¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust G 1-2018 G £5 Aid Spain
The mobilisation of support for the anti-fascist cause among the British people during the Spanish Civil War International Brigade Memorial Trust 2018 Len Crome Memorial Conference
Saturday 24 March 2018, from 11am to 4pm, at the Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5AR Main speakers: Professor Tom Buchanan (Oxford University) and Dr Emily Mason (University of East London) Music: Amanda Boyd & David Nash, Ewan McLennan and the Red Notes Choir Film: ‘Film and Aid for Spain’ Plus: Exhibition and stalls Tickets: £20 (£15 students) Booking via Eventbrite (go to www.international-brigades.org.uk/ content/24-march-bristol for link) or send cheques (include email if receipt is required) to: IBMT Treasurer, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU More information: [email protected] www.international-brigades.org.uk ¡NO PASARÁN!
Magazine of the International Brigade Memorial Trust No.47 G 1- 2018
Joe Solo salutes a new plaque to James Alwyn and the volunteers from Bolton: see page 8. Geoffrey Servante, pictured now and 3 News around the time of the Spanish Civil War G Memorials and remembrance in Berlin, Irvine, in The Forester on 15 November 2017. Madrid and Merthyr Tydfil G Civil war artist reunited with artworks G IBMT Annual General Meeting Geoffrey Servante: veteran G Legacy of the Welsh volunteers
10 Secretarial notes of the International Brigades A British veteran of the International Brigades the 98-year-old, wondering whether we knew 12 The anti-Franco struggle never stopped is alive and well and living in the Forest of that he was still alive. Dean in Gloucestershire. Prior to this news the IBMT had assumed 14 Poles challenge the erasing of memory He is Geoffrey Servante, a former mechanic that the last survivor among the British in the merchant navy who enlisted with the volunteers was Stan Hilton, from Newhaven, 16 Obituaries International Brigades in June 1937, a few Sussex, also a former merchant seaman, who G Rodney Bickerstaffe weeks after his 18th birthday. He served in the died in Australia in October 2016. G Tony Atienza Anglo-American 14th Battery of the 2nd We learnt from Carmelo García that Group of Heavy Artillery. The official records Geoffrey Servante has used his Spanish 18 Letters say he was a good and disciplined comrade. He nationality – granted by Spain to all surviving returned to Britain early in 1939. International Brigade veterans in 2009 – 18 Books and the arts The IBMT found out about Servante’s to register to vote in the Catalan regional G Albums from The Young’uns and Barbez existence via a reporter on The Forester, a local elections in December last year: a sure sign G Books from Amy Feneck, David Ebsworth, newspaper in the Forest of Dean. Carmelo that he still takes an active interest in Spanish John Simmons and Robert Griffiths García contacted the IBMT after interviewing current affairs. 22 Archiving the International Briga de s ABERDEEN REMEMBERS
¡N O PASARÁN ! (formerly the IBMT Magazine and the IBMT Newsletter) is published three times a year. Back numbers can be downloaded from the IBMT website. All content is the © copyright of the IBMT and credited contributors and cannot be reproduced without written permission .
Editor Jim Jump IBMT, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU 020 7253 8748 Family, friends and supporters of the International Brigades gathered at Aberdeen Town House on [email protected] 24 November for an evening of songs, poems and talks about the Aberdeen volunteers. They were welcomed by Lord Provost Barney Crockett, pictured on left holding a replica of the blood-stained International Brigade Memorial Trust Spanish Republican flag that was used as a shroud to bury Aberdeen men Archie Dewar and Tom www.international-brigades.org.uk Davidson in Spain. The original is on display in the office of Aberdeen Trades Union Council.
¡NO PASARÁN! 3 NEWS
The International Brigade Memorial Trust keeps alive the memory and spirit of the men and women who volunteered to fight fascism and defend democracy in Spain from 1936 to 1939
International Brigade Memorial Trust 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU 020 7253 8748 [email protected] www.international-brigades.org.uk Registered charity no.1094928
President Marlene Sidaway [email protected] Chair Richard Baxell [email protected] Secretary Jim Jump L A new stone in memory of John Smith, former [email protected] miners’ union activist and International Brigader, Reunited with her Treasurer Manuel Moreno has been erected in Knadgerhill Cemetery, Irvine. sketch after 80 years [email protected] The inscription on the previous stone had become Ireland Secretary Manus O’Riordan barely legible, so Irvine & North Ayrshire Trades L Artist Priscilla Thornycroft (right), aged 100, with [email protected] Union Council, which organises an annual a poster that she designed during the Spanish Civil Scotland Secretary Mike Arnott commemoration for Smith at the cemetery, raised War. Also pictured is her niece Anna Cordon, who [email protected] the money for a replacement. It received financial visited Priscilla in Dresden last year and brought Membership Secretary Mary Greening support from the IBMT, local EIS and Unison her the poster and accompanying sketch. [email protected] branches and several individuals. Anna discovered the sketch and other drawings Merchandise Officer Chris Hall when clearing the house of Priscilla’s brother, Bill [email protected] Thornycroft, who died in February last year (see Film Coordinator Marshall Mateer obituary in the IBMT Magazine 2-2017), and who [email protected] kept the framed poster in his living room. Education Officer Richard Thorpe Priscilla Thornycroft, originally from Worthing, [email protected] Sussex, was active in the anti-fascist Artists Other Executive Committee members International Association during the war in Spain, Lisa Croft, Pauline Fraser, Alex Gordon, while elder brother Christopher joined the John Haywood International Brigades. Following the Second World Founding Chair Professor Paul Preston War she settled in East Germany, where she Patrons Professor Peter Crome, Hywel Francis, married and raised a family. Professor Helen Graham, Ken Livingstone, Said Anna: ‘Amazingly I found the sketch for the Len McCluskey, Christy Moore, Jack O’Connor, L The family of Michael O’Donoghue stand poster in Priscilla’s sketchbooks from 1937 to 1939, Maxine Peake, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, proudly beside the plaque to the volunteers from which were in an ancient cardboard box in the loft Mick Whelan Merthyr Tydfil and nearby villages at its re-unveiling of Bill’s house in London. on 19 October in the town’s civic centre. Originally ‘Priscilla didn’t know the sketchbooks were facebook.com/groups/7123291063 unveiled in 1996, the plaque is now back on there. They were an exciting find and included twitter.com/IBMT_SCW public display after a campaign by families and other anti-fascist sketches, including some very youtube.com/user/IBMTnews supporters of the International Brigaders from powerful ones depicting police brutality at an anti- flickr.com/photos/ibmt South Wales. Mosley riot in London.’
4 ¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust
¡NO PASARÁN! What’s in a new name?
elcome to this first issue of ¡NO PASARÁN! , the re-named Wmagazine of the International Brigade Memorial Trust. We hope you like the name and new look. ¡No pasarán! (Spanish for ‘They shall not pass!’), became the cry of the defenders of Madrid when Franco tried unsuccessfully to take the Spanish capital early in the Spanish Civil War. In Britain, protesters adopted the slogan as they stopped the police from clearing a way for the fascist Blackshirts to march through London’s Cable Street – and it has stuck as the rallying call of all anti-fascists to this day. With this issue of ¡NO PASARÁN! , the magazine becomes an exclusive benefit for IBMT members. No longer will we give out free copies at festivals, conferences and other events. In future, if people want a copy, they must buy it or join the IBMT to receive it regularly. To promote the IBMT we will instead give out copies of a new and bigger information leaflet to anyone wanting to know more about our work – and hopefully to become a member or make a donation. Don’t forget that we also have a fortnightly email news service for members. To receive the IBMT eNewsletter email [email protected] and ask to be added to the mailing list. The IBMT’s printed magazine remains one of our biggest items of expenditure. But we trust readers will agree that it’s worth the expense and that the magazine has a crucial role in keeping alive the memory and spirit of the International Brigade volunteers. L Flowers in the colours of the Spanish Republic L This new memorial to the International Brigades Back numbers can be downloaded were strewn on Berlin’s memorial to the was unveiled in the Madrid suburb of Vicálvaro on from our website (www.international- International Brigades at a commemoration on 5 November. The sculpture is located in the brigades.org.uk), though the latest issue 8 October hosted by the KFSR German appropriately named Jardín de las Brigadas will now only be posted online when a International Brigades association. The event Internacionales (International Brigade Gardens). new issue is published. And, starting with attracted participants from around the world, Funding for the project was raised by AABI, the this issue of ¡NO PASARÁN! , the online including Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Madrid-based association of friends of the version will be in full colour. Spain and the US. International Brigades.
¡NO PASARÁN! 5 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6 ¡NO PASARÁN! ` International Brigade Memorial Trust Our weekend in Cardiff on 13-15 October
TOP LEFT: Listening to poet Patrick Jones at the evening social on Saturday 14 October. Other performers included Adrian Roper, Frankie Armstrong, Cytgord Choir and Marlene Sidaway and Chris Tranchell.
TOP RIGHT: Sarah Dickins of BBC Wales introduces her award-winning TV documentary ‘Return Journey’ about the 2005 visit to Spain by Alun Menai Williams, his first since the Spanish Civil War. The film was screened at a reception at the Unite offices on Friday 13 October.
CENTRE LEFT: IBMT Wales Secretary Mary Greening (foreground) at the commemoration on 14 October at the International Brigade memorial in Cardiff’s Cathays Park, while Dafydd Trystan Davies, Chair of Plaid Cymru, addresses the gathering. Other speakers at the event included Mick Antoniw, Labour member of the Welsh Assembly for Pontypridd, Rob Griffiths, General Secretary of the Communist Party, and Máximo Molina, of the Cuenca ARMH Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory in Spain.
CENTRE SECOND FROM LEFT: The IBMT’s 2017 Annual General Meeting in session in the GMB conference chamber in Cardiff on 14 October. It was attended by 70 IBMT members.
CENTRE RIGHT: Author Graham Davies talks about, ‘You Are Legend’, his new book on the volunteers from Wales at the Big Pit Museum on Sunday 15 October.
BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: Cardiff’s Côr Cochion (Red Choir) sing Spanish Civil War songs at the Saturday commemoration in Cathays Park.
Photos: Jim Jump and Marshall Mateer
¡NO PASARÁN! 7 NEWS
Legacy of the Welsh volunteers wrote: ‘History is not another name for the past, as many people imply. It is the name for stories about the past.’ Though the pages may be yellowed, the Bravery, heroism newspaper clippings may have softened and the stories may now be second hand, we actively choose to remember those that joined the International Brigades, to and solidarity recall, to reflect and to re- describe – for new Carwyn Jones (right), First Minister of Wales, sent this message of support to generations – their remarkable story; to recall the IBMT’s Annual General Meeting in Cardiff on 14 October. It was read out the people and the at the AGM by fellow Labour Welsh Assembly Member Mick Antoniw. principles they fought for. We do it because it is our ’m sorry that I am unable to attend this It would perhaps be easy, with the passing of story. From the very same towns year’s International Brigades so many years, to lose sight of the story and the and villages that we know, that we Icommemoration and to be at the Annual sacrifice of those individuals from Wales that live in, came brave individuals who signed up General Meeting in person. I wanted to send a fought and died fighting for democracy as and sailed off to fight fascism. message on behalf of the Welsh Government to members of the International Brigades in the And it is a truly remarkable story. Over 200 those in attendance to mark the day and to Spanish Civil War. individuals – miners, writers, teachers honour those that served in the International But we choose not to. We choose to academics, tradesmen, those without work; Brigades from 1936 to 1938. remember. As the historian AJP Taylor once individuals from coalfield and coastal
TOP LEFT: Joe Solo sang songs from his ‘¡No Pasarán!’ album in honour of the International Brigades.
ABOVE: Lisa Croft, María Luisa Toole and Martin McMulkin of Bolton TUC.
ABOVE RIGHT: Bolton Clarion Choir.
BOTTOM RIGHT AND FACING PAGE: Images from the exhibition at Bolton Socialist Club.
8 ¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust
communities; both urban and rural; people – breadth of Wales, in village halls and on just like you and me – who joined up to fight school walls right across the land. for freedom. But above all we are left with the bravery, Gwyn Thomas, who travelled across Spain as the heroism and the solidarity of those who a young student at the time, spoke of the signed up, individuals who saw their familiarity he felt and the similarity he saw participation through a larger lens. At a time of between the mining villages of Spain and those mass unemployment, depression and the of the Rhondda where he grew up. He saw in hardship of the 1930s they saw themselves them ‘the same warmth, the same kindness, but participating in a bigger story – a struggle for above all the same marvelous intensity’ that he freedom and democracy; a struggle for a saw back home. common humanity. And they came from all across Europe to As the great Paul Robeson once said: ‘These defend democracy. An anti-fascist barricade fellows fought not only for Spain, but for me and from Tonypandy to Madrid, they called it. for the whole world.’ And today we honour them. For those that served, what they saw and I’d like to thank the IBMT for the work it what they witnessed forged them as people. does and in particular to thank the volunteers The experience of those that served in the and staff who do so much – all year round – to Brigades left an indelible mark on them. For keep alive the memory and the spirit of the individuals such as Will Paynter and Tom Jones men and women from across the UK that – ‘Twm Sbaen’ – it was a defining moment in fought for freedom in Spain 80 years ago. their lives. Your work is valuable, your work is Welshmen at Albacete (from left): Jack Williams Their stories, their sacrifice and those of important. Perhaps now more than ever it is (Dowlais), Bill Morrisey (Cardiff), Lance Rogers many like them are engraved on plaques and important these stories are re-told and re- (Merthyr) and (seated) Harry Stratton (Swansea). memorials scattered across the length and described, for our daughters and for our sons. Bolton remembers the Spanish Civil War
More than 120 people gathered to remember a Bolton Spanish Civil War hero who was killed fighting fascism in Spain when a new memorial plaque (pictured on the cover of this issue) was unveiled on 16 September in honour of James Alwyn and other International Brigade volunteers from Bolton. María Luisa Toole, a 92-year-old former Basque refugee who arrived in England in 1937 aged 11 and who later moved to Bolton, unveiled the plaque on the wall of Bolton Socialist Club – the oldest remaining independent socialist club in the country. To mark the occasion there was also an exhibition showcasing Bolton’s many connections to the war in Spain, including a home at Watermillock for Basque refugee children escaping Franco’s bombing campaign in northern Spain. James Alwyn is thought to have been the only International Brigader from Bolton who said. ‘Everyone was very interested in the was killed in Spain. Little is known about exhibition, especially some of the old photos him other than that he died at the Battle of from the Bolton Evening News that we had Jarama in February 1937. managed to find.’ Other volunteers who either lived or were exhibition and helped organise the memorial She added that preparations were now born in Bolton include Joseph William Moran, in conjunction with Bolton Socialist Club and under way for another memorial to be Philip Neville Harker, John Kremner and Bolton Trades Union Council, whose members erected shortly in neighbouring Wigan, where Henry Saunders Bury. funded the event. there had been 12 International Brigade IBMT activist Lisa Croft put together the ‘It was a really successful occasion,’ she volunteers, three of whom died in Spain.
¡NO PASARÁN! 9 SECRETARIAL NOTES Jim Jump [email protected] Welcome to HEAVY METAL AND PLAQUE new Trustees t was good to see a record FOR THE STANBROOK STORY attendance at our Annual IGeneral Meeting in Cardiff on 14 October. Seventy members made their way to the Welsh capital and many of them took part in the lively discussions that took place in the GMB’s regional office where the AGM was held. The meeting elected three new faces to our 14-strong Executive Committee. The new Trustees are: Lisa Croft , from Bolton, who is the grand-daughter of an International Brigader and who has been active in campaigns for memorials in Lancashire; Alex Gordon , from London, who is a past President of RMT and current Chair of the Marx Memorial Library; John Haywood , from Banbury, a member of the Oxfordshire committee that has raised the new memorial to the International Brigades in Oxford. We said thanks and farewell to four Trustees. They are Charles Jepson, Nina Londragan and Danny Payne , who were first elected to the Executive ast year’s Annual Cardiff that there were hopes Committee in 2012, 2016 and 2012 General Meeting heard that a plaque – which was respectively, and Dolores Long , Lthe welcome news that presented to Cardiff City who decided not to seek re- there could soon be a plaque Council and the IBMT in 2016 election. Dolores served dedicated to the Cardiff sea by the Alicante historical continuously on the committee captain who rescued nearly memory association – would be from 2002, including five years as 3,000 Spanish Republican unveiled at a suitable location its Chair. refugees as Franco’s forces in the city in April this year. More details are on our website entered the last Republican- News that a heavy metal (see www.international-brigades. held port at the end of the band has taken the name of org.uk/blog/blog.) Spanish Civil War. Capt Dickson’s ship also L The group Stanbrook and the We also heard that the emerged at the AGM, from Rates rise, but cover of their debut album showing exploits of Capt Archibald IBMT supporter Lorraine the ship of the same name in Dickson are remembered in Hardy. She is the Secretary of with concession Alicante harbour. Spain by an Alicante-based Labour International, which heavy metal band named after has its largest branch among Thank you to those IBMT his ship, the Stanbrook. fellow British ex-pats living in members who gave us feedback Dickson braved Franco’s southern Spain. on the Executive Committee’s warships to take the refugees From Lorraine we learned intention to scrap the on the Stanbrook from Alicante that the group Stanbrook use concessionary membership to safety in North Africa. The the iconic photo of the ship subscription rate. We’ve listened event is commemorated in laden with refugees as a to your views and taken action memorials both in Alicante stage backdrop at gigs . accordingly. harbour and in Oran, Algeria. They’ve even produced a As I explained in the last issue Labour Welsh Assembly video track telling the story of of the IBMT Magazine , the former member Mick Antoniw the ship (search ‘Stanbrook concessionary rate of £12.50 a L Archibald Dickson. announced at the AGM in heavy’ on YouTube). year barely covered the cost of
10 ¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust
producing and sending this does amazing work in keeping General Meeting in Cardiff back cover) are losing weight. magazine to each concessionary alive the story of the volunteers agreed to ‘note the IBMT’s Chris Hall, the IBMT’s member, let alone all the other who went to Spain. But we can concern’ at the behaviour of the Merchandise Officer, reports that expenditure involved in running only do so with the support of police. This followed an last year, for the first time ever, we the Trust. everyone and with sufficient emotional intervention by a had to order many more medium However, we recognise that resources. Spanish member at the AGM. sized t-shirts rather than the many people who are unwaged or Subscriptions for 2018 are now Images of voters being usually more popular large size. on benefits or the minimum wage due. Please pay them as promptly attacked by armed police were a Could this mean our buyers have to budget very carefully. as possible and, if you can afford spectacular own-goal for the are getting thinne r, or maybe They cannot afford to pay a lot it, please consider making a Madrid authorities. Many people younger, or both? more, yet are very keen to donation as well. understandably wondered continue supporting the Trust. whether the mask had slipped Sorry, wrong So we’ve reinstated the Rights and wrongs from Mariano Rajoy’s right-wing concessionary category, with the Partido Popular government and number and place rate increasing from 1 January this on Catalonia what we were seeing was an year by the same £5 that is being instinctively heavy-handed The hawk-eyed among you may applied to other membership There are compelling arguments reaction to dissent. have spotted that the last issue of categories. The new on all sides of the debate in Spain It’s worth noting, however, that the IBMT Magazine (3-2017) concessionary rate is therefore about independence for Catalonia. independence is not a left-right carried the wrong edition £17.50 a year. It’s still £7.50 less The IBMT has no official view on issue. Opinion in Catalonia is number. It said it was issue 45, than the standard individual the subject, though naturally we divided across the political when in fact it was issue 46. membership rate, but it more hope that a peaceful and spectrum . Equally this is not so Apologies too for incorrectly realistically reflects the real value consensual solution can be found. much a ‘Spain’ versus ‘Catalonia’ saying that the Archbishop – and cost – of IBMT Our neutrality doesn’t stop us conflict as one that, sadly, splits Sentamu Academy is in York. The membership. from being shocked by the Catalan society down the middle. school where students have The individual rate has instances of police violence that performed the acclaimed play meanwhile gone up from £20 to took place on 1 October when the Getting thinner? ‘Ocho’ about the eight £25 a year and the household rate Catalan regional government International Brigaders from Hull (up to four people at one address) pressed ahead with a This is an admittedly unscientific is of course in Hull itself. from £25 to £30. controversial independence conclusion to make, but it Both errors have been put I hope everyone will referendum that had been ruled appears that people buying the right in the downloadable PDF appreciate why we’ve had to unlawful by Spain’s courts. IBMT’s ever-popular range of version of the magazine now on increase subscriptions. The IBMT Later that month our Annual t-shirts (see advert on our inside our website. FRANCO AND JOHN WAYNE ON BOARD
hat connects John The story of Franco’s airlift on Wayne with General a Dragon Rapide was told in an Franco? Apparently eponymous 1986 Spanish film W directed by Jaime Camino. they were both airlifted in a chartered Dragon Rapide John Wayne. piloted by the same man. In the case of the Spanish and had become acquainted dictator the British pilot Cecil with Bebb. Bebb flew him from the Canary Franco decorated Bebb for Islands to Spanish Morocco in his services, and Bebb donated July 1936 to launch his military the Dragon Rapide used in coup against the Spanish 1936 as a gift to Franco. The Republic. aircraft had been chartered by According to what I heard at freelance British MI6 agent a Labour Party meeting in Lost, in which he appeared The anecdote was told at a Major Hugh Pollard, who flew Somerset last October, 20 years with Sophia Loren. screening in Wincanton of Ken with Bebb from Croydon later Bebb was also hired to Capt Bebb was then based Loach’s Spanish Civil War film Airport to the Canaries. take John Wayne from a desert in Tripoli, where he was Land and Freedom, organised The involvement of a British airstrip in Ghadames in Libya working for the airline British by Somerton & Frome spook has fuelled speculation to the capital Tripoli after the Midland. A Dragon Rapide had Constituency Labour Party. to this day that British US star demanded to be to be chartered to transport Among the audience was intelligence was part of the relieved from filming the 1957 Wayne because of the plane’s Michael Tarrant, who was with conspiracy against Spain’s adventure film Legend of the ability to land on sand. the RAF in Tripoli at the time elected government.
¡NO PASARÁN! 11 ANTI-FASCISM How International Brigaders kept up THE STRUGGLE
BY BILL ALEXANDER am Wild set the scene in SDecember 1938 when, with the arrival in Britain of the Reprinted from the main group, he said: ‘We have March 1989 newsletter changed the front but our fight of the International continues.’ Brigade Association, The welcome meetings, packed and enthusiastic, were mobilising where it appeared under meetings. The Spanish people the title ‘At home but fought on for another three months Winifred Bates and Lon Elliott had no connotation of military not to rest: 50 years of while the British Tory government organising help. Thousands of organisation and gave a welcoming the International Brigade extended its criminal appeasement Spanish families had fled over the place to all who had served in policies – so-called ‘non- Pyrenees, thinking better the bare Spain, no matter their nationality Association’. intervention’ – recognising Franco sands of the French camps than a or birthplace. The agreed sole aim one month before his military fascist bullet. When Mexico of the association was to ‘fight in victory. Brigaders went out on offered them visas, Wogan Philipps our own country to help the exhausting tours of meetings chartered a ship. Nan Green fed Spanish people in their struggle to rousing opposition to the the babies of 5,000, on their way to restore liberty and democracy in government and urging support for freedom but exile. Spain’. This provided unity of the Spanish Republic. Of course we found time to be purpose while the volunteers, as We and the Lincolns were lucky united with our families, get individuals, were free to take part and could return home to married, find jobs. But it was in in other activity. comparative safety. But the this background of activity for There is no record of the Germans, Italians and Brigaders Spain that the International number who linked up with the from reactionary states were Brigade Association was set up at association; it must have been interned in savage conditions in the very end of February 1939. under 1,500. French concentration camps. Help A number of far-sighted, wise Today there are 114 members, to ease their conditions and to get decisions were made. The name only two under 70 years, members some out began at once, with International Brigade Association of all political parties, many of
12 ¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust the fight for freedom in Spain NEVER STOPPED y r a r b i L l a i r o m e M x r a M
L Bill Alexander (left) and Sam Wild, both former commanders of the British Battalion in Spain, pictured on 22 December 1975 at the opening of the International Brigade archive at the Marx Memorial Library in London.
none. We are united only in our fight against Franco fascism. The a continuation of the war against waged to save Luigi Longo, Rau common pride that at a turning efforts to black work for Franco, fascism, or was the discrimination and others from death at the hands point in history we stood together the resolution at nearly every TUC against International Brigaders a of the fascists. Great efforts were to fight for civilisation, freedom and Labour Party conference, sign of the continuation of ‘non- made to secure the release of and peace. The long, proud record usually had their origin in the intervention’ and appeasement? Frank Ryan, Tom Jones and Jim of the association must be seen activity and initiative of our But soon there was acceptance that Cameron, still in Franco’s prisons. against this picture of ageing and members. there could be no freedom for the Despite problems of contact, funds falling membership. Spanish people without defeat of were got to International Brigade It was accepted that we had to ‘Franco carried on the main pillars of fascism – Hitler prisoners still in Miranda de Ebro. integrate once again in the popular, for another 30 and Mussolini. With the Allied advances in progressive class organisations from Spain had gone off the front Europe and North Africa, Spanish which we came. The Dependants’ years his reign of pages of the papers. Members Republicans and Brigaders Aid Fund was wound up, with all terror against the were in the forces or working 12 managed to get to London and the possible help being given to our Spanish people, all hours a day, every day, in the war IBA helped many to find their disabled, grants to widows and jobs industry. But Jack Brent, despite place with their ‘free government’. and apprenticeships for children. A who resisted in any severe wounds from Jarama which In 1944 the IBA members proposal that we should campaign way his savage kept him in lasting pain, kept the decided to turn their main efforts for International Brigade pensions dictatorial power. campaign of the association to the to make sure the imminent defeat was turned down, so that today fore. He was the first of the group of Hitler and Mussolini was Brigaders are prominent fighters at He was supported of outstanding leaders of the IBA: followed by the defeat of Franco. local and national level for by economic and Nan Green, Alec Digges, Alan Our journal, renamed Spain Today, adequate pensions for all. There military aid from Gilchrist, Lon Elliott, Jim Ruskin campaigned for economic was to be no special social club, so and others, who never forgot their sanctions, no trade or aid for the local pub or workingmen’s club the US and British pledge to aid Spain. Franco. But, despite the election of was used. Above all, as our governments.’ Our paper, The Volunteer for a Labour government and a big members got jobs, they worked in Liberty , carried articles on how to campaign, the arguments of the their factories and trade unions, not With the outbreak of World fight the war, some written by Cold War prevailed. only for the general interests of all, War II, which we tried to prevent, Hans Kahle, commander of the but to use them to keep up the there were some difficulties. Was it XI Brigade. Campaigns were CONTINUED OVERLEAF
¡NO PASARÁN! 13 ANTI-FASCISM
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE acted as a catalyst, inspiring the Aid trial, approach to an MP, lawyer or Spain movement, the trade unions prominent individual, frantic Franco carried on for another and Labour Party, Appeal for efforts to raise the fare, then a 30 years his reign of terror against Amnesty in Spain, Youth Aid for campaign of exposure, leaflets, the Spanish people, all who Spain and other organisations, and meetings and protests. These resisted in any way his savage also helped the organisations of efforts gave hope, as a socialist put dictatorial power. He was Spanish workers in Britain, exiles, it to an observer from Britain: ‘We supported by economic and immigrants and the grown-up know we are not forgotten.’ Will military aid from the US and ‘Basque children’. Paynter went to find out about British governments. Franco’s reign of terror Camacho and the Carab anchel We kept up a continuous continued – indeed, there were Ten, imprisoned for building the campaign trying to change this, executions for political ‘crimes’ illegal workers’ commissions. exposing the treatment of Spanish until 1975 – arrests, torture, near When we met Camacho in 1981 he democrats and the threat to peace summary trials in a military court, told us of the added strength they and freedom everywhere while execution or long terms of prison. derived from his visit. Franco’s infection centre We tried to help all – communists, Things were difficult for the remained. socialists, anarchists, freemasons, IBA in the Cold War period. Spain For 39 years, until Franco’s students. There was almost a was not in the lime-light. Members unlamented death, the association pattern – news of an important and friends became involved in
HISTORY WARS Poles challenge the‘ erasing of memory
‘These days the memory about anti-fascist movements is excluded from collective memory in Poland.’ 14 ¡NO PASARÁN! International Brigade Memorial Trust
other urgent campaigns and underground trade unions in Spanish people is part of the choice. After 50 years the organisations. Reactionaries and Spain. history of democratic, progressive International Brigade Association the right-wing were emboldened to Franco was never accepted by struggles of our peoples. The can say with pride, tempered with attack and denigrate the fight in the British people. Manuel Fraga ruling class still attempts to humility, we have done our best to Spain and the association. Old Iribarne, Minister of Information, denigrate our role and ‘write us out fulfill our pledge to help the slanders were dusted off: the effect was chased all round London when of history’. But the successful Spanish people achieve democracy. of the vino; the military he tried to justify the execution of campaign of meetings, exhibitions We have made a contribution to incompetence; the dupes of Stalin Julián Grimau. and demonstrations, the 34 local bring peace and freedom to people. and so on. Money was very short, With Franco’s death and the memorials – statues, plaques and the office and full-time secretary quite firm steps towards buildings – for their ‘own’ Bill Alexander (1910-2000) was had to go, Spain Today went bi- democracy in Spain, the Spanish Brigaders show that the the commander of the British monthly and then had to close. people will now be able to sort out International Brigade has deep Battalion at the Battle of Teruel Alec Digges, determined to send a their own problems – there are roots among the people. There is early in 1938 and the author of lawyer to a trial, borrowed the fare plenty – by their own forces, still great interest in our ‘British Volunteers for Liberty: on his personal guarantee. But experiences and organisations. experiences and their impact on Spain 1936-39’ (1982) and ‘No to even so, activity was kept up. The contribution of the British events at home and in the world. Franco: The Struggle Never Money was collected to help Volunteers for Liberty fighting in As individuals our members Stopped 1939-1975’ (1992). He Republicans still in France; funds Spain and the campaign of aid and continue to play their part in widely was the Secretary of the IBA from were smuggled out to help the international solidarity with the differing organisations of their 1984 until his death. m y T j a l o k i M
L Zu za Ziókowska-Hercberg beside the new memorial plaque. The Warsaw Revolutionary Choir. ccompanied by fellow artists action is a gesture of overwriting and These days the memory about anti- and a few friends, Zuza adding. The aim is to change fascist movements is excluded from A Ziókowska-Hercberg – grand- relations, to redistribute the political collective memory in Poland. daughter of an International Brigader space.’ ‘As part of the de-communisation – inaugurated a new memorial to The new plaque is secured to a process, not only are the Dabrowskis the Polish International Brigade stone marking the spot where, in the wiped from social awareness, but volunteers at an ‘art action’ in Warsaw old city of Warsaw, stood the building also people like Józef Lewartowski, on 8 October. in which the Communist Party of who was the leader of the Anti- The memorial plaque was Poland was proclaimed in 1918. An Fascist Bloc in the Warsaw Ghetto, unveiled amid replica banners of the original plaque recording the event where he was killed.’ ‘Dabrowskis’, as the Polish volunteers was removed after the end of the Zuza added that fascist and were known, and with wreath-laying communist era in 1989. xenophobic attitudes were currently and songs from the Warszawianka Said Zuza: ‘For years one could reviving. I nstalled as part of the (Warsaw Revolutionary) Choir. see on the stone a trace of the old Museum of Contemporary Art’s Zuza explained that the artwork plaque. It became a monument to the Warsaw Under Construction Festival, celebrating the XIII International lack of memory, a memorial of erasure.’ the new memorial – the first Brigade, titled Nomadic Memory, was She went on: ‘By this action I want permanent commemoration of the necessary because today’s Poland to mobilise memory. I’m also trying to International Brigades in Poland since was engaged in ‘rewriting history and stop the policy of new, false historical 1989 – was therefore also a warning erasing memory’. She declared: ‘My narration, the policy of no memory. to people today.
¡NO PASARÁN! 15 OBITUARIES
Rodney Bickerstaffe: IBMT activist and trade union leader who drew inspiration from the International Brigades
Though known mainly as one of the most influential trade union leaders of his generation, Rodney Bickerstaffe, who died on 3 October 2017 at the age of 72, was also a passionate upholder of the memory of the International Brigades. He was a founding member and Trustee of the IBMT and served as a Trustee until 2012, when he became one of our Patrons. Writing in 2014, he said: ‘It’s vital that future d r a generations learn the lessons of what happened i W Rodney Bickerstaffe in 2012 at an IBMT in Spain and know about the sacrifice of so many w e r
d commemoration on London’s Southbank.
decent people in the cause of freedom, social n justice and democracy A – a struggle that continues to this day.’ 2005 and Rodney, along with son Mick Jones, Spanish Civil War that his mother had kept Rodney’s mentor as a trade unionist and was at Jack’s bedside when he died four while working at the time as a children’s nurse in socialist was Jack Jones, the Liverpool docker years later. south Yorkshire. who became leader of the T&G (now part of Jack Jones was not alone in imbuing Rodney The cuttings were published in 2015 as ‘A Unite) and who was a veteran of the British with the story and spirit of the International Spanish Civil War Scrapbook’ (Lawrence & Battalion at the Battle of the Ebro in 1938 and Brigades. His admiration for the volunteers who Wishart/IBMT). Life President of the IBMT. fought fascism in Spain had its origins in his own In his foreword to the book Rodney Despite an age gap of more than 30 years, mother’s support for their cause. Bickerstaffe wrote: ‘The scrapbook Pearl kept Rodney and Jack were also close friends. They Pearl Bickerstaffe passed on her memories during the Spanish Civil War was one of her first met in the early 1970s and kept in touch and conclusions from the war in Spain to her treasured possessions. I thumbed through its from then on. In 2001, when the IBMT was son. Some of Rodney’s earliest childhood stark pictures as a small boy and as I grew older established, Rodney accepted Jack’s invitation to recollections, he would later recall, were of tried to make sense of the tragic defeat of became a Trustee. They travelled to Spain looking through two large volumes of newspaper democracy in Spain. together to visit the Ebro battlefield in cuttings chronicling the final 18 months of the ‘I asked her questions about the war. Why did y r a r b i L l
a Tony Atienza: i r o m e Teacher, historian and M x r a
M International Brigades archivist
Tony Atienza, who died on 14 September 2017 at the age of 95, was a teacher and historian – and founding IBMT member until his death – who played an important role in preserving the archives of the International Brigades. Without knowing his name, many IBMT members, as well as historians and researchers from around the world, have Tony Atienza with items from the Spanish Civil benefited from Tony’s considerable efforts – War archive at the Marx Memorial Library, all done in his spare time – in looking after including a fan signed by International Brigaders. and organising the Spanish Civil War archive
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‘It’s vital that future With his friend and Rodney followed in Jack Jones’s footsteps and mentor Jack Jones. was the President of the National Pensioners generations learn the Convention for four years. lessons of what happened Until his death he remained active in many in Spain and know about campaigns and organisations, including being President of War on Want and Vice President of the sacrifice of so many the Marx Memorial Library. decent people in the Over this period he was a regular speaker cause of freedom, social at IBMT events, notably the annual commemoration held on the first Saturday in justice and democracy – July on London’s Southbank. Until his death he a struggle that continues remained a great source of inspiration and to this day.’ encouragement to all those of us in the Trust who worked with him. JIM JUMP
Rodney Bickerstaffe’s family asked for donations in his memory to be made either to Marie Curie or the IBMT. This is one of the many letters we received in d r tribute to Rodney… a i
W I enclose herewith a donation in memory of w e r
d Rodney Bickerstaffe. I was privileged to have n A been a NUPE area officer and senior regional we lose? Why didn’t Britain help the Spanish unions, the General Secretary of Unison until organiser with Unison from September 1972 until Republic? Why is Franco still the dictator of retirement in 2001. April 2009. Rodney was a great leader and Spain? In his tribute to ‘Bick’, current Unison General Secretary of both unions. The creation of ‘Her answers taught me many things and General Secretary Dave Prentis described him Unison is a lasting legacy to Rodney. helped shape the beliefs and values I still hold as ‘a true giant of our movement’ and a I was, however, inspired by ‘A Spanish Civil today. For example, there is a time to fight in a dedicated champion of all the union members War Scrapbook’; and Rodney’s foreword to it. The foreign war, just as there is a time not to. And it’s he proudly represented. ‘He coupled a great memory of the Spanish Civil War, what it led to better to trust the decent values of working sense of humour and love of laughter with a and the contribution made by the International people than it is to be swayed by the spin and deep-rooted sense of social justice.’ Brigades needs to be kept alive. This is what the self-interested arguments of the powerful.’ Prentis added: ‘When asked what he believed book of Rodney’s mother’s cuttings achieves. In his union career, Rodney rose through the his greatest achievements were, Rodney would In addition to the donation I will be applying ranks of the National Union of Public respond: the National Minimum Wage and the for membership of the IBMT. Employees to become its General Secretary in creation of Unison.’ Paul J Elliott 1981 and, following NUPE’s merger with other After stepping down from leading Unison, Swansea held at the Marx Memorial Library in catalogue listing every item in its collection. King’s College London, though his degree London. Writing in the library’s bulletin, Tony noted course was interrupted by service in the RAF Working with Bill Alexander, Secretary of with satisfaction that materials from the in Iraq during the Second World War. the International Brigade Association (IBA), archive were being used for exhibitions and He afterwards trained as a teacher and Tony catalogued the archives of the British commemorations of the 50th anniversary ‘of taught at Stratford Grammar School, Ilford, Battalion volunteers through most of the those sad but stirring times’. and at Latton Bush Comprehensive School, 1980s and during the 1990s. Tony Atienza’s work was not finished, where he was eventually appointed Under his supervision, the archive grew however. The archive continued to expand headteacher. substantially to include the papers of many and two further volumes were published in Tony Atienza was a dedicated socialist and individual volunteers and a large collection of 1990 and 1994. In his introduction to the was an active member of the Communist material covering not only the International third volume, he wrote: ‘While tragedy Party History Group for many years and, Brigades but also the Aid Spain movement in engulfs the remnants of Yugoslavia and later, the Socialist History Society, serving on Britain, the war in Spain itself and the chaos threatens the ex-Soviet Union; when the SHS committee. In 1997 he was the co- postwar anti-Franco activities of the IBA Nazi gangs strut once more on the streets author along with Paul Preston of an SHS and others. of Germany, this Memorial Archive stands publication, ‘The Spanish Civil War: Tony began this work in 1984, taking over witness to those who, in Spain nearly historical antecedents and consequences’, from IBA Secretary Nan Green, who died sixty years ago, understood Fascism and and also contributed an essay to Jim Fyrth’s that year. In 1986, on the 50th anniversary of fought it.’ book, ‘Britain, Fascism and the Popular the start of the war in Spain, the Marx Born on 2 October 1921, the son of a Front’ (1987). Memorial Library published a 140-page Spanish bank clerk, Tony studied history at JIM JUMP
¡NO PASARÁN! 17 LETTERS BOOKS & THE ARTS Such brave men ‘The huge risks Johnny and women Longstaff took and the My grandmother’s brother, Walter Dobson sacrifices he made to (pictured), joined the International Brigades at stand up for democracy the age of 20. Unfortunately he was killed in and equality is the 1938 in Aragón. No-one spoke of him much in reason his and the the family, but I found a picture of him before thousands of Brigaders’ he went to Spain and stories are extremely saw a memorial relevant and plaque in Leeds inspirational today.’ Town Hall which has his name. SEAN COONEY In his memory I am making a memory board at home, so hope to find out more about him. Thank you for helping to keep the memories of the International Brigades alive – such brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I work in the NHS on an elderly ward and hear many stories about World War II when I care for old soldiers. My nephew has been in Iraq and Afghanistan as a soldier and was lucky to survive. I also work alongside a few young Spanish nurses, who are very interested in hearing about the IBMT. Janice Long Poole Dine in style The Youn g’uns I recently holidayed in Spain near to the Javea area on the Costa Blanca. We visited friends in Alcalalí and they took us to a local restaurant which doubles as a museum of the civil war. find inspiration It is filled with artefacts, posters, photographs, press cuttings, letters and music, all relating to the war. The pictures include Jack Jones and the letters include some from the International Brigades in London, though in Brigader dated in the 1980s. It is called Casa Pinet and was founded by Juan Pinet but is now run by his son Geroni. It has recently moved and I am assured is now stories located at Passeig Pou 14 in Alcalalí on the Pepe Restaurant side of the village; tel: 96 588 42 29. We only had time for a coffee, but the menu is very local and we were warmly welcomed. It’s highly recommended to LIVE DATES: On 20 March this year The Young’uns launch their ‘Ballad of Johnny anyone with an interest in that period of Longstaff’ tour, when they will be performing a suite of songs inspired by the International Spanish history. Brigades, in particular the life of Teesside volunteer and anti-fascist Johnny Longstaff, John Catanach interwoven with Johnny ’s own voice and images. The tour runs until 12 April and takes in Bournemouth 19 venues up and down the country. See www.theyounguns.co.uk for details.
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The Young’uns are, from left, The Young’uns new album Michael Hughes, David Eagle and ‘Strangers’ (see below) is Sean Cooney. available for £9.99 plus p&p from www.propermusic.com or can be downloaded via iTunes and other platforms.
The Young’uns: ‘Strangers’ (Hereteu Records). Sean Cooney’s interest in the International Brigades was ignited one night in 2015 when Two of the stand-out tracks on ‘Strangers’, the Johnny Longstaff’s son, Duncan Longstaff, came to latest album by the Teesside trio The Young’uns, one of The Young’uns’s concerts and told them have been inspired by International Brigaders. stories about his father’s life. Coming from one of UK folk music’s hottest Cooney explains: ‘Johnny Longstaff grew up in properties and best-loved live acts, this is a big poverty in my hometown of Stockton-on-Tees, boost for everyone striving to keep alive the story walked to London on the 1934 hunger march of the volunteers who went to Spain. when he was 15, stood up to fascism at Cable In the three years since Sean Cooney, Michael Street when he was 16 and lied about his age to Hughes and David Eagle gave up their day jobs, go to Spain when he was 17. they have clinched the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘When I listened to his oral testimony at the ‘Best Group’ title two years running in 2015 and Imperial War Museum I was mesmerised,’ he 2016 and have successfully toured North America adds. ‘The huge risks Johnny Longstaff took and and Australia. the sacrifices he made to stand up for democracy Despite their growing international reputation, and equality is the reason his and the thousands the Stockton trio haven’t forgotten their North East hunger marches as well as the October 1936 of Brigaders’ stories are extremely relevant and heroes and roots. One of the Brigaders who Battle of Cable Street, when Sir Oswald Mosley’s inspirational today.’ inspired the new songs – all but one penned by fascists tried to march through the mainly Jewish This fourth album from The Young’uns, now all Sean Cooney – is fellow Teessider Johnny section of the East End of London. in their thirties, showcases the group’s familiar Longstaff. A second song, ‘Bob Cooney’s Miracle’, tells taut harmonies and impressive range of singing Other heroes come from further afield, the story of how one of the leaders of the British moods, from jaunty to elegaic. What it also including Aberdeen volunteer Bob Cooney (no Battalion pulled off his own version of the demonstrates – and several critics have made relation to Sean Cooney). ‘feeding of the 5,000’ on the banks of the Ebro this point – is that Sean Cooney is fast becoming Sean Cooney wrote the tremendous ‘Cable when he managed to satisfy 57 hungry men with one of UK folk music’s finest songwriters. Street’, about Johnny Longstaff, a veteran of the a small loaf of bread and a tin of corned beef. JIM JUMP
¡NO PASARÁN! 19 BuOOKS & THE ARTS
Images from ‘A Gentle Visual Fire’: LEFT: Taking an x-ray. ABOVE: Paul Robeson’s son in Spain. RIGHT: Bombing destruction of Barcelona Cathedral.
have been artist in residence at the Marx Memorial Library in I London, looking at and DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING researching the photographic collections and pamphlets relating to Artist Amy Feneck describes her new book, ‘A Gentle Visual Fire’. Using the Spanish Civil War. As an artist I re-photographed images from the Marx Memorial Library’s archives and am very interested in archives that her own semi-poetic text, she sets out to take a fresh look at show hidden histories, or reveal alternative views of significant photographs from the Spanish Civil War and to understand their historical events. embedded personal as well as political histories – and what it means Prior to my time at the Marx Memorial Library, I had spent many to look at them today. hours in the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. It is of the Spanish State Tourist became very prescient to me – as they provoke potentially very there that I first became interested in Department. The aim was to show I myself was sitting in an archive of individual viewpoints during photographic documents from the the people of Spain and of other saved photographs, books, posters, significant moments in history. I was Spanish Civil War, through a series of countries the work that was being papers, letters and much more. Where struck by the personal nature of images of Republican fighters saving done to save Spain’s art treasures does this motivation to keep hold of many of the images I was looking at. art and other objects from the and how this was striking another things come from? What does it mean Although there are some which bombings of major museums such blow against fascism. to be able to look at photographs show horrifying destruction and as the Prado in Madrid. What does this act of saving years from when they were taken? death, many of the photographs tell During my research at the Marx objects and art reveal about the How does this reach into the past a story of the social aspects of life in Memorial Library, these same images societies at the time? What is affect the way we understand history, Spain during that time, the turned up in pamphlets made and important enough to be part of a and our present day? comradeship and the efforts in distributed by the Information Service nation’s heritage? These questions Photographs are compelling as building a better life for people.
Contemporary take Brigades and the Spanish Civil War. Barbez bandleader and guitarist In ‘For Those Who Came After’ Dan Kaufman has written on familiar songs Barbez draw on avant-rock, extensively on the Spanish Civil War contemporary classical and folk for The New York Times, The Nation, Barbez: ‘For Those Who Came music styles, including cumbia and and The New York Observer. Over After: Songs Of Resistance From flamenco, to reinvent iconic songs the course of that reporting he got The Spanish Civil War’ (Important such as ‘The Internationale’ and to know many veterans of the Records). ‘Viva la Quince Brigada’. Released Lincoln Brigade, as the US on vinyl and CD, the album also volunteers were known, including The virtuoso musicians of Barbez features liner notes by award- the last survivor, Del Berg. The are joined by singer Velina Brown in winning author Adam Hochschild, record’s final track, ‘A las Barricadas’, this album of new interpretations of whose critically acclaimed history of contains a fragment of an interview many of the best known songs the Spanish Civil War, ‘Spain in Our Kaufman conducted with Berg in associated with the International Hearts’, was published in 2016. 2015, the year before he died.
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Jack on the run
‘Until the Curtain Falls’ by David Ebsworth (SilverWood Books, 2017, £10.99).
David Ebsworth’s latest novel continues the story of left-wing journalist Jack Telford and follows on immediately from ‘The Assassin’s Mark’, which ends on 30 September 1938. The first three-line paragraph sets the scene brilliantly when we learn that Jack has just murdered a woman he believes to be a credence to Jack’s story. This is a an International Brigader, is due fascist and would have killed him really compelling read, which to speak about the situation in if he hadn’t drowned her first. will also give an accurate account Spain and to drum up support for My way of engaging with this From that moment Jack is on of the dying months of the the Republican cause. She meets history was through intently looking the run in this fast moving story Spanish Republic. I can highly several other people there who and re-photographing images that where nobody is quite what they recommend it. will change her life, but none as stood out to me. Rather than seem and Jack is never sure whom MARLEN E SIDAWAY much as Harry. researching in an academic way, I he can trust. They are instantly attracted to was learning through looking. Flashbacks from the past fill in each other and their affair is ‘A Gentle Visual Fire’ (Greek his previous history for the reader, Lorna’s story passionate, memorable, but sadly philosopher Alemaeon of Croton and the spirit of his suicide-father short-lived as Harry has to return wrote: ‘…the eye obviously has fire appears to him at moments of ‘Spanish Crossings’ by John to Spain. within it, for when one is struck this danger and indecision. This, Simmons (Urbane Publications, At the meeting, Lorna also fire flashes out’) comprises a series coupled with Jack’s troubled 2017, £12.99). meets people who are involved in of images that are re-photographs conscience, serves to make him a caring for the recently arrived of the originals, in parallel with a fascinating character. ‘Spanish Crossings’ by John Basque children. She agrees to narrative text. Together they animate On his journey across Spain Simmons is essentially a love story, ‘adopt’ a child, and subsequently the photographs, creating alternative during the final months of the but it is set between 1937 and visits the camp in Hampshire to ways of understanding and Spanish Civil War, Jack meets 1947, so it is also a chronicle of meet the children, including her experiencing the histories held some of the real people whose the events of that time as seen adoptee, Pepe, one of the older within such a unique archive. decisions altered the course of through the eyes of Lorna, a boys, aged 15. events, and many other characters bright, independent young Lorna’s involvement with the ‘A Gentle Visual Fire’ by Amy are based on real people too. woman, an activist, a pacifist and, Basque children continues even Fenwick (2017, 60 pages) is He is incarcerated in San like many people at that time, very when the Second World War available for £10, including p&p, Pedro de Cardeña for a time, and aware of the fascism threatening begins. She is a fire-warden from the Marx Memorial Library, meets some who are familiar to us Europe. during the London Blitz, so her 37a Clerkenwell Green, London – Bob Doyle, Clive Branson, We meet her on her way to a EC1R 0DU. Frank Ryan – and this gives meeting in London where Harry, CONTINUED OVERLEAF
Barbez performing live at New York’s Japan Centre at ALBA’s Similarly, ‘Viva la Quince Brigada’ has supported this musical project. 2016 annual reunion. features part of an interview with All proceeds from it go to ALBA’s Abe Osheroff, another Lincoln educational and human rights work. veteran and lifelong activist who, The album was recorded live in among other things, built a 2016 at ALBA’s annual gathering in community centre in Mississippi New York, which marked the 80th during the civil rights era and anniversary of the creation of the helped organise a shipment of International Brigades. ambulances to Nicaragua two decades later. ‘For Those Who Came After’ can be The Osheroff interview was ordered for $15 (CD) or $20 (LP) organised by the Abraham Lincoln plus p&p from Important Records Brigade Archives (ALBA), the IBMT’s (www.importantrecords.com ) or it sister organisation in the US, which can be downloaded via iTunes.
¡NO PASARÁN! 21 BOOKS & THE ARTS International Brigade Memorial Trust
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE including unemployed miners. Wales at war The author, Rob Griffiths, life story reflects the times, with General Secretary of the all the horrors, the sad news of ‘Cymru a Rhyfel Gwrth-Ffasgaidd Communist Party, reminds us that loved ones killed and the Sbaen’ / ‘Wales and the Spanish while the organised working class shortages and hardships endured Anti-Fascist War’ gan / by Robert in Wales was solidly behind the by everyone at that time. Griffiths (Welsh Communist Spanish Republican cause, The reader’s appetite is Party, £2 plus p&p from office@ leading sections of the Welsh whetted by a short prologue when welshcommunists.org or tel: National Party (WNP) sided with Lorna’s son takes his mother to 07503 168055). Franco and Hitler. Spain in 1984 for the first time In September 1936, for since Franco’s death. Her This short pamphlet – published example, the WNP’s vice-chair JE fascinating story ends in an both in Welsh and English Daniel wrote: ‘Whatever is the epilogue dated in 1985, again in between the same covers – enmity between Fascism and Spain. provides a very useful summary Democracy, it turns to friendship Although some purists might of the mobilisation of the in the glare of the great enemy, take issue with the accuracy of the Welsh volunteers to the Communism. That is the lesson odd historical fact, ‘Spanish International Brigades, who were recruited by the Communist Hitler is trying to teach Crossings’ is a good read, a fast- fought with such distinction in Party, apart from the two who Europe…’. As Griffiths puts it: moving and compelling story the Spanish Civil War. fought with the POUMistas. ‘…the failure of WNP leaders to which reflects the times in which Over 200 Welsh Brigaders Most came from the South condemn and campaign against it is set. went to Spain. They were Wales mining industry and fascist violence was shameful.’ MARLENE SIDAWAY overwhelmingly working class and many were union activists, TOM SIBLEY
Aid Spain movement and the International ARCHIVES Brigades. We will improve access to the collection, not least among a wider audience who have until Rose Brown (right) reports on now been unaware of this unique cache of the progress of a major documents, photos and artefacts. At the same time we are ensuring that the project to catalogue the collection is preserved in the long-term and that archives of the International access is improved through digitised material on the MML’s website and, jointly with the IBMT, the Brigades and Spanish Civil creation of an education pack. War at the Marx Memorial Work to digitise the photo collection continues at a good pace and the digitised photos have Library in London. already been useful in answering research enquiries and promoting the collection through our e are now well over halfway through the website and Twitter feed. We are also adding project to re-organise and re-catalogue several boxes of previously uncatalogued photos W the Marx Memorial Library’s Spanish to the collection. Collection. This has been made possible by a grant I have also created a project page on the MML from The National Archives Cataloguing Grants website (www.marx-memorial-library.org/ Scheme which is funding my employment for one new catalogue. I also sorted through the IBMT collections/ spain-collection/volunteers-for-liberty- year. The IBMT was a partner in the funding archives donated to the MML as part of this cataloguing-project) to help draw attention to the application and we look forward to working with project. work on the collection. As ever, interest in the the Trust later this year to publicise and promote The first, and largest, of these sections is the collection is very high, with visitors in the library the finished catalogue to educational papers of the International Brigade Association, of most days using the material and regular enquiries establishments and the wider public. which all have now been catalogued and received from around the world. The Marx Memorial Library’s Spanish Collection repackaged. Of particular interest is the very large Most pleasingly we are still receiving regular is the largest Spanish Civil War archive in the UK series of correspondence and the collection of IBA donations of material to the collection, which goes and a unique and internationally recognised newsletters, the latter of which we plan to digitise to show that an archivist’s work is never done! research centre for students, historians and so that they will be fully searchable by name or International Brigade enthusiasts of all sorts. keyword. Rose Brown is the Project Archivist for the I started the project with a large-scale sort of The aim of this project is to professionally ‘Volunteers for Liberty: The Archives of the the collection and spent some time dividing the catalogue the Spanish Collection to create a world- International Brigades’ project at the Marx collection into the sections which will make up the class research resource on the Spanish Civil War, Memorial Library.
22 ¡NO PASARÁN! Merchandise from the IBMT
Proceeds help fund the commemorative, educational and publicity work of the International Brigade Memorial Trust. CD single Exclusive to the IBMT, Billy Bragg performs Free postage & ‘Jarama Valley’ and Maxine International Brigade flag Replica of the IBMT badge Solid metal packing on goods Peake delivers Dolores flag of the mainly English-speaking 15th badge with International Ibárruri’s (La Pasionaria’s) Tom Mann Centuria t-shirt Made for the International Brigade, which included the Brigade medal in centre and totalling £30 or emotional farewell speech to IBMT by t-shirt specialists Philosophy Football British Battalion. Based on the flag of the ‘International Brigade more. the International Brigades with from ethically sourced cotton. Tom Mann Spanish Republic. 150cms x 87cms. Memorial Trust’ around the a dub backing from The Urban Centuria banner on front. ‘International Brigade £10 plus £3.99 p&p . edge. Send orders, Roots. Memorial Trust’ on sleeve. Available in S, M, L, £3 plus £2.99 p&p. £5 plus £1.99 p&p. XL, XXL and fitted women’s size (see British including your name Battalion t-shirt below for size details). and address, a size SPECIAL OFFER: £8 plus £4.99 p&p. and colour where appropriate, and a cheque payable to the IBMT to: IBMT Merchandise, 37a Major Attlee Company flag Reproduction of Clerkenwell Green, CD album ‘From Blantyre to the British Battalion No.1 Company flag named London EC1R 0DU. Barcelona’ features new and after Labour Party leader Clement Attlee. old songs from the Spanish 150cms x 87cms. Red background with dark Civil War performed by top gold lettering. Ideal for carrying on marches or For multiple orders in Scottish folk musicians. simply putting on the wall. IBMT greetings card the UK up to a value Produced by Lanarkshire £10 plus £3.99 p&p. Measuring approximately Songwriters’ Group and on 15cm x 10cm, the IBMT of £30 (excluding sale exclusively via the IBMT. greetings card features a p&p) calculate total £7.50 plus £2.49 p&p. drawing by Rafael Alberti p&p by taking the dedicated to the International Brigades in 1996. Blank highest p&p among inside. items ordered, £5 for pack of 6 (including halving the p&p of envelopes) plus £1.99 p&p. the remaining items and adding them together. British Battalion t-shirt In red or grey and made for the IBMT by t-shirt specialists For orders outside Philosophy Football from ethically sourced ¡No Pasarán! bag Ethically sourced jute bag the UK or to pay by cotton. British Battalion banner on front and (30cms square, 18cms across). One side ‘International Brigade Memorial Trust’ on printed, other blank. Robust bag, useful for any credit card or PayPal, Antifascistas: British and sleeve. Available in: S (36inch/90cms chest); M shopping trip and a great way to show go to our website: Irish Volunteers in the (40inch/100cms); L (44inch/110cms) support for anti-fascism and the IBMT. www.international- Spanish Civil War The story XL (48inch/120cms); XXL (52inch/130cms); £4.99 plus £2.99 p&p. of the volunteers in words fitted women’s (34-36inch/70-90cms). brigades.org.uk/ and pictures, by Richard £15 plus £4.99 p&p. merchandise.php Baxell, Angela Jackson and where there are Jim Jump (paperback). £15 plus £2.99 p&p. Clenched fist sculpture also other items Life-sized sculpture in listed for sale. specially treated concrete. Based on the clenched fist created by sculptor Betty Rae at the top of the pole for the original British Battalion banner. 23cms high. The clenched fist was the iconic salute of the Popular Front and is still used by anti- Volunteers for Liberty plate Highly fascists around the world. 15th International Brigade t-shirt With flag decorative commemorative plate made in £29.99 plus £7.99 p&p. of 15th International Brigade, which included Staffordshire by Heraldic Pottery exclusively for Poems from Spain British, Irish, American, Canadia n and the IBMT. Fine bone china. 101⁄2inch (265mm) Collection of poems written Commonwealth volunteers. ‘International diameter. Re-issue of the much sought after by British and Irish Brigade Memorial Trust’ on sleeve. Available in 50th anniversary plate produced by International Brigaders. Edited S, M, L, XL, XXL and fitted women’s size International Brigade veteran Lou Kenton. by Jim Jump (paperback). (see British Battalion t-shirt for size details). Includes mount for wall display. £12 plus £2.99 p&p. £13.50 plus £4.99 p&p. SPECIAL OFFER: £19.99 plus £5.99 p&p. International Brigade Memorial Trust
Keeping alive the memory and spirit of the SAVE THE DATE Saturday 7 July 2018 from 1pm: volunteers who fought fascism and defended Commemoration at the International Brigade democracy in Spain from 1936 to 1939 memorial on London’s Southbank
Help us inspire new generations with the story of G Music the International Brigades G Speeches G Poetry G To give a donation go to www.international- G Remembrance brigades.org.uk and click the donate button
G To become a member go to www.international- brigades.org.uk /catalog/membership
International Brigade Memorial Trust ¡No pasarán! 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU 020 7253 8748 [email protected] They shall not pass! www.international-brigades.org.uk