprising. The Len Crome Memorial Lecture is named Brigaders who died in Benicàssim. Installed by It was also clear that British intelligence knew after Len Crome who had worked as a doctor in the Associaciò Republicana González Chermá from intercepts about the full extent of the mili- Lancashire before volunteering to go to Spain. He and the Benicàssim local council, the metal tary support being given to Franco, including the rose to become the chief medical officer of the memorial in the town’s cemetery replaces a pre- Italian role in the . In addi- Republican army’s 35th Divison, which included vious marble plaque which was found van- tion, British banks blocked any prospect of the the International Brigades. dalised last year. The coastal town of Republic engaging in financial transactions in the Benicàssim was a convalescence centre for the City of London or purchasing much-needed for- International Brigades during the Spanish Civil eign currency. The result was that the Republic Memorial for US volunteers War, following which the remains of some 30 had no choice but to sell its gold deposits to the Brigaders buried there were dumped in an Soviet Union. US veterans of the Spanish Civil War finally have a unmarked grave by the Franco regime. He went on to insist that, based on evidence national memorial to the nearly 3,000 volunteers that had come to light in the past two years, par- who fought with the Lincoln and Washington Bat- ticularly in the UK’s Public Record Office, all histo- talions. The memorial was unveiled on 29 March Lilian Urmston ries about Britain and the Spanish Civil War in San Francisco at a ceremony attended by 11 of would now have to be rewritten. the veterans themselves as well as representa- A blue plaque has been Viñas went so far as to compare wildly exagger- tives from the IBMT. unveiled to International ated Admiralty intelligence briefings before the Spanish Ambassador, Carlos Westendorp y Brigade nurse Lilian civil war about the prospects of a communist Cabeza paid tribute to the volunteers, acknowl- Urmston (left) at St Paul’s takeover in Spain – at a time when the Spanish edging that, though they had lost the battle in Primary School, Staly- Communist Party was small and uninfluential – 1936-39, they had eventually won the war for bridge, near Manchester, with the British government’s “dodgy dossiers” democracy in Spain. where she was a pupil. of intelligence assessments produced in the run- Located in the Embarcadero district of central Organised by Tameside up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. San Francisco, the structure is made of 45 onyx Metropolitan Borough Council, the unveiling was In conclusion, Viñas said that the mystery was panels held together by a steel structure. The attended by her sister, Hannah, and Manchester not why the Republic and its supporters lost the translucent stone squares show scenes from the IB veteran Bernard McKenna. Lilian died in 1990, war, but rather how they managed, as “the war and faces of soldiers, as well as words about aged 75. During the Second World War she world’s first premature anti-fascists”, to post- the period from writers like Ernest Hemingway. served as an army nursing officer. In later life, she pone defeat for more than two-and-a-half years. It was designed by Ann Chamberlain and Wal- became a writer and journalist. Her old school A professor of political economy at Madrid’s ter Hood and cost $400,000, which was donated now plans to incorporate the story of Lilian’s life Complutense University, Viñas was introduced by veterans and supporters. in its curriculum. by IBMT Patron Professor Paul Preston, who One of the veterans, Abe Osheroff, said it had chaired the lecture and question-and-answer been a privilege to have spent his life as an session afterwards, as one of the world’s leading activist. Of the memorial, he said: “Some day a Plans for AGM in Dundee historians of the Spanish Civil War. Viñas is cur- kid will ask his dad what this is all about, and that rently completing the final volume of his three- will be a small step in progress.” The IBMT’s 2008 Annual General Meeting is to part history of the Spanish Republic at war. The Sadly, just days after his speech, Osheroff died be held in Dundee City Chambers in the after- second volume, “El Escudo de la República”, was – as did sculptor Anne Chamberlain – and a few noon of Saturday 11 October as part of a week- published last year in Spain to critical acclaim. days later he was followed by two more of the Lin- end of activities. On Friday evening there will be Viñas has also had a distinguished career as a coln-Washington veterans. a reception and exhibition at Wellgate Library. diplomat, having served as the European Com- On Saturday morning the Dundee memorial to munity’s ambassador to the United Nations from See footage of the unveiling on You Tube: [www.youtube. the International Brigades will be rededicated 1992 to 1996, as well as holding diplomatic posts com/watch?v=UWmWEJKshbA]. Continued overleaf

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NEWS

International Brigade nurse Penny Feiwel (centre) celebrated her 99th birthday I was spied on on 24 April at home in Bournemouth in the company of IBMT Secretary Marlene for being an Sidaway (second from left) and family and friends. Marlene was joined by anti-fascist Membership Secretary Pauline Fraser in wishing Penny, who is working on a The article in our last issue by Daniel Ahern revised version of her about MI5 and Special Branch surveillance of autobiography, many happy the International Brigade Association returns. prompted IBMT member CHRIS BIRCH to visit the National Archives at Kew to see if he and his wife Betty had been monitored by the From previous page peace movements as well as IBMT representa- spooks in the 1950s when they were both and after the AGM there will be an archive film tives. Messages from Tony Benn and Kate Hud- active in campaigning against the Franco show followed by a social at the Queen’s Hotel son, chair of CND, were read out and speakers regime. This is what he found… in the evening. On Sunday afternoon, a plaque from the local trade union and peace movement will be unveiled at the site of the Basque chil- came forward to add their good wishes. dren’s colony in Montrose. The theme of the evening was anti-fascism We had always assumed that our mail was IBMT committee member Mike Arnott has a and a speaker from Searchlight South-West read and our telephone calls listened to by list of hotels, ranging in price from £23 to £89 highlighted the necessity of continuing that MI5 and the Special Branch as we had been per person per night and can also advise on fight today. Dave Chapple, of the Somerset active Communist Party members, albeit at a transport to Dundee. He can be contacted on Association of Trade Union Councils, who co- very lowly level, since our time at Bristol Uni- 07951-443 6565 or [dundeetuc@hotmail. ordinated the event, read extracts from Angela versity. com]. Jackson’s “Women in the Spanish Civil War” in When we moved to London we were both which nurses remembered Andy’s brave and very active in our local party branch. The fact steady support as a paramedic in Spain. that our letters were being intercepted and Scots support IBMT Modestly, Andy said he would rather have pre- read by the Security Services was dramatically ferred “less adulation and more politics, a dis- proved in the 1950s when we lived in the same Dundee Trades Union Council successfully cussion of how we can support our brave west London street, but on the opposite side moved a motion at the Scottish TUC Congress in railway workers, firefighters and others in strug- of the road, as Bert Baker, the editor of the Inverness in April calling on the STUC and affili- gle today”. Communist Party’s weekly bulletin, World ated unions to “assist local campaigns to erect, News and Views. maintain and, where necessary, amend memori- One morning, I opened an envelope als to those who volunteered, including current In brief… addressed to me only to find a letter for Bert initiatives in Blantyre, Perth, Dundee and Fife”, inside while, on the other side of the road, Bert to “support preparations to host the 2008 IBMT A plaque to the Irish International Brigader found my letter inside his envelope. Obvious- Annual General Meeting in Dundee on 11 Octo- and poet Charlie Donnellyhas been unveiled at ly, Homer had nodded off and after having ber” and to “join and participate in the work of University College, Dublin, where he studied. read our letters replaced them in the wrong the International Brigade Memorial Trust”. IBMT The plaque was unveiled by his sister, Christine, envelopes. affiliation forms and exhibition appeal leaflets and was designed by two children of his bother, Nevertheless, it was a considerable shock to were also given to each delegate and a bucket Joe, Rosemarie and Joe Jnr. Sadly, Joe died on 14 sit in the Document Reading Room at the collection raised £150 for the IBMT. February, only 12 days before the ceremony to National Archives at Kew recently and to read honour his brother. Charlie Donnelly was killed some of the mass of material with our names at Jarama in February 1937. in it that had been accumulated by MI5 and Happy birthday Andy the Metropolitan Police’s Special Branch in the IBMT member Dan Payne wants to make two years 1952 and 1953. Brigader Andy Andrews celebrated his 101st contact with fellow members on Merseyside At that time my wife and I were heavily birthday at a party in Taunton on 15 February who would like to set up an informal network to involved in the Aid to Spanish Youth Commit- along with prominent figures in the labour and plan events in Liverpool and the Wirral. Among tee, which was campaigning, with some other things, there are plans for an exhibition on notable successes, on behalf of the young the local volunteers at the People’s Centre in political prisoners in Franco’s jails and in par- Liverpool. If any IBMT members are interested in ticular the Spanish youth leader López being part of the network or have photos, Raimundo and his 33 companions. artefacts or other material for the exhibition There is a four-page typed report headed contact Dan on 0151-475 0168 or 07862-257 “Metropolitan Police Special Branch. Subject: 372; email [[email protected]]. Anti-Franco Meeting”, dated 27 March 1952, and signed by an inspector, a chief inspector A commemorative plaque for the and a chief superintendent. It begins plod- International Brigaders from the dishly: “Accompanied by other Special Branch Rutherglen/Cambuslangarea near Glasgow officers, I was present at 7.30pm today at Con- Andy Andrews listens to speeches at his 101st birthday was unveiled on 6 February at a ceremony naught Place, London W2 in connection with a party. With him are IBMT Secretary Marlene Sidaway hosted by South Lanarkshire Council at proposed torchlight procession to the Spanish (centre) and Membership Secretary Pauline Fraser. Rutherglen Town Hall. Embassy, 24 Belgrave Square, London SW1,

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TESTIMONY A peseta from my father

By Joyce Carroll

A friend kindly gave me “Poems from Spain” as a birthday present and I thought it about time (in my 71st year!) that I joined the IBMT. My father, José (Pepe) Fernández, was a Spanish Republi- can imprisoned in Lugo, Galicia, in north west Spain, in the first months of the war. My mother (British and seven months pregnant with me) left Spain with my 20-month-year-old sister, Daisy, and made the journey by boat and train back to her family in Liverpool. My father was born in La Coruña in 1896 and spent many years of his adult life in Cuba before meeting my mum in England through a mutual friend on his way back to Spain in 1929/30. When we were older, she told my sister and me that she had been allowed to visit my father twice before she left for England. On the first occasion she went to the prison alone and my father was brought to the governor’s office. On her second (and last) visit she took my sister, expecting the same meeting place but this time was only allowed to see my father through a grille. My sister and father could not embrace and my mum always suffered guilt as she felt responsible for taking Daisy into that traumatic situation. Apparently my father gave Daisy a peseta and Chris Birch (right) with Betty Birch and Alec Digges at the Spanish Embassy in London in 1952. Photo: Sid Kaufman said he was in prison so that one day every child in Spain would have a peseta. At the time, this organised by the International Brigade Associa- names, including Betty’s, of the newly elected did nothing to calm the distress of a toddler who tion, Friends of Republican Spain and the Aid to members of the IBA’s executive committee. The who couldn’t understand why her daddy was not Spanish Youth Committee, to protest against secret report says that its “source was extreme- able to hold and cuddle her. However, when my the sentences passed by the Spanish courts on ly well placed to obtain the above information”. mum told us about the peseta when we were old Spanish workers and to demand the release of So far, so silly. What is more sinister is the evi- enough to understand, it became a very emo- those at present awaiting trial.” dence of the interception of letters and phone tional consolation for not having a father. We The policeman reports there were about 150 calls and the bugging of rooms. thought of him – and still do – as the most heroic people, some of them with stick-torches or There is a very long list of the names and of men and it has certainly shaped our own polit- flares, and a large number with placards addresses including mine, divided into London ical consciousness. My mum was always vague demanding the release of the Spanish strikers and outside London, of individuals and organi- about the reason for his imprisonment, saying and gives a lengthy account of the speech I sations who had written to the Spanish ambas- only that he had been on an anti-fascist demon- made and had long forgotten. Headed by a sador expressing their concerns about political stration in the town. I don’t think she knew the drum and pipe band, the procession proceeded prisoners in Spain. And there are photographs extent of his political involvement. via Park Lane and Piccadilly to Headfort Place, (this was before the advent of photocopiers) of I was back in my grandmother’s house in Liver- where it was stopped by the police, although a minutes of the Aid to Spanish Youth Committee, pool in October of 1936. My sister’s second birth- deputation of three, including myself, was typed on my old Olympia portable, and letters I day was in December and in the same month our allowed to take a petition to the embassy while wrote together with extensive transcripts of pri- mother received news that my father was dead. the rest of the marchers “were passing the time vate conversations in the office at Communist My mother was heroic too. She was 40 years by singing revolutionary songs”. Party headquarters of Peter Kerrigan, who had old, with a baby and a toddler, no money, no pen- According to the police report: “The whole fought with the British Battalion of the Interna- sion, but fortunately able to live with my grand- demonstration from start to finish was carried tional Brigades in Spain. mother and as soon as I was weaned she went out in a peaceful way, and nothing suggesting All this was in the files kept on the IBA and the back to work as a telephonist on full-time shifts of disorder occurred during the proceedings.” It Aid to Spanish Youth Committee. There were at the Anfield exchange. I don’t think she ever was, perhaps, reasonable to send a couple of apparently separate files on Betty and myself, really accepted that my father was dead and coppers to make sure we didn’t use our torches numbered PF76717 and PF402/51/1064 when she went to an International Brigades to burn down the embassy, but what a waste of respectively, but these have been retained by commemorative meeting in Liverpool in 1938 notebook and pencil writing down everything I MI5 under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act she must have hoped in some way for a sort of said! (1958) and are exempt from disclosure under reunion with him. Another report, headed “Secret”, although the Freedom of Information Act (2000). So that’s With thanks to everyone at the IBMT for keep- there was nothing secret about it, lists the all right then. It’s all nice and legal. ing alive these memories.

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TESTIMONY Our dad, the By Dan Carrier For an unemployed miner from South Wales From Merthyr whose home town was suffering from 90 per quiet hero cent unemployment, Paris was not the most obvious holiday destination in the spring to the Ebro By Gerry Abrahams of 1937. But for Timothy Harrington, the trip to the his time in Spain was not spoken about. Our dad, Gerry Doran, was born at Lowrie Street, French capital had nothing to do with ambling Timothy came from Merthyr Tydfil, identified Belfast, on 26 August 1911, the same year that the down the Seine, climbing the Eiffel Tower or mar- by the government as being one of the worst hit Titanicwas launched from the docks there. The velling at the furrowed brows of the gargoyles at of the “distressed areas” – regions where the family moved from Belfast to Ballymoney where Notre Dame. He was there to meet communist Depression was most keenly felt. His experience our grandfather was an electrical contractor, then organisers, get over the Pyrenees and join the in this politically aware industrial heartland led on to Dublin in 1922 where dad would later join fight against fascism. him to be involved with the National Unem- his father and brother in the electrical trade. As a Now Timothy’s story is the subject of a major ployed Workers’ Movement, and he marched committed trade unionist, it was a natural pro- new TV documentary told by his grandson, proudly with others to London to meet their gression for him to join the Republican Congress Richard – an actor who has starred in such TV comrades from Jarrow, to highlight the problems in 1934 under the leadership of Frank Ryan, and dramas as “Spooks”, “Holby Blue” and “Bleak they faced. when the news reached Dublin about what was House”. Now he is turning his talents to a more So it seems now a natural progression that as happening in Spain, it was equally natural that he serious quest: he wants to discover the story of the Spanish Civil War unfolded Timothy should would want to join the Republican forces there. his grandfather’s mission to reach Spain. join his Iberian brothers in the battle against On 14 December 1936, he was one of 14 Irish- Harrington’s family were Catholic: it was to reaction and fascism. men who crossed the border from France into cause ructions within the family for years, and He left a note for his family saying simply Spain, led by Ryan. Ten days later, on Christmas Eve 1936, he fought at the Battle of in Cor- doba, where he sustained severe head and arm injuries. A French doctor at the field hospital saved his life and he spent the next six months in Return to the battlefields Spain recovering from his injuries. Tragically, six of the men who crossed the border into Spain By Alan Warren with him on the night of 14 December lost their lives at Lopera, two of them only 17 years old. Almost 70 years to the day when the British Bat- Like so many other volunteers, dad hadn’t told talion was sent to support the Spanish Republi- his mother he was going to Spain. He wrote to her can army’s taking of the city of Teruel, I had the in April 1937 from Albacete where he was recov- privilege of exploring the battlefield and examin- ering from his injuries. He talked of those young ing the remains still visible of the XV Brigade’s men: “Well mother, I don’t know what way you presence. judge my action in coming out to Spain but even Beginning at Mas de las Matas where the bat- now I am more convinced than ever that I did the talion spent Christmas of 1937 and Aguaviva only thing worth doing – helping to kill fascism where the US battalion was based (and the site of Above: Republican tanks advance towards the Teruel before it spread to my own country. Some of the a unique piece of surviving graffiti written by bullring; below: 70 years later, the same scene today. best of Irish lads have fought and died in their American Brigader Edward Muscala dated efforts to save democracy – Tony Fox, only 17 Christmas Day 1937), my journey to Teruel fol- years old – Kit Conway, the finest type of soldier I lowed the original line of advance towards the have yet met – Dinny Coady, Mick Nolan, Mick city. May – they had no regrets as their deaths each South from Montalbán the road rises up into resemble a nail in the coffin of international fas- the mountains and follows an uncompleted rail- cism and of O’Duffy and his hirelings.” way line dubbed by the Americans the “Great His mother was not the only person he hadn’t Teruel and Mañana Line”. In various accounts of told about going to Spain. His then fiancée Kay the battle, mention is made of a curved railway (our mother) broke off the engagement as soon tunnel where the battalions tried to shelter from as she heard he had gone. However, she eventu- the bitter cold but suffered from the gales driving ally relented and forgave him, and they were mar- through the tunnel. The fires made inside melted ried in 1940. Those people in the IBMT who knew the icicles and turned the floor into slush. The Teruel is an imposing city. Built on rocky cliffs, our mother will recall that she became a great tunnel is still there and open, though densely it is connected by a series of viaducts and has supporter of the organisation in the last few overgrown, at the south. been largely rebuilt after its destruction during years of her life, but in those early years she had a There is a photograph in the Imperial War the battle in sympathy with the mudéjar (Moor- very different view. Back then, she thought our Museum of Dr Moises Broggi, a Catalan surgeon ish-style) architecture for which it is famous. father had gone out on the wrong side and dis- (who is still alive in Barcelona), operating on the The positions of the British Battalion are easi- couraged any talk about Spain in front of us chil- wounded in this tunnel and whom Alun Menai ly identified to the west of Teruel. The machine- dren – my sister Anne and me. Needless to say, Williams met. The tunnel is just south of the vil- gun company under George Fletcher gave despite that, our childhood was sprinkled gener- lage of Peralejos and north of Cuevas Labradas. covering fire from the cliffs above the river ously with spontaneous renditions of the “Inter- Six miles west of the railway line, lying below Alfambra to the north of the city and the posi- nationale” and shouts of “No pasarán”. the impressive Sierra Palomera, lies the village of tions are still visible, though now the hill is slow- Celadas, above which the Americans were post- ly being covered with housing developments, Gerry Abrahams spoke these words at the IBMT Annual ed on a ridge in trenches which they dubbed the making it difficult to access easily. Carefully General Meeting in Belfast in October last year. North Pole because of the freezing cold. walking down one of the steep tracks from the

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CAN YOU HELP?

“gone to Spain”. He met eight others, caught a Crome’s. She was in Spain until mid 1938 and train at Merthyr and headed for London. To avoid then worked for the Ambulance Auxiliary arousing suspicion they split up and made their Service in London during the Second World way individually on to Paris. In Paris they met War. She returned to Australia in 1945. Martin again and were fed in a café: they were warned adds: “I have access to her 1937 diary and her that if they saw a man walking past clutching a letters home during that period (held in the large bunch of bananas they needed to leave National Library of Australia) but I would love immediately as the place would be raided. These to hear from anyone who remembers her or were days of political conspiracy and oppression who has information about her. Three of her – the French and British, sympathetic to Franco’s poems were reproduced in Jim Jump’s recent illegal and murderous rebellion, had signed a wonderful book, ‘Poems from Spain’.” non-intervention pact and were stopping nation- Martin recently contributed an entry on Aileen als from heading south to join the fight. Palmer’s time in Spain for Women’s History The nine saw active service, fighting at Month in Australia – see [www. Brunete and the Ebro. womenshistory.com.au]. If you can help, Film maker Dewi Gregory says: “The story of IBMT researcher Jim Carmody has replied contact Dr Sylvia Martin, PO Box 82, the Welsh Brigaders has not been told fully, to the query from John Carass in our last issue Woodbridge, Tasmania 7162, Australia; tel: and this is the chance to try and understand about the above photo. The man is not John’s +61-3-6267 4759; email: [sylviamartin@ what volunteers had to go through to fight for father, Harry Carass, but another man named bigpond.com]. their beliefs.” Leonard Le Vann. The photo was taken at Victoria Station in London on 23 August 1936 Professor Robert Fraser is researching the This is an edited version of a longer article that first and depicts the first British Medical Unit to life of the poet David Gascoyne (1916-2001), appeared in the Camden New Journal. leave for Republican Spain. Pictured are, who in 1937 travelled to Barcelona with from left, Randall Sollenberger (US doctor, Roland Penrose and for several months later killed at Brunete in July 1937), Leonard worked for the radio station of the Partido Le Vann (from Edinburgh), Dr AA Khan (from Obrero de Unificación Marxista, translating London), Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit, Margot texts and broadcasting them. He would be of Teruel Miller and Doris Bird (both nurses). Seated glad of any information from people who knew are Arnold Kallen (US medical student at him in this or related contexts and can be cliff one can follow the route where Frank Zamo- Glasgow), Frank Farr (from London, who contacted at [[email protected]]. ra from Abercrave was killed. Frank was the bat- became an ambulance driver) and an talion interpreter but it seems that at times unknown person behind him (with glasses). Susan Richardson is hoping for more neither the British could understand his Sinclair-Loutit, Le Vann and Kallen were all information about her parents – Susannah Welsh/English accent nor the Spanish his medical students). According to Jim’s Allan/Sutor, born in Scotland in 1910. She native language when interpreting orders! records, Carass did not arrive in Spain until 11 arrived in Spain on 29 September 1936 from The gorge to the south west at Muela, where February 1937. Monte Carlo where she had been living. She the Canadian “Mac-Paps” were positioned was a nurse with the Spanish 27th Division in across the Concud road is visible and the two Dilal Khan is seeking information about his Aragón, and also worked in hospitals at hills to the north beside Masía del Chantre father in Spain, Dr Ayub Ahmed Khan Grañen and Polenino. She later married a where the British Battalion advanced are sadly Naqshband (known as Ayub Khan), who was a Spanish army doctor, Capt Gonzalo Aguiló cut to the rear by a new bypass around Teruel. medical student at the London Hospital and a Mercader. They lived in exile in England until One can carefully cross the slow moving Alfam- member of the Communist Party when he after the Second World War when they were bra river as the battalion did and by using a volunteered. He was with the first British allowed back to Mallorca, where they 1:25,000 map negotiate the bypass. On the top Medical Unit to leave for Republican Spain remained and where Susannah died in 1992. of one of the hills, traces of three separate and is in the photo above. Dr AA Khan is Susan believes that her mother’s sister, Dr extensive trench systems are easily identified, mentioned in Jim Fyrth’s book “The Signal was Grace Sutor, was also a member of the including the position of the HQ at the summit. Spain”, but little more is known of him. Please International Brigades. If anyone has It was to here that the battalion was forced to contact Dilal Khan on [[email protected]] if information on any of these three people, retreat and dig in after attempting to advance you can help. Susan would be very grateful. Contact her by and secure the flank of the Mac-Paps to the left. email: [[email protected]] or by Amid the debris of sardine cans are masses of Rick Jorgensen is trying to find any records post at: Kerforniou, 29640 Lannéanou, shrapnel and other war material. of Scottish volunteer George Buchan. He was France. Finally I visited the bullring of Teruel which has from the Edinburgh area and after Spain was been immortalised by a series of iconic photo- co-opted into the SOE (Special Operations Anna Clarke is seeking more information on graphs taken during the battle showing Russ- Executive) and dropped into Yugoslavia. He her grandfather, Michael Clarke, born in 1908 ian-built T26 tanks moving up towards the spent some time as a PoW. He was a from Inglestone Street, Greenock. A plasterer, building. One has to cross over one of two passionate trade unionist and well connected he had a wife and three children. He went to viaducts which link the main part of the city to in Scottish TUC circles. Contact [rjorgensen Spain, aged 29, arrived at Figueras on 11 the north. How the Republican army was able to @jorgensenandcompany.com]. February 1938 and was captured by an Italian cross them successfully under fire I dare not armoured column at Calaceite on 31 March, imagine! Sylvia Martin writes to say that she is taken to Zaragoza and from there to the Teruel has a surprising degree of remains to writing a biography of Aileen Palmer (1915- concentration camp at San Pedro de Cardeña, interest a physically fit visitor keen to explore 1988), an Australian poet who, as a young near Burgos. He was released in late October the battlefield. There is as yet no museum con- Communist, joined the British Medical Unit as 1938. He had previously been a regular cerning the battle, but a group has been formed secretary and interpreter, leaving London on soldier, serving with the King’s Own Yorkshire in the city who wish to make such a place in time 23 August 1936. In Spain, Palmer was Kenneth Light Infantry, and after Spain was with the to come. Sinclair-Loutit’s secretary and later, Len Continued overleaf

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CAN YOU HELP?

From previous page Steve Fullarton, who Cameron Highlanders in India in the Second died earlier this year, is World War. Contact Anna on: [annabel_clarke pictured in Marsa in @hotmail.com]. 2003 outside the XV International Scott Kirsch wonders if there is anybody who Brigade’s stores, or remembers his grandfather, Vincent Leo “intendencia”, with Deegan, from Brighton, killed in Aragón in the 1938 lettering still 1938. Scott’s mother was only five years old at visible above the the time and unfortunately lost all contact with doorway. The picture is her father’s family. She is now 75 and it is on her taken from Angela behalf that Scott is trying to find someone who Jackson’s “At the knew him – or perhaps some of Deegan’s family Margins of Mayhem”. are reading this? If so, please get in touch with Scott at [[email protected]].

Begoña Rubio asks if we know anything about her father, Joseph Barberan, who was born in Linkieburn, Scotland, on 6 April 1909. Both his parents were Spanish-born, and had lived in a village called El Caserío just outside Bilbao. During the Second World War, Joseph, a Republican, was arrested and sent to Burgos. At some point he was repatriated to England, as he was British by birth and enlisted in the Pioneer Corps in May 1942, serving with the British forces during the rest of the war. Begoña has traced a photograph, taken in 1986, showing a group of men marching in preparations were put in place to receive commemoration of the Spaniards who gave Before the battle casualties. their lives in the Second World War. She The heart of this lavishly illustrated book recognised two men who were friends of her “At the Margins of Mayhem: Prologue and examines the relations between soldiers and father, one was Miguel Ramira, who joined the Epilogue to the Last Great Battle of the Spanish civilians, which were invariably positive. For French Foreign Legion and then went on to the Civil War” by Angela Jackson; £14.99(Warren & the children, in particular, it was an exciting Queen’s Royal Regiment. It turns out she is a Pell, Torfaen, 2008) time. They sometimes benefited from sweets relative of Manuel Moreno, Chair of the Basque or chewing gum, and one little girl had fond Children of ’37 Association! If anyone can tell Reviewed by Pauline Fraser memories of receiving chocolate and con- her any more about her father – or the friends in densed milk. the photograph – please contact Marlene In her latest book, The decision to treat local people in the Sidaway (details on page 2) as Begoña has no Angela Jackson field hospitals was important in cementing email address. throws light on the good relations, while some Brigaders helped regrouping of the in the fields. We have been sent a copy of a postcard from International Several fiestas took place, often attended Mr A H Stevens of Bristol which had been Brigades following by famous visitors, such as Pandit Nehru and written from a hospital in Spain during the civil the Aragón defeats his daughter, Indira Gandhi, La Pasionaria war. The message was “Dear Betty, I thought I’d in preparation for and André Marty. Brigaders saved up what lit- let you know that I have stopped one, but I am the assault on the tle food they had in order to lay on a treat for alright now, so don’t worry, and remember insurgent forces of the occasion, and all kinds of sporting events silence is golden. Don’t forget to write to me Franco at the Battle were held, from wheelbarrow races to high will you. Excuse the writing. All the best. From of the Ebro. jump. Pat.” It was addressed to Miss B Ivans of In the spring of 1938, the Brigades set up Moving on to the Battle of the Ebro itself, Bowden Court, Ladbroke Road, London W11, makeshift camps in the Priorat region above Jackson focuses on the role of the medical and on the reverse is a picture of the “Jardín de the Ebro in an area that became known as services in receiving and treating casualties. Floridablanca” in Murcia. Does anyone know “Chabola Valley”, after the local farmers’ stor- There was an appalling loss of life – nearly who Betty Ivans or “Pat” might be? Contact age huts. Jackson explores the impact of the 4,000 were killed, more than a third of the Marlene Sidaway. IBs’ presence on these rural communities, total Republican troops deployed. She weaving together recent interviews with vet- quotes at length from nurse Patience Edney, If you do not have an email to reply to queries, erans and local people with contemporary who lost the love of her life in that battle. contact IBMT Secretary Marlene Sidaway accounts and with memoirs written many Angela concludes her book with an epi- (details on page 2) and she will pass your years later. logue which takes the Brigaders from their message on. Much of the information above When the Brigaders had recovered suffi- withdrawal from Spain, to the concentration comes from the British IB archive, via the ciently, training began. Bemused local chil- camps in France, where some become Resist- IBMT’s researcher, Jim Carmody, whose work is dren watched as volunteers used dry river ance fighters, and the return, many years much appreciated. Please therefore share your beds, where they mimicked crossing the Ebro later, of survivors such as Steve Fullarton, information with him – he always welcomes in non-existent boats. Meanwhile, the real Milt Woolf (see obituaries on page 3) and new facts to add to our files. Send it to: boats were being built in a church which had Alun Menai Williams to pay homage to their [[email protected]]. been turned into a workshop and medical dead comrades.

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BOOKS & DVDS ETC

argues that the largely humanitarian and non- local residents, exploring both the past and Committed reportage political nature of much of the activity of the present context of the event: why did the con- “popular frontist” Aid Spain movement in flict rouse people all over the world? Have the “Behind the Spanish Barricades: Reports from the Britain deflected attention and effort away issues behind it been finally resolved? Why Spanish Civil War” by John Langdon-Davies; from the Conservative government’s covert does its memory still stir controversy? £15.99 (Reportage Press, London, 2007) support for Franco and the Labour and trade Reviewed by Jim Jump union leaderships’ failure to campaign effec- tively for the arms embargo on the Republic to John Langdon-Davies be lifted. In brief… was a News Chronicle Mates explores the nature of grassroots sup- correspondent who port, its extent and depth, the motivations of Ray Parkes, an IBMT member in Reading, has arrived in Spain by activists, the institutions they operated donated three books for sale to raise funds for motorbike in August through, and importantly, the role and impact of the Trust. They are two copies of “Britons in 1936 shortly after the ideas on activism. The testimony of several Spain” by William Rust (Lawrence & Wishart, Franco-led military North-East International Brigaders is cited, 1939), one signed by British Battalion uprising. Within three including Frank Graham, Dave Goodman and Commander Sam Wild and “David Guest: A months he had writ- George Aitken. Those within the British Left who Scientist Fights for Freedom (1911-1938)” ten this vivid eyewit- did not embrace the Republic’s cause are also edited by Carmel Haden Guest (Lawrence & ness account of examined, as are the consequences of these Wishart, 1939). Any offers? Starting bid is £10 – Republican Spain at divisions for the labour movement. double the amount for the signed copy. Send the start of the civil war, reporting from Many readers will disagree with the book’s offers to Jim Jump (details on page 2). Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid and Toledo. main conclusion, which essentially belittles the Reportage Press has now reprinted this clas- hugely impressive coalition of support that was “Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil sic text, one that Professor Paul Preston, who built for the Republic at a time when many War”, by Michael Petrou, has just been has written an introduction to the new edition, British people embraced pacifism and their gov- published in Canada by University of British rates as being among the top ten books written ernment conspired to allow a Franco victory. Columbia Press and in Britain by Warren & Pell. about the Spanish Civil War. However, Mates provides a comprehensive and It is priced at £16.99 and can be ordered, plus The commitment of Langdon-Davies to the sympathetic portrait of the Aid Spain movement p&p, from Warren & Pell; tel: 01495-775 561 Republican is clear from his despatches: “I think in the North East and offers new perspectives [www.warrenandpellpublishing.co.uk]. one side right and the other criminally wrong”. on an important period of 20th century British Also evident is his energy, humanity and affec- history. Also published by Warren & Pell is “From tion for the Spanish people, so it was no sur- Aberdare to Albacete. A Welsh International prise that as a result of his experiences in the Brigader’s memoirs of his life” by Edwin war that he founded Plan International, a child Across the Pyrenees Greening. The book recounts the early life of sponsorship charity that now works in 60 coun- Edwin, his experiences in the retreat through tries. Part of the profits of this book will go to “Memories of a Future”; DVD directed by Margaret Aragón and the Battle of the Ebro, World War Plan International. Dickinson and Pepe Petos; narrated by Maxine Two and his fulfilment in becoming a teacher Peake; music by Seanine Joyce; 83 mins; on sale after the war. It costs £12.99 and can be ordered, for £12 at IBMT and associated events (produced plus p&p, from Warren & Pell (details above). by Marker [www.marker.org.uk], 42 Lisburne Road, Question of tactics London NW3 2NR) Belfast and District Trades Union Council has “The Spanish Civil War and the British Left: published a 48-page pamphlet on the local Political Activism and the Popular Front” by Lewis First screened at the support for the Spanish Republic and the Mates; £52.50 (available to IBMT members at Renoir Cinema in Lon- International Brigades. With many newly special price of £36.75, quote reference V63) don in March 2008, available photos and other material, the (Tauris Academic Studies, London, 2007) where the film played to pamphlet, written by Ciaran Crossey, lists all a full house, “Memories those local men involved – 78 in total – and is Reviewed by Jim Jump of a Future” is a new available for £5 (inc. p&p) from 45 Donegal documentary which Street, Belfast BT1 2FG. Cheques should be This impressive study, commemorates and made payable to Belfast Trades Council. which centres on the reflects on the Spanish Aid Spain movement Civil War, focussing Poet and IBMT member Martin Green has in the North-East, especially on the volunteers of the International written a play about the Spanish Civil War and is questions the tactics Brigades. inviting anyone who is interested in seeing the of the British left’s A central strand is the event organised by the script to get in touch with him. The play is called support for the anti- IBMT to mark the 70th anniversary of the forma- “The Tolerance of Crows” (after the eponymous Franco cause. In par- tion of the International Brigades. In 2006 a poem by the Irish International Brigader Charlie ticular, Lewis Mates is group set off from London, travelled through Donnelly killed at Jarama in February 1937). It critical of the “popu- France and arrived in Spain by walking over the follows the fortunes of five British Battalion lar front” strategy pro- Pyrenees on a path the volunteers used from volunteers with scenes highlighting historical moted by the Communist Party, the aim of 1937 when they had to cross secretly, at night. episodes that took place between 1936 and which was to form a broad alliance of political The present day visitors met up with Spanish 1938. “Overall, it is hoped an impression of the parties and individuals opposed to fascism. organisations to unveil a plaque in the fort of fragmented and diverse nature of the conflict, The author rightly points out that the fate of Sant Ferran, Figueras, in the presence of veter- and the fortitude of these volunteers for liberty, the Spanish Republic was sealed by the ans Jack Edwards, Jack Jones and Bob Doyle. will emerge,” says Green. He can be contacted at hypocrisy of the British government’s policy of The two filmmakers – one Spanish, one 3 Antoine Terrace, Newlyn, Cornwall TR18 5BW; “non-interventionism” in the civil war. He British – talk with the veterans, the walkers and tel: 01736-333 169.

International Brigade Memorial Trust 11 IBMT 2-08:IBMT 2006-2 18/5/08 13:21 Page 12

IBMT NEWSLETTER Issue 20 / Spring 2008

Above: Rosaleen Ross; centre: grand-daughter Mandy with one of Ros’s old banners; right: part of the IB memorial in Victoria that Ros helped erect. International Brigades, and Winifred and Ros to difficult to find jobs, but Ros was able to make A British veteran help in any way they could. ends meet working as a secretary. So in late 1936, Winifred and Ros found them- She was made an honorary member of the selves back in the Pyrenees, waiting on the bor- Mac-Paps, attending their meetings and joining in Canada der to be escorted, as volunteers, into Spain. in campaigns with the Friends of Free Spain. A They were taken to Barcelona and attached to tattered and mildewed banner, calling for aid to By Pauline Fraser the British Medical Unit. First they worked on a Spanish refugees, recently retrieved during a newspaper, then Ros was sent to the hospital at family clear-out, is a reminder of those times. British International Brigade veteran Rosaleen Grañen where she worked as an administrator One of her proudest moments was when she “Ros” Ross celebrates her 99th birthday on 12 and later in various medical units, including at El shook hands with Che Guevara in 1962, while May at her home in Vancouver, Canada. I visited Escorial, outside Madrid. There she met Saxton part of an official Canadian government delega- her in April after the dedication of the San while working for the mobile blood transfusion tion to Cuba led by Prime Minister Pierre Francisco memorial to the Lincoln and unit in which he collaborated with Dr Norman Trudeau. Washington Battalions. Bethune. On one occasion, she gave a person-to- She was one of the three people instrumental Many of us will remember Ros when she lived person blood transfusion. in getting a fine memorial to the Mac-Paps erect- in Sussex with Dr Reggie Saxton a few years ago. Apart from a few weeks’ break in England, Ros ed in Victoria, Vancouver Island, the capital of The story of how they first met lies many years served in Spain until September 1938. After the British Columbia, in 2000, in Menzies Street, ago, in Spain. war ended, she married Canadian Brigader Allan opposite the BC parliament buildings. It was In the summer of 1936, Ros went on a walking Ross, who had worked as a machinist in the unveiled in the presence of Ros, Reggie Saxton holiday in the Pyrenees with her friends Winifred motor pool and as a transport driver in Spain. and other surviving volunteers, families and and Ralph Bates. On hearing the sound of gun- She returned with him to Canada and they had a friends. fire, Ros says that they asked a shepherd what son, Steve, born in 1940. Ros and Reggie had met again in 1996, at the was going on. He told them that he thought it Life was difficult in the Canada of the 1940s and 60th Homenaje in Spain. Some years after the was “just the princes fighting amongst them- 50s for volunteers who had gone to the aid of the death of his wife, Reggie went to live with Ros in selves again”. Spanish Republic. Although spared the worst Vancouver, but when his health worsened, they The three friends, who had met through the excesses of the US’s witch-hunts, the Canadian moved to the UK. Following Reggie’s death in Communist Party and were active against authorities’ treatment of the “Mac-Paps” – as the 2004, Ros returned to Vancouver to be with her Mosley’s fascists in London, returned to Britain, Canadian volunteers were known – was little bet- family, who all live locally – including her grand- where they volunteered to go to Spain, Ralph to ter, and they kept a close watch on those regard- daughter in the basement of her house and son fight as a member of the newly-formed ed as “reds”. The constant surveillance made it and family next door.

This year’s IBMT Len Crome Memorial Lecture at the Time to pay your Imperial War Museum, London, in March was membership subs preceded by readings by actor John Michie (left) IBMT Membership Secretary Pauline Fraser from the newly is reminding members who pay by cheque re-published “Behind the that their 2008 membership subscriptions Spanish Barricades”, are now due. John Langdon Davies’s Send cheques to the her at: 90 Roding classic reportage from Lane North, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8NG. the Spanish Civil War. Annual subscription rates are: £15 standard Michie is best known for or £7.50 for concessions. Affiliated playing detective- organisations should check their records for inspector Robbie Ross in details of previous subscription rates. the TV drama “Taggart”. For any other membership subscription See lecture report on queries, contact the Membership Secretary, pages 4 and 5 and review tel: 020-8506 0088 or email [paul.balf.paul@ on page 11. googlemail.com].

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