By Jim Jump

Thepromisemadeby theSpanishRepublicmore than70 years agowas fulfilled on9 Junewhen survivingBritish and Irish InternationalBrigaderswere awardedSpanish citizenship.In an emotionally-charged ceremony at the

Spanish embassy in London, the veteranswerepresentedwith their Spanishpassports byambassador Carles Casajuana.Therewere tears amongmanyonlookers as

IBMTChair SamLesser, speaking in fluentSpanishonbehalf of the other Brigaders,declared: “Hemos tardadounpoco, pero creoquehoypodemosdecir quehemos llegadoacasa.” (“We’re a little late, but today I believewe can say thatwehave comehome.”)Ambassador Casajuanamade it clear that

the honour beingbestowedon the veteranswas a tokenof appreciation for all the 2,500volunteers from theBritish Isleswhowent toSpain to help theRepublic from 1936-39.“This is an act of recognition, an act of

gratitude to a groupof extraordinarymenandwomen,” he said.Referring to thedefeat of theRepublic and to

theheavy casualties sufferedby the Inter-national Brigades, he added: “Your effortswere not in vain. Your ideals are part of thefoundations of our democracy in Spain today.”SamLesser also recalled thehuge sacrifices

madeby the volunteers, particularly themorethan500 fromBritain and Irelandwhowerekilled in Spain. “They lie for ever in theolivegroves and in the sunand shadewhere theirblood ismingled in theSpanish earth.”

Spanish citizenshipwas conferredonInternational Brigaders by the Ley de laMemoriaHistórica (LawofHistoricMemory),whichwaspassedby theCortes (Spanishparliament) inOctober 2007 – though it tookmore than 18months for this provision of theact to beput into effect.Therewere seven veterans at the embassy in

June. An eighthBrigader, LesGibson,wasunable to attend for health reasons. All are nowin their 90s or, in the caseof Penny Feiwel andLouKenton, aged 100.ASpanishpassportwas also posthumously

awarded to Jack Jones,whodied inApril, andwaspresented to his son,Mick.A decree in 1996gave all International

Brigaders honorary citizenship. However, fullcitizenship could thenonly be claimed if theyrenounced their nationality.The granting of unconditional Spanish

citizenshipmarks thehonouring of a promiseto this effectmadeat the farewell paradeofthe International Brigades inBarcelonaon28October 1938by theSpanishRepublicangovernment.

See a video of the event at: [www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/jun/10/spain-international-brigade-veterans].

Issue 24 / Autumn 2009www.international-brigades.org.uk

¡Hemosllegadoacasa!

IBMTNewsletter

VeteransattheSpanishembassy;seatedfromleft:ThomasWatters,LouKenton, JosephKahn,SamLesser,PennyFeiwel, JackEdwardsandPaddyCochrane.

INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE MEMORIALTRUST

We’vecomehome,BrigaderstellambassadorastheyreceivetheirSpanishcitizenship

Graem

eRobertson/TheGuardian

International BrigadeMemorial Trust2

By MarleneSidaway

JackJonestributeUniteisorganisingthetributetoourlatePresi-dent, JackJones,on5OctoberattheRoyalFesti-valHall,beginningat12.30pm.MickJones hassetaside100ticketsfortheIBMT,sopleaseletmeknowassoonaspossible ifyouwishtogo.Ofcoursemuchoftheafternoonwillconcen-

trateonJack’scareerintheunion, andit ishopedthatthePrime Minister, GordonBrown, willbeamongthespeakers,butthere willalsobeanopportunityforustocelebratehislifeinalessformalmanneraswerememberhiswarmthandgenerosityofspiritandparticularlyhisworkfortheTrust.

AnnualGeneralMeetingTheearlierdatechosenforourJubileeGardenscommemorationseemedtoworkwellandenabledustoberepresentedattheDurhamMiners’Gala,aswellastheTolpuddleFestival.MickJones,ValWarrenderandIwereatDurham

andwerereallytouchedbythewelcomeourbannerreceived,whichbodeswellforourAnnualGeneralMeetingthereon10October.DavidHopperand theDurhamMiners’Associa-

tionhavebeenverygenerousandsupportiveandI’mgratefultothemandtoall intheNorthEastwhoarearrangingtheeventsforthatweekend.Middlesbrough’sDormanMuseumand

TeessideUniversitywouldliketohaveanyletters,photosorothermemorabiliaabouttheTeessiderswhowenttoSpain.Ifyouhaveany-thingyouwouldliketobepreservedinthisway,pleasegetintouchwithme.Copieswouldbeacceptableifyouwishtokeepwhatyouhave,butit isimportant thatpeopleinthatareaknowaboutthelocalvolunteersandthisisanidealwaytodoit.Therearevariouseventsplannedfortheweek-

endof9-11OctoberinMiddlesbrough,DurhamandNewcastle.Seefacingpageformoredetailsandseethenoteaboutlettingmeknowifyouneedtransport.

ExhibitionWehadhopedtohaveourtravelling exhibitionreadyfortheAGM.It isallgoingwell,buteditingwhatneedstogoinfromthevastamountofmaterialavailabletakestime.Ithasalsobeen

decidedtoincreasethenumberofpanelsandtopushbackthedeadlineuntil thenewyear.Themanydonationswereceivedwhen Jack

Jonesdiedhavebeen addedto thosereceivedfromunionsandindividualsinresponsetohisappealletterfortheexhibitionandsotheexhibi-tionwillbededicatedtohismemory.

“GoodbyeBarcelona”JudithJohnsonandKarlLewkowiczhavewrittenamusicalabouttheSpanishCivilWar –“GoodbyeBarcelona”–whichreceiveditssecondrehearsedreadingattheArcolaTheatreinLondonattheendofAugust.Givenbyanexcellentcastofsingersandactors,

ithas goodmusicandlyricsandtellsatruthfulandabsorbingstory.Hopefullyitwill receiveafullproductionnextyear.

SecretaryAs manyofyouknow, Ihavebeenworkingawayfromtheofficeonseveraloccasionsduringthepastyear,anditwasthisneedtotakeupworkopportunitiesastheycamealongthatpromptedmetoindicatethat IplannedtostepdownasSecretarythisOctober.ThankstoJimJumpandothermembersofthe

committee, ithasbeenpossibleformetoworkasanactressandstillcontinueasSecretary,soIshallseekre-electionforanotheryear.TheTrusthasbeensuchabigpartofmylifeforthepast10yearsandwouldbeverydifficulttogiveup.I’mverygratefultothewonderful IBMTcommitteewhichhasenabledmetodoboth.Westillhopetoestab-lishanofficeincentralLondonand,whenthathappens,wewillreconsiderarrangements.

InternationalBrigadeMemorialTrustwww.international-brigades.org.uk

Charityno:1094928

Patrons:KenLivingstoneandPaulPreston

Chair:SamLesser

Secretary:MarleneSidaway37ReginaldRoad,LondonE79HS020-85556674secretary@international-brigades.org.uk

Treasurer:MikeAnderson16MeadowWay,Heathfield,EastSussexTN218AL01435-864978treasurer@international-brigades.org.uk

MembershipSecretary:MaryGreening2WoodfordClose,RadyrWay,CardiffCF52PH029-20195412memsec@international-brigades.org.uk

Othercommitteemembers:MikeArnott,RichardBaxell,RodneyBickerstaffe, JackEdwards,PaulineFraser,Mick Jones, JimJump,DoloresLong/Hilary Jones(jobshare),DuncanLongstaff,ManusO’Riordan,RichardThorpe

Annualmembership ratesare£15standard;£7.50 for concessions;£20 family (singlehousehold); affiliatingorganisationsbyarrangement. Furtherdetails andmembership formsareavailable fromtheMembershipSecretary.

IBMT

IBMT NEWSLETTER

FROM THE SECRETARY

The IBMTNewsletter ispublishedthreetimesayearandissent freetoallmembersof the IBMT.

Members livingoverseascanaccessthecurrent issuebyusingapasswordontheIBMTwebsite.BacknumberscanbedownloadedfromtheIBMTwebsiteon[www.international-brigades.org.uk/newsletter.htm].For informationaboutreceivingthe IBMTNewsletterontape,contact the IBMTSecretary.

Sendall itemsfor thenext issuetotheeditorby24December2009at the latest.

Editor: JimJump6StonellsRoad,LondonSW116HQ020-72286504editor@international-brigades.org.uk

KeepingalivethememoryandspiritofthemenandwomenwhovolunteeredtodefenddemocracyinSpainfrom1936to1939

TheIBMTbannerwasonshowattheDurhamMiners’Gala(above)inJulyandatthetradeunionmovement’sTolpuddleFestival(right)inDorsetlaterthatmonth.InDurham,itwascarriedbyValWarrender(left)andMarleneSidawayandinTolpuddlebyJimJump(left)andChrisTranchell.

TreasurerMikeAndersonwrites:Membersareremindedthattheirsubscriptionsfor2010willbeduebytheendofJanuarynextyear.

In2010forthefirsttimememberswillbeabletopaytheirsubscriptionsbydirectdebit,whichinfuturewillbetheTrust’spreferredmethodofpayment.

TheTrustischangingitsbanktoenableustohavethebenefitofdirectdebit.Memberswillbenotifiedofthenewbankingarrangementsingoodtimetopaytheir2010subscriptions.

RoyEvans

3

BySam Lesser

ThepresentationofSpanishcitizenshiptoInternationalBrigadersinJunewasa

wonderfulgestureofthanksbyourSpanishfriendsforthepartplayedbythevolunteersfromBritainandmanyothercountriesinthefightagainstFranco.Althoughonlysevenofuscouldattendthe

ceremonytoreceiveourSpanishpassports, itwasmadeclearbytheSpanishambassadorandbytheBrigadersthemselvesthatthiswasanhonourthatappliedtoall2,500volunteersfromtheBritishIsleswhowenttoSpainmorethan70yearsago.Itwassad,however,thatJackJonespassed

awayjustafewweeksbeforetheceremony.Underhisguidance,theIBMTmadegreatstridesineducatingpeopleabouttheInterna-tionalBrigades.Iwaspleasedthatthereweresomany

Spaniardsattheembassyreception.TheyweredrawnfromallpartsoftheSpanishcommunityinLondon,includingofcoursethosewhofledFrancoandsettledinBritainandwhobecameourcomradesinthosedarkyearsoftheFrancodictatorship.Herewasanothersignoftheinter-nationalsolidarityforgedbetweenourtwopeo-plesduringthattragiccivilwaranditsaftermath.Iwasdelightedthatafewweekslaterthe

ambassadorattendedourannualcommemora-tionatJubileeGardensandlaidawreath.Itwasawell-attendedeventandthereweremanynewandyoungfacesinthecrowd.WiththeIBMT’smembershipcontinuingtogrow,thisishopefullyasignthattheroleplayedbytheBrigadersandallthosewhohelpedtheSpanishRepublicwillcontinuetoberemembered.It ishearteningthatsomanyyoungpeopleare

awareofthefightagainstfascismlastcenturyandawaretoothatfascismisadangertowhichwemuststillbealert.

FROMTHECHAIR

International BrigadeMemorial Trust

SpanishambassadorCarlesCasajuanalooksonasSamLesseraddressesthegatheringattheSpanishembassyinLondonduringtheceremonyconferringSpanishcitizenshiponInternationalBrigadeveterans.

ANNUALGENERALMEETINGProgrammefortheAGMweekendinDurhamFriday9October�3pm:MiddlesbroughTownHall;rededicationof the InternationalBrigadememorialplaque(seephotoandcaptiononright)andpresentationofmemorabilia; lightrefreshments.�4.30pm:CoachtoDurham.�7pm:Filmshow/eveningmeal inDurham(details tobeconfirmed).

Saturday10OctoberTheDurhamMiners’AssociationhasgenerouslyagreedtohostourAnnualGeneralMeetingat theiroffices inDurhamandthesocialatanearbyclubthatevening.Mick Joneshasdesigneda

plaquewhichwillbeunveiledat theoffices thatdayandtherewillalsobeasymposiumontheNorthEast’scontributiontotheSpanishCivilWar, towhichmembersof thegen-eralpublicwillbe invited.Inviewof this, thetimetable for

theday isas follows:�12.30pm-2pm:AGMintheMiners’Hall,RedHill,DurhamDH14BD.Agenda:–Chair’sopeningremarks–Apologies forabsence–MinutesofpreviousAGM–Mattersarising–Secretary’s report

–MembershipSecretary’s report–Treasurer’s report–Electionofofficers–Anyotherbusiness–DateandplaceofnextAGM–Chair’sclosingremarks.�2pm-3pm:Lunch.�3pm-3.30pm:Unveilingofplaque.�3.45pm-6pm:Symposium.�7pm-11pm:SocialatNevillesCrossSocialClub,SouthView,DurhamDH14PJ.

Sunday11October�11.30am:CoachtoNewcastle.�12.30pm:Ceremonyat theInternationalBrigadememorial,CivicCentreGardens,Newcastle.�1.30pm:Lunch.

Accommodation�EventsDurhamcoordinatesaccommodation inDurham’scol-leges.As it is term-time, there isnobudgetaccommodation,but thefol-lowingmaybeavailable:–DurhamBusinessSchool:£55(single)and£90(double)pernight.–CollegeofStHild&StBede:£45(single)and£65-£70(twin)pernight.ContactCharlotteKerrofEventsDurhamon0191-3342886oremail:

[charlotte.kerr@durham.ac.uk].�ForhotelandB&Binformation,contact theDurhamTouristCentre;tel:0191-3843720oremail:[touristinfo@durhamcity.gov.uk].

NB:MembersrequiringtransportfromMiddlesbroughtoDurhamonFridayor fromDurhamtoNewcastleonSundayshouldcontact the IBMTSecretary (seedetailsonpage2).

Thememorial inMiddlesbroughTownHallwascommissioned in1939byInternationalBrigadesupporters in the town.CarpenterHaroldWBennett carriedoutmostof thework,with thegold letteringdonebyan InternationalBrigader,TommyChivers.Theplaquewaskept inaprivatehousebutwasapparentlystolen inthe1960s.Amazingly, itwas foundbyaschool-teacher ina junkyard inActon,westLondon, in1983.Shebought itanddonated it to the InternationalBrigadeAssociation.Theplaquewaseventuallyunveiled in1992.The inscription reads: “Todefend liberty…Theytypified the realBritons’hatredof the tyrant; theywent tosafeguardpeaceand theartsofpeace, thathumanitymightgo forward.Theywent tohelp thedefencelessSpanishpeople fight the invadingarmies.Theywent tosavetheir lovedonesandus fromthehorrorsof fascism.Because they lovedpeace, theywentout to fight– fromTeesside.”

LetmefirstsaythatI’maveryproudIBMTmember.Theinternationalvolunteerswho

wenttoSpaintofightagainstfascismhavebeenmyheroesformanymanyyears,fortheyputtheirlivesonthelineforwhatthey(andwe)believeinandtheywereultimatelyprovedtohavecorrectlyanalysedthethreatthatfascismwouldpresent.Whattroublesmeistheprevailingviewin

variousNewsletterarticlesandincontributionsfromtheflooratIBMTmeetingsthat,bydevelop-ingandmaintainingapolicyofnon-intervention,theBritishgovernmentandgenerallyspeakingthepoliticalestablishmentintheUKwerelackingbothforesightregardingthefascistthreatandalsothecouragetocounterit.However,theIBMTmaybeviewingdecisions

withthebenefitofhindsight. In1936itwaslessthan20yearssinceagenerationofBritain’smenhadbeencutdownbytheFirstWorldWarandtherewasadesperatedesirebothinthepoliticalclassandthecountrygenerallytoavoidanotherEuropean-wideconflagration.AtthattimeitwasnotclearwhetheranaccommodationcouldbereachedwithHitler:theannexationofAustriaandinvasionofCzechoslovakiaandPolanddidnotoccuruntil1938-39–andonlywiththelatterdidtheBritishgovernmentfinallyacceptthatawarwithGermanywasinevitable.Thequestionalsoneedstobeaskedwhether

BritainwasmilitarilystrongenoughtoengagetheThirdReichatanyperiodoftimesoonerthaniteventuallydid.Iwouldsuggestnot,giventhatultimatelyintheperioduptotheUnitedStatesjoiningthewarin1941,Britain’smainachieve-ment(albeitanincrediblyinspiringone)wasjusttosurviveandultimatelytoprovideaspring-boardforthereinvasionofmainlandEurope.Sowheredoesthistakeus?Iwonderwhether,

tragically,Britain’spolicyofnon-interventionwasanecessaryevilwhich,whetheritwasintendedassuchatthetimeornot(andtherewereofcoursemanyintheBritishestablishmentwhofavouredFranco),hadtheconsequenceofbuy-ingBritainthevitaltimeitneededtore-arm.Lookedatinthislight,canitbesaidthatSpain’sdemocracywassacrificedforover40yearssothatBritainandWesternEuropecouldultimatelyretaintheirown?GaryWillisLondon

RightlydeservedNewshasreachedmethattheInternationalBrigadershavebeenpresentedwiththeSpanishpassportswhichtheysorightlydeserve.Iwanttotakethisopportunitytoexpressmypleasureatthisnewsandbelievethatit isaactoftruejustice.CarlosMirandaSpanishambassadortoNato(formerlytheSpanishambassadorinLondon)Brussels

MyprivilegeAtthegeneralassemblyoftheAABI(AssociationofFriendsoftheInternationalBrigades)on27JuneIannouncedmyretirementaspresidentforpersonalreasons.ThenewpresidentisÁngelRojo,previouslythevice-president.Astreasurer,Iwillcontinuetobeamemberoftheexecutivecommitteeforawhile.IwanttogivemyheartfeltthankstotheIBMT

foritscollaborationwiththeAABIduringthe14yearsthatIhavehadthehonourtobeitspresident.Theyhavebeenyearsofmuchwork,butalsoofgreatachievementbecausebetweenuswehaveensuredgreaterrecognitioninSpainandbeyondforthememoryoftheInternationalBrigadesandfortheirexampleofinternationalsolidarity.

Formepersonally, ithasbeenaprivilegetogettoknowtheBrigadersandtoworkwithalltheassociationswhichrepresentthem,theirfriendsandtheirfamilies. Ibelievethatwehavecreatedaninternationalnetworkinwhichwecanpre-servethevaluesthatcompelledthesevolunteersforlibertytomakethejourneytoSpainsomanyyearsago.AnaPérezMadrid

ThanksManythankstoallwhosenttheirkindthoughtsandcondolencesfollowingJack’sdeath.Theyaremuchappreciatedbyallthefamily.MickJonesLondon

International BrigadeMemorial Trust4

MaybetheBritishgovernmentwasrightoverSpainafterall Iwasdisappointedtoseetheprejudicedandinaccurate

reviewof“MadridbeforeHani-ta”(Issue23),whichIhaveseen.Thereviewcontainsseri-ouserrorsof factandbigotedanti-Israelviewsnotfoundinthefilm.Hanitawasnotthefirstkibbutz–founded1938;thathonourgoestoDeganiyahin1910,28yearsearlier!Whilst it istruethatmanyof

theIsraelivolunteerswerecommunists, theywerealsoZionists,otherwisewhywouldtheseidealisticre-buildersof“re-bornIsrael-in-waiting”havebeeninIsrael inthefirstplace,whentherewereothercountriestheycouldhavegoneto?OfcoursetheZionist left

leadershipweredisquietedthatsomanyfightersshouldgotoSpainin1936;Israelwasinthemidstofaterrorcam-paignbeingwagedagainst itfromtheArabpopulationandleavingwasarealsecurityrisk,but itwasarisktakenanyway,basedonthesoundZionistprincipleofhelpingathreat-eneddemocracy!Neither is ittruethatthevolunteerswerecriticisedforbelievinginco-existencewiththeArabs;co-existencewasverymuchtheethosofmodernZionism(fromthe1870s) inIsrael/BritishOccupiedPalestine–andremainssotothisday.Zionismisnotandneverwas

a“project”,aninsultingtermusedbyanti-Jewishpropagan-dists; it isandremainsforever

thenational liberationmove-mentoftheJewishpeople. It isthegreatestanti-racist,anti-imperialiststruggleinhistorybecauseithascorrectedthegreatest injusticedonetotheJewsovercenturies–thesteal-ingofour landbytheArabs. Iftheleftcanacceptallkindsofothernationalisms,butnottheJewishversion,that isanti-Semiticdiscrimination.Yourreviewerclearlyreflectsthisimmatureanti-Israelview.MartinSugarmanArchivistandhistorianAjex(AssociationofJewishEx-ServiceMenandWomen)London

EranTorbiner,directorandpro-ducerof“MadridbeforeHani-ta”,repliesfromTelAviv:Whilst it istruethatHanitawasnotthefirstkibbutz, itwasthe

singlemostpotentsymboloftheJewishsettlement inPales-tineduringthelate30saspartoftheZionistresponsetothePalestineArabrevoltof1936-1939.Significantly,Sugarman’sreferencetotheArabrevoltasa“terrorcampaign”speaksvol-umesofhispoliticalagenda.It isalsotruethatthekibbut-

zimareassociatedwiththeZionist labourmovementbut,significantly, theywerethebrainchildofArthurRuppin–anon-socialistZionistwhoenvisagedthemasaneffectivewayoftransferringlandfromPalestinianstoJews.Sugar-manconvenientlyfailstomen-tionthat,withoutexception,allkibbutzimrefusedtoacceptArabsasmembersandmanyweresetuponlandfromwhichPalestinianpeasantsweredriv-enoff.Havingstudiedawealthof

evidenceoftheIsraeliUnionofSpanishWarVeterans, includ-ingtheinterviewsIconductedinperson, Icanvouchthatalmostall thevolunteersfromPalestinewerecommunists.“Zionistcommunist” isan

oxymoron.ZionistsputwhattheyconsiderasJewishnation-al interestsaboveallelse,whereascommunistsputtheinternationalist interestsoftheworkingclassaboveevery-thingelse, irrespectiveoftheethnicoriginoftheworkers.Thisdifferenceiswhatmoti-

vatedthesePalestinecommu-niststogotofight inSpainandthis iswhatmotivatescommu-nists,socialistsandanarchistsinIsraeltodaytofightagainsttheoccupationinPalestine.

EranTorbiner’sfilmabouttheJewishInternationalBrigadersfromPalestinecanbepurchasedonDVDfor£12;email:[erantor@gmail.com].

Filmreviewwasprejudiced

LETTERS

SalfordplaquehonoursILPvolunteersByHilaryJones

Thenewly-refurbishedWorkingClassMovementLibraryinSalfordprovidedthevenueon30MayforthelaunchofanewbookbytheManchester-basedIBMTmemberChristopherHallonthemembersoftheIndependentLabourPartywhoparticipatedintheSpanishCivilWar.“NotJustOrwell”explorestheroleofthe45or

soILPvolunteerswho,Hallwritesinhisintroduc-tion,havebeenmarginalisedinaccountsofthewar.Thisledhimtoidentifythemandresearchtheirexperiences.Whathediscoveredwasthattheircommitmenttotheanti-fascistcausewassimilartothatofmembersoftheInternationalBrigades,witharoundathirdoftheILPvolun-teersservinginotherunitsaswellandaroundathirdbeingkilledorwoundedwhileinSpain.ManyofthemwerefromtheManchesterarea

andtheyjoinedthemilitiaofthePOUMrevolu-tionarycommunistpartyuntil itwasforciblydis-bandedinMay1937.TheeventinSalford,whichincludedtheunveil-

ingofaplaqueinthelibrarycommemoratingtheroleoftheILPinSpain,wasopenedbycurrentILPmemberBarryWinter.Theplaquewasunveiledby95-year-oldRomaMárquez,aformerPOUMmilitiamanandafterwardsanofficerintheRepublicanarmy.Therewasthenaminute’ssilenceforallBritish

andIrishvolunteerswhohadfoughtfascisminSpain.Apackedaudiencewastreatedtoashortpro-

grammeofsongsbytheacappellagroup,TheMadonnas,whothenaccompaniedanenthusi-asticrenderingof“TheInternationale”.

See review of “Not Just Orwell”: page 10.

Talkon Reading BrigadersIBMTmembersMikeCooperandRayParkesgaveatalkon20MaytoanenthusiasticandreceptiveaudienceatameetingoftheHistoryofReadingSociety.Thetalkwasbasedontheirbook,“WeCannotParkOnBothSides”,anaccountoftheReadingvolunteersintheSpanishCivilWarthatwaspublishedin2000.Judgingbythesubstantialnumbersatthe

meeting–approximately50,whereastheaverageattendanceislessthan20–andtheirlivelyandinformedresponse,itwasclear,saidCooperandParkes,thatthesubjectoftheanti-fascistSpanishconflictremainsascontroversialasever,70yearsaftertheendingofthatwar.Followingtheillustratedtalk,therewasabrisk

saleofcopiesofthebookandpostcardsoftheReadingInternationalBrigadememorial,whichisprominentlylocatedoutsidethetown’scivicoffices.ThemoneyraisedwillgotowardstheproductionofabadgewiththenamesoftheReadingvolunteersinscribedonit. Duringthecourseofthemeetingitwas

revealedthatafourthname,JohnBeale,shouldbeaddedtothelistofReadingmenkilledinSpain:GeorgeMiddleton,Archibald(Josh)

BritishBattalionveteran JackEdwardsmetCubanInternationalBrigaderLípizRodríguezinMatanzas,Cuba,duringMayDaycelebrationsontheCaribbean islandthisyear.Edwardswas thrilledalso tomeet veterans

of theCubanRevolutionat a reception inHavana’s CasadeAmistad (Houseof Friend-ship) inHavana.They includedComandanteVictorDreke,who fought alongsideCheGuevaraat thedecisiveBattle of SantaClarainDecember 1958.The trip toCubawasarrangedbyBelfast&

DistrictTradesCouncil andwas, for Edwards,the culminationof a lifetimeambition.Sadly, LípizRodríguez, oneof the last three

knownCubanveteransof theSpanishCivilWar, died some threemonths later on 13August, aged91.

Rodrígueznot only fought in theSpanishwar, but beforehandalso inCubaagainst thedictatorshipofGerardoMachado.Hewaslater a founder of theCubanNationalRevo-lutionaryMilitia and last sawaction in fightingduring theattemptedUS-backed invasionattheBayof Pigs in 1961.InSpain, he fought underBuenaventura

Durruti, theAnarchist leader, inMadrid in1936and from1937,whenall Republicanmili-tary unitswerebrought under aunified com-mand, he joined the InternationalBrigades,seeing front-lineactionat theBattle ofBrunete in 1937andat theBattle of theEbro1938.His storywaspublished inCuba in 1994 ina

biographybyArcadioRíosappropriately enti-tled: “Fuegoen laSangre” (Fire in theBlood).

International BrigadeMemorial Trust 5

Continued overleaf

NEWSJackEdwards(seated)anddaughterMargaretSampsonwiththeCubanInternationalBrigadeveteranLípizRodríguez.

Left:RomaMárquez(foreground)unveilstheplaqueattheWorkingClassMovementLibrarytotheILPvolun-teers.WithhimisChrisHall,authorof“NotJustOrwell”.

MayDaygreetingsforBritishandCubanveterans

Thememorial inReadingtowncentre.

NEWS

International BrigadeMemorial Trust6

FrancisandWilliam(Bill)Ball,whosenamesareengravedonthememorial.CooperandParkesnowaimtooffertheirtalkto

localschoolsandtradeunionbranches.

To ordera copyof “WeCannotParkOn BothSides” (£5including p&p), contactRayParkes on 0118-950 7028 oremail: [ray@rayparkes1.wanadoo.co.uk].

GeorgeFletcher’sfootstepsThechildrenofGeorgeFletcher,whowasoneoftheleadingofficersoftheBritishBattalion,haveretracedtheirfather’sfootstepsinavisittothekeysitesoftheSpanishCivilWar.ForJohnFletcherandhishalf-sisterHelen

Cadman,itwasalsoanemotionalreunionafteraseparationlasting50years.GeorgeFletcher,fromManchesterandaBritish

armyveteranoftheFirstWorldWar,arrivedinSpaininMarch1937.Hewaswoundedfourtimes,forthefirsttimeattheBattleofBruneteinJuly1937wherehewasevacuatedtothehospitalatHuetewithashoulderwound.Afterwards,heserved in the fightingaround

Belchite,wherehewasagainwounded.PromotedtocaptaininMarch1938,hewasputinchargeofthebattalionwhileSamWild, itscommander,wasrecoveringfromwounds.WiththehelpofSpanishCivilWarpublisher

AlanWarren,JohnandHelenfoundtheexact

spotswheretheBritishcrossedtheEbroinJuly1938intheadvancetoGandesaandwerelaterentrenchedonHill481duringtheBattleoftheEbro.HelenandJohnmetupinMadridatthestartof

their12-daytour,formingabondwhichhadbeenseveredafterthedeathoftheirfatherin1957.

TributesinInistiogeThesecondannualGeorgeBrowncommemora-tiontookplaceintheInternationalBrigader’snativeInistioge,CountyKilkenny,on26-27June.TributestodeceasedBrigaderswhohadbeen

presentatthefirstcommemorationayearprevi-ously,JackJonesandBobDoyle,werepaidbyManusO’RiordanandHarryOwensrespectively.MickJonesalsolaidawreathattheGeorgeBrownmemorialthathadbeenunveiledbythesametwoveteransin2008.Thecommemorativelectureonthisoccasion

wasgivenbyDrEmmetO’Connor,sonofthelateBrigaderPeterO’Connor,onthethemeofIrishparticipationbothintheBritishandUSbattal-ionsoftheInternationalBrigades.Inthefollowingmonththerewasaninter-

nationalconferenceontheSpanishCivilWar,entitled“AgoníaRepublicana”,organisedbyTrinityCollegeDublin,atwhichIBMTcommitteemembersRichardBaxellandManusO’Riordanbothspoke.Formostparticipants,thehighlightwastheeyewitnessaccountsgivenbyBrigaderJackEdwardsandRepublicanarmyveteranRomaMárquez.

ForamemorialinRentonDrewMcEwanhasformedagroupwhichaimstohaveamonumenterectedinthecentreofRenton,Dunbartonshire,dedicatedtothemenandwomenwhofoughtagainstFrancointheSpanishCivilWar.McEwanexplains:“Rentonhasaveryillustri-

ouspastandthroughtheGibbonsfamilywehaveadirect linktothemenwhofoughtinSpain.TheGibbonslivedinRentonformanyyears.DannyGibbonswasoneofthreebrotherswhofoughtintheInternationalBrigades.Thefourthbrother, Johnny,triedtovolunteerbutHarry

Pollitt [generalsecretaryoftheCommunistParty]said: ‘No,threefromonefamilyisenough.’JoewenttoSpainfromtheUSandservedintheLincolnBattalion.DannyandTommywerewiththeBritishBattalion.TommywaskilledintheBattleofBrunete.DannywaswoundedintheBattleof JaramaandafterreturningfromBritaintothefront linewassubsequentlytakenprisonerandinternedinaconcentrationcamp.”Theaimistocommemorateall thosefrom

WestDunbartonshirewhogavetheir livesinthefightagainstFranco, including,aswellasTommyGibbons, JamesMarshallandJosephHarkinsfromClydebank, JohnLobbanandPatrickCurleyfromAlexandria,RobertGlenfromDumbartonandGeorgeDeganfromBallochalongwith“thosewhoalsofoughtandlivedtotell thetale”.

To get in touch with the group, contact Drew McEwan at:CarmanCentre, 175 MainStreet Renton, WestDunbartonshire G82 4PF; tel: 01389-710 261 or email:[drew@carmansic.com].

£1,150forIBnameplateThelocomotivenameplate“TheInternationalBrigadesSpain1936-1939”–(picturedbelow)togetherwiththeaccompanyingclenchedfistlogo–wassoldatanauctionofrailwaymemora-biliainWaterloo,London,inFebruaryfor£1,150.TheVirginTrainslocomotivewasnamedby

JackJonesin1998ataceremonyinStoke-on-TrentafterBrigaderswrotetoVirginbossSirRichardBransonsuggestingthename.Ithadpreviouslybeencalled“BBCNorthWest”.Theclass90locomotiveoperatedonthe

LondonEustontoGlasgowlineuntil2004.Hornbymodelsofthelocomotive, including

thenameplate,arestillavailableinsomemodelshops(referenceHornbyR2109BClass90).

InternationalBrigadenursePennyFeiwelcelebratedher100thbirthdaywithfriendsandfamilyon24April inBournemouth.Sheispicturedhere(left)withacopyofMaxArthur’snewlypublished“TheRealBandofBrothers”,inwhichachaptertellsthestoryofhertimeinSpain,and(right)cuttingherbirthdaycakewithIBMTSecretaryMarleneSidaway.

Feiwelisthelastknownsurvivorofthe70womenfromBritainwhoworkedinthemedicalservicesoftheSpanishRepublicduringthecivilwar.ShearrivedinSpaininJanuary1937andservedinfront-linehospitalsuntilspringof1938whenshewasbadlyinjuredinabombingraidnearTeruel.Shesufferedarmlacerations,brokenribsandabdominalshrapnelwoundsandwasevacuatedfromGandíabyHMSSussexbeforebeingflownfromMarseillestohospitalinLondon.

GeorgeFletcher’ssonanddaughter,HelenCadmanandJohnFletcher(right),withManuelOlarte, the localcouncillor inchargeofcultureatHuete,southeastofMadrid,whereGeorgespentsometimeinhospital.

PennyFeiwelcelebrates100thbirthday

From previous page

�3October2009:LecturebyTomBuchanan,organisedbyBasqueChildrenof’37AssociationUKandtitled“TheBasqueRefugeeChildren inBritain 1937-1939:PersonalMemoryandPublicHistory”;2.30pmatKensington&ChelseaLibrary,PhilimoreWalk, LondonW87RY;details:[secretary@basque-children.org.uk].�5October2009:Celebrationof the lifeofJackJones,organisedbyUnite;12.30pm,RoyalFestivalHall,BelvedereRoad,LondonSE18XX; limitednumberof ticketsavailable fromIBMT Secretary: [secretary@international-brigades.org.uk]; tel:020-8555667.�9-11October2009: IBMTAnnualGeneralMeeting inDurham(AGMon10October)plusassociatedevents;seepage3formoredetails.�24October2009:Unveilingofamemorialto thevolunteers fromBlantyre; 11am,UnisonOffice,CountyBuildings,AlmadaStreet,HamiltonML30AA;asocialevent isalsoplanned;details from: [stephen.smellie@southlanarkshire.gsx.gov.uk].�7November2009:Eventorganisedby theBelfast-based InternationalBrigadeCommemorationCommittee tohonour thelivesofBobDoyleand Jack Jones; 11amatInternationalBrigadememorial,Writers’Square,Belfast;programmedetails tobeconfirmed;more information fromCiaranCrosseyvia thewebsite [www.geocities.com/irelandscw].�7November2009:UnveilingofaplaqueattheBattleof theEbrocavehospitalat LaBisbaldeFalsetdedicated toBritishmedicalpersonnelwhoserved in thehospital; eventorgainsedbyNo JubilemlaMemòria incon-junctionwith IBMT;more information from[nojubilemlamemoria@yahoo.com].�Until31December2009:Re-showingof2008successfulexhibition, “Merseysideandthe InternationalBrigades”;People’sCentre,50-54MountPleasant,LiverpoolL35SD;weekdays9am-5pm;email: [info@thepeoplescentre.com]ortel:051-7093995.�26/27February2010:Battleof Jaramacommemoration;MadridandMoratadeTajuña;moredetails fromAlanWarren:[hill705@gmail.com]andSeverianoMontero:[seve.montero@gmail.com].�14March2010:“TheBritsWhoFought forSpain”;RenoirCinema,BrunswickSquare,LondonWC1N1AW;10.30amfor11am;MattRichards’s2009filmabout the InternationalBrigadevolunteers fromBritain;shownwith“TheLongRoadtoSpain”byDanCarrier;moreinformationon[www.socialistfilm.blogspot.com].�Until 18April2010:“TheNatureof theBeast”byGoshkaMacugaat theWhite-chapelGallery,77-82WhitechapelHighStreet, LondonE17QX; featuresa tapestryofPicasso’s“Guernica”andphotosofInternationalBrigadersat theexhibitionofPicasso’spainting in1939pluscontemporarypresscuttingsandmemorabilia. [www.whitechapelgallery.org].

International BrigadeMemorial Trust

DIARY DATESONLINE

7

�Acollectionof imagesarchivedbythe JuntadeDefensadeMadridduringtheSpanishCivilWarisnowavailableontheSpanishMinistryofCulture’swebsite.They includethisphotoofarally insupportof the InternationalBrigadeson5September1937inMadrid’sCineMonumental.See[http://pares.mcu.es/ArchivoRojo/inicio.do].

�Aspecial“PaulRobesoninSpain” issueofTheVolunteer,publishedbyoursisterorganisationintheUS,ALBA, isavailableonlineasaPDF.See:[www.alba-valb.org/resources/document-library/volunteer-june-2009].ALBAhasalsolaunchedadigital library,containingarchivesofselectedUSvolunteers,at: [www.alba-valb.org/resources/digital-library]and iscompilinganonlinedatabaseof thevolunteerswhoserved intheAbrahamLincolnandGeorgeWashingtonBattalions.Goto:[www.alba-valb.org/volunteers].

�FromBrunete,ErnestoViñasandÁngelRodríguezreport that theyaimtomaketheweb-sitecommemoratingthe1937BattleofBrunetebilingual.Theyrunthesitealongwithother localenthusiastsandwelcomefeedbackandcontri-butions.See: [www.bruneteenlamemoria.com].

�RespectMPGeorgeGallowaychose InternationalBrigaderandpoetJohnCornford(left)forBBCRadio4’sbiographicalseries“GreatLives” inAugust.PresentedbyMatthewParris,theprogrammealsofeaturedProfessor

StanSmithtalkingabout thebriefbut inspira-tional lifeofCornford,whodiedat theageof21 infightingaroundLopera,nearCórdoba, inDecem-ber1936.Listenonline: [www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00m17y6/Great_Lives_Series_19_John_Cornford].

�StuartWalshhasemailedustopointout thatColumbiaUniversity in theUShasplacedonlineafascinatingandoftenverymovingarchiveofover150drawingsmadebychildrenduringtheSpanishCivilWar.See: [www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/children/index.html].

�HankGeertshascontactedustoreport thatAmsterdam’s International InstituteofSocial

HistorycontainsawealthofprimarysourcematerialsmainlyontheSpanishCivilWar thatmighthelpmanyresearchersandhistorians.Aguidetothesecollections isnowonthe insti-tute’swebsiteat [www.iisg.nl/collections/spain-civilwar/index.php].

�PaulPhilippou,authorof“SpanishThermopy-lae:CypriotVolunteers in theSpanishCivilWar,1936-39”haswritten intosaythata listof Inter-nationalBrigade(andAnarchist,POUMandSpanishRepublicanarmy)volunteers fromGreece isnowavailableat: [www.alternative-perth.co.uk/hellenic%20volunteers.htm].

�PreviouslyunseenimagesfromtheSpanishCivilWarbyRobertCapa–suchasthisSpanishwomanandchildatarefugeecampinFrance inMarch1939–aswellasbyDavidSeymourandGerdaTarocanbeviewed

ontheNewYork-basedInternationalCenterofPhotographywebsite.Thephotosaretakenfromtheso-called“MexicanSuitcase”, foundinMexi-coCityaftergoingmissing fromCapa’sParisstu-dioearly in theSecondWorldWar.Cataloguingthe126rollsof filmbeganlastDecemberandisnowcomplete.See [http://museum.icp.org/mexican_suitcase].

�Thetwo-partScottishTVdocumentary,“TheScotswhoFoughtFranco”,ontheScot-tish InternationalBrigaderswasbroadcaston13and20Augustandwaswell receivedby IBMTmembersnorthof theborder. It cannowbeviewedin

eight instalmentsonYouTube.BasedonDanielGrey’sacclaimedbook,“HomagetoCaledonia”(pictured), theprogrammesfeaturedarchiveinterviewswithBrigadersGeorgeGowans,TomClarke, JohnLongdragon, JohnDunlop, JamesMaleyandSteveFullarton.“HomagetoCaledo-nia” isnowonsale inpaperbackfor£9.99,pub-lishedbyLuathPress(Edinburgh): [www.luath.co.uk].

�There isan informativeonlinevideo interviewwithMichaelPetrou,authorof“Renegades:Canadians intheSpanishCivilWar”,whichwasreviewedinour lastNewsletter.See: [www.mefeedia.com/entry/may-23-2008-michael-petrou/9700917]

�ABBCRadio4programmeinMaytoldthestoryof theRetirada: theflightofhundredsofthousandsofSpanishRepublicanrefugees intoFranceearly in1939andtheharrowingcondi-tionstheyendured inthecampswheretheyweredetained. Itcanbeheardagainat: [www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3x23].

CornellCapa/Magnum

International BrigadeMemorial Trust8

CANYOUHELP?

�TamesideTradeUnionCouncil ismakingeffortstohaveablueplaqueerectedlocallyforInterna-tionalBrigader JamesKeoghwhowaskilledon31March1937.Hisfamilyisbackingthemove.Sup-porthasalsocomefromthelocalcouncil, thoughofficialsfavouraplaqueforallthevolunteersfromAshton-under-LyneandTameside. Ifyouhaveanymoreinformationaboutvolunteersfromtheareaorwanttogetinvolvedinthecampaign,contactBrianBamford:[northernvoices@hotmail.com].

�CristinaFischer,ofRostock,Germany,iscollect-ingmaterialabouttheGermancommunistLiselotteHermann,whowasexecutedbytheNazison23June1938.Inhergroupofcommu-niststherewasamannamedEugenBeck,born1907,originallyfromBadCannstatt,Stuttgart.HewasarrestedbytheNazisin1935butmanagedtoescapetoSwitzerland.HewenttoSpainandjoinedtheThaelmannBattalion.AttheendoftheSpanishCivilWarhewasheldattheGursrefugeecampinsouthernFrance.ChristinehasbeentoldthatBeckemigratedfromFrancetoBritainandlivedthereuntilhisdeath.It ispossiblethathehadawifeandchildrenwhostill liveinBritain.ShewouldliketohearfromanyonewhohasmoreinformationaboutBeckorhisfamily.Contact: [cris.fischer@t-online.de].

�WillBoisseauisapostgraduatehistorystudentattheUniversityofSouthamptoncurrentlyresearchingtheeffectoftheSpanishCivilWaronSouthampton.HewouldbeverygratefultohearfromanyonewithmemoriesofthearrivalofBasquerefugeesinthearea,localsupportforInternationalBrigadevolunteersandanyinforma-tionaboutthevolunteersthemselves:David

Guest,RaymondArthurCox,HaroldLawsandIvorRaeHickman.Email: [wjb106@soton.ac.uk]ortel:07969-048139.

�LawrenceKirkbyistryingtofindoutmoreaboutGordonDavidson,aScotlivingintheLewishamareaofLondonupto1940.Ascientistandgradu-ateofOxfordUniversity,hehadbeenanambu-lancedriverintheSpanishCivilWar.After1945heisbelievedtohaveworkedinthepetro-chemicalsindustry.Contact: [lawrence.kirkby@btinternet.com]withanymoreinformation.

�AndyRidingwantshelpinidentifyingthemeninthisphoto-graph.Whilstlookingthroughaphotoalbumwhichoncebelongedtohiswife’sdeceasedgrandfather,hecameacrossthispicturelabelled

“Spain,1937”.ThegrandfatherwaspoliticallyactivesoanassociationwithsomeonewhofoughtintheSpanishCivilWarwouldnotcomeasasurprise.Thegrandfather’snamewasDonald(Donnie)Gillies,ajoinerfromPlockton,RossandCromarty. Ifanyonecanhelp,email: [ariding@iconpolymer.com].

�FromFrance,DavidHewsonhaswrittenintoinquireaboutPeter,PJorPercyHarratt.HehadbeenintheBritisharmy,livedinSpainfromabout

1930andwasinSpainfromabout1938-9.Doesanyoneknowanythingmoreabouthim?Contact:DavidHewson,Cabanot36,160Beaumarchees,France;tel:+33562691229.

�FromBuenosAires,ProfessorJuanCarlosCesarinisayshewantstoknowmoreaboutanArgentinianvolunteercalledLamas,whowasapoliticalcommissarintheAdamMickiewiczBattalionoftheXII InternationalBrigadeandwhowaskilledon1June1938intheSierrasQue-madas,Extremadura.Replyto:[juancesarini@infovia.com.ar].

�SydQuinnislookingforadviceonbookscon-tainingphotographsofthevolunteersfromtheUKwhofoughtintheSpanishCivilWar,particularlyonesofhisfatherSydQuinn.Heismentionedin“Apprentice0fFreedom”bythelateJudithCook.Contact: [s.quinn57@ntlworld.com].

�MartinLaneuvilleisresearchingtheInterna-tionalBrigadeswiththeaimofwritingabookandiskeentohearfromanyonewhocanhelp,espe-ciallyfromfamilymemberswhohaveanycorre-spondencefromthosewhowenttoSpain.HewouldalsoliketoknowifanyvolunteershadNorfolkorigins.Email: [mlaneuville138@btinternet.com]ortel:01362-699405.

Ifyoudonothaveanemail to reply toqueries,contact the IBMTSecretary(detailsonpage2)andyourmessagewillbepassedon.Pleaseshareyour informationaboutBrigaderswiththe IBMT’s researcher, JimCarmody.Sendit to[jamescarmody@yahoo.co.uk].

�DollyWesthaswritteninwantingtoknowwhathappenedtothesebannersfromHammersmith,westLondon(whereshewasachildduringtheSpanishCivilWar–seefacingpage).Thephotosweretakenin1985atthereceptioninQueenElizabethHall inLondon’sSouthbankonthedaythattheInter-nationalBrigadememorialwasunveiledbyformerLabourleaderMichaelFoot.Doesanyoneknowthewhereaboutsofthebanners?Contact[editor@international-brigades.org.uk].

Wherearethesebannersnow?

KokeMartínezByJimJump

WithhisBasqueberet,bushybeardandpropensity toburst intosongor reciteapoem, theartistKokeMartínez,whodied inAprilat theageof82,wasaprominentfigureat IBMTeventsandthereunionsofotherniñosvascos(Basquechildren),as theystillcall themselvesdespitenowbeingall in their70sand80s.Hewasoneof 4,000 refugee

children from theBasqueCountrywhoarrived inSouthampton inMay 1937during theSpanishCivilWar.Mostwere later reunitedwith their parents either inSpainor in exile, butMartínezwasamong the400or sowhomadetheir home inBritain.Martínezwas in a “colony” for

the children inCarshaltonwhich

wasnotable for the talentedgroupof volunteer teaching staff.Among themwasPepeEstruch,theatredirector and collaboratorwith FredericoGarcía Lorca,whorecognisedMartínez’s gifts andhelpedhimsecurea scholarshipfrom theexiledSpanishRepublicangovernment to studyat CroydonSchool of Art.Martínez’s paintingswere first

displayed in 1944at theSpanishInstitute in London.More thanadozensolo and20mixedexhibi-tions inBritain andSpainwere tofollowover thenext six decades.War, exile and childhooddreamsandnightmareswere recurrentthemes inhiswork.Aged 11,Martínez and twoof

his brothershadarrived inBritainfromBilbaoon the steamshipHabanawithother children sentby their parents to escapeFranco’s bombing campaign

against theBasqueCountry.Thefamily spentmuchof theSecondWorldWar in a French internmentcampandafterwards lived inpoverty; the threebrothers inBritainwere forced tomake theirownway in life.

From1946 to 1984,Martínez

worked in Londonasadisplayartist, arrangingexhibitionstandsandshopwindows.In accordancewithhiswishes,

his ashesnow lie in small plot 15yardsaway fromKarlMarx’stomb inHighgateCemetery innorth London.

International BrigadeMemorial Trust

MemoriesofthechildofaBrigaderByDollyWest

Iremembergoing intomyparents’bedroominShepherdsBush,westLondon,andseeingmumanddad(FrankWest) sittingontheedgeof theirbed,hewithhisarmaroundherandmumcrying. Iwasaged fiveat the timeandhaveworkedout that thatmusthavebeenthedayhetoldherhewasgoing toSpain.At that timetherewereboxesplacedoutside

Co-opshopsasking fora tinof foodorsugar tobeput in themtobesent toSpain.Thatcam-paignwascalledFood forSpain;anotherwascalledMilk forChildren.Hammersmithalsocol-lectedmoney tosendambulances forSpain.Mumwent toVictoriaStationwhenthe

Brigaders returnedhomeinDecember1938,butwecamebackwithoutdad.Hehadbeentakenprisoneron theday theBritishBattalionwaswithdrawn.Andnooneknewwherehewasor ifhewasdead.Heeventually returnedhomein thespringof

1939.By then Iwaseightyearsold.Hehadspentmostofhis last fewmonths in theSanPedrodeCardeñaprisoncamp.Whenhecamehomewewere livingovera

dairyandourkitchenwasbehind theshop. Ithadarangewithahearthwhichhadbeenwhitenedbymumwithablockofchalk. I canpicturehimsittingonastoolandmysister

Eileenand Istanding in frontofhim.But thething I remembermostof thatoccasion is thedeadcockroachesonthatwhitehearth.He lookedgaunt.Timeswerehard formum.

Shecouldn’tgetanyUAB(UnemploymentAssistanceBoard)benefitbecausehehadgonetoSpain.Shedidhousework fora familyon theUxbridgeRoad for8penceanhour. Itwashardworkas therewerenoaids likevacu-umcleanersandall the roomshadcoal fires inthemandtheyhadtobecleanedandre-laideveryday.Mumwas illwithasthmaandbron-chitis.

JeanMasseyhelpedmumalot. JeanandBillMasseywerebothCommunistPartymem-bersandBillwasaveryactive tradeunionist.“Aunty Jean”putus incontactwith the Interna-tionalBrigades’Dependants’AidCommitteewhogavemumsomemoneywhentheycould.

JeanwasalsoaveryactiveCo-operator.Andthroughhercontacts,Eileenand Iwere takenondaysout to theseasideby theBFYC(BritishFederationofYoungCo-operators).TheWood-craftpeoplealsohelpedus.Iwas takento theAlbertHall andEarlsCourt,

where thereweremeetings tosupport thefight,withchoirsandspeechesandmanycolouredbanners–andofcoursecollections.I amonlyawareofoneotherchildofaBrigad-

erwhoremembershisorherparent–or in thiscasebothparents–going toSpain.That isMartinGreen.HismotherwasofcourseNanGreenwhowaswith themedical volunteersand laterbecametheSecretaryof the Interna-tionalBrigadeAssociation.Martin’s father,George,waskilled in thesamebattle inwhichmyfatherbecameaprisoner.Are thereanyotherchildrenwhoremember

theirparentgoing toSpain?

DollyWest(foreground)atafundraisingeventduring theSpanishCivilWarat theCommunistPartypremises inShepherdsBushRoad,nearHammersmithBroadway.Thebuildingwasonthesiteofwhat isnowthepolicestation.

KokeMartínezpicturedatworkin1948.

TESTIMONY

9

OBITUARY

Fightingwith therevolutionaries

“NotJustOrwell:TheIndependentLabourPartyVolunteersandtheSpanishCivilWar”byChristopherHall;£14.99(WarrenandPell,Barcelona,2009)

Reviewed by Don Watson

Although“HomagetoCatalonia”isarguablythebest-knownbookinEnglishabouttheSpanishCivilWar,therehavebeenveryfewstudiesofthegroupinwhichitsauthor,GeorgeOrwell, fought.ThisbookisthefirstdetailedstudyoftheInde-pendentLabourPartycontingent,whichservedoutsidetheInternationalBrigadesandwiththerevolutionarySpanishPOUMmilitia.AuthorChrisHallseemstoapologiseseveral

timesforthebookhe’swritten–heknowsthatsomeIBMTmemberswillnotthankhimforhisefforts–butthereisnoneedforthat.TheroleoftheILPalongsideitsSpanishsisterparty,thePOUM,hasasignificanceoutofproportionbothtothesmallnumbersinvolved(45-50)andtheirlackofmilitarycontribution.

HallsuppliesabriefhistoryoftheILPanditspoliticsfromthe1930suntil theSecondWorldWar.FollowingitsdisaffiliationfromtheLabourPartyin1932,theILPhadfewerthan5,000mem-bersby1936,butitreturnedfourMPsin1935.Alwaysinternationalist, itnaturallysupportedtheradicalforcesintheSpanishRepublicandthrewitself intoeveryaspectofthesolidarityeffort.ThereisausefulaccounttooofthepoliticsanddevelopmentofthePOUManditsroleintheearlyrevolutionarymilitias,alsohowitattempt-edstill toexertsomerankandfilecontroloverofficersandcommissarswhenthemilitiaswereabsorbedintotheRepublicanarmy.Hallprovidesasummaryofwhatiscurrently

knownabouteachoftheILPvolunteers,BritishandIrish,rankandfileandleadership.Heincludestheirbackgroundsofpolitical involve-ment,theirserviceinSpainandtheirsubsequentcareers. Inevitablythelevelofdetailvariesfromindividualtoindividualbutitaddstoourunder-standingoftheseanti-fascists.ThePOUMsectionwasinmilitarytermsirrele-

vanttotheRepublicanwareffortandseveraloftheILPvolunteerssaidsoatthetime.TheywereservingontheAragónfrontandawarethattheyweredoinglittlewhiletherealfightingwaselse-where.AnumberwerenegotiatingtransfertotheInternationalBrigadeswhenpoliticsfamouslyintervened.Buttheirrealsignificanceiswhat

International BrigadeMemorial Trust10

BOOKS&FILM

“ToMySonInSpain”,directedbyDaveClement;ThunderstonePictures(ThunderBay,Ontario)

ReviewedbyLynnHill

DaveClement’sdocumentaryfilmoftheSpanishCivilWar,“ToMySonInSpain”,waspremieredinBritainon6SeptembertoapackedhouseatLeicesterSecularHall.Thefilmbeginsbyclearlyexplainingthecauses

andhistoryofeventsleadingtothewar.It followseventsthroughtheeyesofJulesPaivio,aFinnish-CanadianandoneofthelastsurvivingCanadianveteransofthewar,andexaminestheroleofthe116Finnish-Canadiansfromnorth-westernOntariointheCanadianMackenzie-PapineauBattalionoftheInternationalBrigades.Julesandhiscomradessharedthesameback-

groundasmostoftheirfellowBrigadersfromall

overtheworld.Theycamefrompoorworkingclassneighbourhoodswherelifewashardanditwasastruggletoexist,asituationthatforgedthemintorevolutionaryorganisers,tryingtobuildabetterworld.ThisplustheirsharedidealsmadethechoicetogotoSpainobvioustothem.Thefilmmakesthisallveryclearinanemotion-

ally-chargedway.Itexplainsthepoliticsofthetime,looksatthemilitarytactics,weaponryandtheebbandflowofthefrontline,whileneverlos-ingsightofthehumanandpersonalimpactofthewarontheBrigadersandtheSpanishpeople.Julestalksofhiscomrades,theirmotives,fight-

ingspiritandhisowncaptureandtreatmentinaFrancoconcentrationcamp.Thisfilmisperfecttoshowtotheyoungergen-

eration,asit informsandmovesinanenergeticwaythatisbotheducatingandfascinating,clev-erlyusingcartooncharacterstoexpressthewordsofJules’sfather’spoemthatgivesitsnametothefilm.ItalsousesasectionoffilmofCanadi-anlumberjacksthatexemplifiesthestruggleoftheworkingclassperfectlyandisanobliquenodtotheIWW(IndustrialWorkersoftheWorld–the“Wobblies”)credentialsofSakuPinta,thefilm’sscriptwriterandoneofitsproducers.Theresult isafilmwithafreshfeeltoitthatwill

helptokeepthememoryoftheBrigaders,theirsacrificesandachievementsaliveformanyyearstocome.

More details: [http://thunderstone.jcmultimedia.com].

theyrevealedaboutthepoliticsoftheRepublicandtheeffectsoftheStalinist influence.BesidesthefamousaccountofthesuppressionofthePOUMin“HomagetoCatalonia”,theuseoftheILPvolunteerFrankFrankfordbytheDailyWorkerisaninterestingexampleandHallprovidesprob-ablythefullestaccountofthisepisodesofar.

Voicesfromthepast“HeroicVoicesof theSpanishCivilWar:MemoriesfromtheInternationalBrigades”byPeterDarman;£14.99(NewHolland,London,2009)

Reviewed by Jim Jump

TheImperialWarMuseum’sextensivesoundarchiveofBritishInternationalBrigadersisaninvaluableresourceforresearchers,allowingthemaccesstofirst-handtestimonyfromsome100volunteers.Theinterviewstookplaceinthe1970sand1980s,oftenlastingformorethanfiveorsixhours,duringwhichtimetheBrigaderswereabletotalkindetailabouttheir involvementintheSpanishCivilWarandgivetheirthoughtsontheconflictafterthepassageoffourorfivedecades.PeterDarmanhasdoneanadmirablejobin

trawlingthroughtheseinterviewsandselectingpassagesforthisnewbook.Whatemergesisbasicallyacollectionofextractsfromthemuse-um’sarchive,supplementedbyahandfulofinter-viewsfromnewspapersandonlinesources.Thevalueofthebookisthattheextractsare

thematicallyorganisedunderchapterheadingssuchas“ReasonsforVolunteering”,“Enlist-ment”,“GettingtoSpain”,“TurningVolunteersintoFighters”,“AwayfromtheFighting”,“Prison-ersofWar”,“Withdrawal”and“Reflections”.TherearealsochaptersonthemainbattlesofMadrid,Jarama,Brunete,TeruelandtheEbro.Thus,thereadercanacquirearoundedpictureofeventsandexperiences,astoldbydifferentBrigaderswhowerethereatthetime.Manyfamiliarnamesarehere, includingIBMT

stalwartsJackEdwards,LouKentonandSamRussell(nowLesser),alongwithrecentlydeceasedBobDoyle,JackJonesandBernardMcKenna.Darmanaddsausefulglossaryandchronology

ofthewarandhisintroductiongivesanoverviewoftheconflictanditsinternationaldimensionwhichsympatheticallyportraystheroleoftheforeignvolunteers:“Thoughtheyfailedtopre-ventafascisttakeoverinSpain,themenandwomenoftheInternationalBrigadescouldfeeljustifiablyproudofwhattheyhadachieved.”However,someofthefactsandfiguresare

highlyquestionable–thereweresome2,500vol-unteersfromtheBritishIsles,not1,800–andtheBrigades’finalparadeinBarcelonawason28October1938,not15November. Inaddition,

Finnish-Canadiansgotowar

manywouldregardDarman’sdepictionofBritain’spolicyof“non-intervention”asoverlysympathetic–and,thoughseveralpoetsdidgotoSpain,TSEliotwasdefinitelynotoneofthem!Theseandothereditorialcriticismsaside,the

bookistobewelcomedforonceagainbringingtolifeonthewrittenpagetheseevocativeeyewit-nessaccountsand,atthesametime,theremark-ablemenandwomenwhomadethem.

Morethanalovestory“TheReturn”byVictoriaHislop;£7.99(2009paperbackedition)(HeadlinePublishing,London,2008)

Reviewed by Colin Carritt

ThisisastoryofloveandlossinSpainduringthecivilwar. It isbittersweetandit isnofairytale.ButthenVictoriaHislopknowshersubjectandshedoesn’tpullherpunches.HerresearchintotheeventsinSpainfrom1936to1939andtheexodusofrefugeestoFranceandtoBritainintheafter-mathisimpeccable.Shesparesusnothingasshelaysbarethefullhorrorandunspeakablecru-eltyoftheNationalistonslaught.Andyetsheisnevervoyeuristicorsensational.Shejusttellsitasit is.Soniaisamiddleclass,middleagedHome

CountiesEnglishwoman;hermarriagetoJames,anouveaurichebanker, isclearlynotgoingany-where.ToescapeherstiflingmarriageshejoinsaclasslearningsalsaandLatinAmericandance.Then,withMaggie,aslightlybohemianschoolfriend,sheheadsofftoGranada,whereshebecomescaptivatedbytheflamencoculture.A

chancevisittoalocalcafé,fullofoldphotographsofgypsyguitaristsanddancersintriguesherfur-ther.Fallingintoconversationwiththeelderlyproprietor,shelearnsaboutthehistoryofthecaféandthefamilywhoranitforgenerations.Thetragedyofdividedloyalties,betrayal,

revengeandlossthroughtheyearsofthecivilwarandbeyondarerecountedthroughtheoldman’semotionalnarrative.Thestorylineissim-pleenoughandit’saneasyandeffortlessread,exceptfortheharrowinghistoryofFranco’sinva-sionandtheinternationalisolationoftheSecondRepublic.Attimes,theweightoffactual informationcan

overwhelmthelovestoryattheheartofthenovel.Victoriaclearlyfeelstheneedtotellall inwhatsometimesveersdangerouslyclosetopolemic.Giventhelackofunderstandingaboutthe40yearsoffascisminSpain,perhapsthat’snobadthing.Perhapswhatthoseofuswhohavelabouredtotelltheworld,Victoriacanachievethroughasimpleandpoignantlovestory.Sheeducatesandentertainsinequalmeasure.

This review first appeared in the newsletter of the BasqueChildren of ’37 Association UK.

Inbrief…�Newlypublished“KiwiCompañeros:NewZealandandtheSpanishCivilWar”*isthefirstandonlyaccountofNewZealanders’participationintheSpanishCivilWar. Itrecordstheactionsofsome20NewZealand

combatantsandnurses.EditedbyMikeDerby,thebookdrawsonresearchinpubliccollections

inSpain,Britain,theUS,Canada,AustraliaandRussiaandincludespreviouslyunpublishedmaterial includinganinterviewwithPedroDeTreend,aveteranofthebattleofTeruelandthelastsurvivingNewZealandveteranofthewar.*PublishedbyCanterburyUniversityPressinassociationwiththeLabourHistoryProject.Copiescanbeorderedviathewebsite[www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz].Seealso:[www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/spanish-civil-war].

�AstudyoftheEastEuropeanvolunteersintheInternationalBrigadeshasbeenpublishedinSpain.EditedbyManuelRequenaGallegoandMatildeEiroa,“AlladodelGobiernoRepubli-cano:LosbrigadistasdeEuropadelEsteenlaguerracivilespañola”(EdicionesdelaUniversi-daddeCastilla-LaMancha,Cuenca,2009)includesarticlesonthevolunteers,basedonworkinHungarian,Polish,CzechandBulgarian.

�ThereisnowaSpanishlanguageeditionof“PoemsfromSpain”,theanthologyofversewrittenbyInternationalBrigadevolunteersfromtheBritishIsles(Lawrence&Wishart,London,2006).“HablandodeLeyendas;

PoemasparaEspaña”hasbeeneditedbyJimJump(editoroftheoriginalanthology),AntonioDíezandDavidGonzálezandispublishedinTenerifebyBailedelSol: [www.bailedelsol.org].In2005Díezedited“CartasdeEspaña”(MuñozMoyaEditoresExtremeños,Sevilla),acollectionofletterswrittenhomebyInternationalBrigadevolunteersfromtheManchesterarea.GonzálezisapoetfromGijón,Asturias.

“FromManchestertoSpain”byBernardBarry;£5(WorkingClassMovementLibrary,Salford,2009);availabledirectfromthelibrary:[www.wcml.org.uk/shop];tel:0161-7363601

Reviewed byStuart Walsh

BernardBarry’sbooklet,basedprimarilyonmaterialheldattheWorkingClassMovementLibrary(WCML)inSalford, isanexcellentaccountinfiveshortchaptersofthevolunteersfromGreaterManchesterandofthematerial

supportsofreelygivenbytheresidentsofthecitytotheSpanishRepublicinitsstruggleagainstfascism.Nowaged91,Barry,aretiredteacherwhohasbeenavolunteerattheWCMLformanyyears,remembersmanyoftheeventsdescribedinthebook.Ashortintroductorychapteronthelead-uptotheSpanishCivilWarisfol-

lowedbychaptersonthevolunteersfromManchester,AidtoSpain,thepostwarandafinalchapterlistingthevolunteerswhowenttoSpain,eitherasfightersormedicalpersonnel.Manchestersent187menandwomentoSpainandthecoreofthebookis

chapter2,wheresixofthevolunteersaregiventhelargestspace,while13

othersareallotedshorterpenportraits,thelatterincludingthreewomenmedicalvolunteers.AsalwayswiththeWCML’spublications,thetextisenhancedwithillustrationsfromthelibrary’scollection,whichgivegreatimmediacytothenarrative.Forexample,theaccountofthememorialmeetingforchampionspeedwayriderClemBeckett,whowaskilledinFeb-ruary1937,isaccompaniedbyanillustrationoftheleafletforthismeetingwhichtookplaceinArdwickinMay1937.Chapter3isashortaccountofthevariousactivitiesandorganisations

thatcanbeplacedundertherubricofAidtoSpain,includingashortaccountoftheBasquechildrenintheManchesterarea.Chapter4describesthepostwaractivitiesandstrugglesandendswiththesettingupoftheIBMTandManchester’sroleinthat.Thefinalchapteristherollofhonourofthose187menandwomenwho

wenttoSpain,45ofwhomwerekilledinaction.Astheauthorsays,someoftheseareonlynamesanditishishopethatreadersmaybeabletohelpingivingmoredetailsofthelivesofthesebravemenandwomenwhogavetheirall intryingtostemthetideoffascisminSpain.Inconclusion,thewordsofClemBeckett’swifeatthememorialmeeting

forhimmaystandforallofthosewhodiedandbearemindertousalloftheirbraveryandidealism:“Hegavehislifeforthecausewhichhebelievedinandfoughtforallhislife,andIknowhegavehislifefreelyandthathewouldhavechosentodiethiswaydefendinghisideals.”

International BrigadeMemorial Trust 11

Rememberingthe187volunteersfromtheManchesterarea

ByPaulineFraser

AlargecrowdgatheredattheInternationalBrigadememorial inLondon’sJubileeGardenson4JulyfortheIBMT’sannualcommemorationandheardawarningabouttherecentsuccessofthefarrightandfascistpartiesinelectionsfortheEuropeanParliament.LinkingtheInternationalBrigaders’fight

againstfascismintheSpanishCivilWarwiththeneedtocombatfascismtoday,PatrikHelegson,fromtheSwedishInternationalBrigadefriend-shipgroup,joinedanumberofinternationalspeakersfromSpain,GermanyandtheUnitedStatestopraisetheheroicvolunteers.IBMTChairSamLesserpaidtributetothelate

JackJones,hisfellow-Brigaderandfriend.HespokeofJones’suntiringinternationalworkonbehalfofSpanishRepublicanprisonersandtheirfamilies,aswellashiscommitmenttothework-ingclassinBritain.AswellasLesser,otherveteranspresentwere

LouKentonandJackEdwards.Thereweremovingtributestotheothervolun-

teerswhohaddiedsincethelastJubileeGardensreunion,BobDoyle,BernardMcKennaandRos-aleenRoss,whichwerepaidrespectivelybyRobertDoyle,NeilMcKennaandAngelaJackson.RobertElms,ofBBCRadioLondon,saidwhat

anhonouritwastobeinvitedtospeakatthe

commemoration.TheRobertElmsShowhadgivenprominencetotheBrigadersonanumberofprogrammesandoneachocassiontherehadbeenmassivefeedbackfromlistenerspraisingtheirbraveandselflessstand.Oneofthereasonshehadacceptedtheinvita-

tiontospeak,hesaid,wassothathecouldbringhisyoungsonalong.“Weliveinanageofcelebri-tyculturewherepeoplearefamousfordoingnothing.Iwantedhimtoseesomerealheroes.”

ThemusicalduoNa-MaraofRobGarcíaandPaulMcNamaraledthesingingof“Jarama”and“TheInternationale”.WreathswerelaidbytheSpanishambassador,

CarlesCasajuana,theleaderoftheCatalandele-gationtoLondon,XavierSolanoiBello,andbyClaraandMeirianJumponbehalfoftheIBMT,alongwithwreathsfromtheAssociationofJewishEx-ServiceMenandWomen,USVeteransforPeace,railunionAslefandseveralindividuals.

Issue 24 / Autumn 2009

InternationalspeakerssetthetoneatJubileeGardens

12

BENEFITGIG:TheFoundlings(right)andTheeIntolerantKidd(left)weretwoofeightbandsatabenefitconcertfortheIBMTattheInnontheGreeninLondon’sNottingHillinJuly.Undertheslogan“Theyshallnotpassandweshallgroove”,£140wasraisedfortheIBMT–andayoungeraudiencefoundoutmoreabouttheInter-nationalBrigadesandtheSpanishCivilWar.OtherbandsincludedGaia,TaurusTrakker,Nyika&The

People,Chester,TheDirtyCurtainsandTheSelf.Suchwasthesuccessoftheevent,whichwascomperedbyShamanoftheNorth,thatorgan-isersPaulWhieldonandKimLawtonofTheFoundlingshopetomakeitanannualevent.

Videos of songs byThe Foundlings,including “Salud Brigadista”,inspired by International BrigaderBob Doyle, can be played at: [www.myspace.com/foundlingsband].

International BrigadeMemorial Trust

IBMT NEWSLETTER

MembersofCardiff’sCorCochion(RedChoir)werejoinedbyNewYork’sLaborChorus–whileonatourofEurope–tosingatare-dedicationinAugustof thememorial toInternationalBrigaderFrankOwenatMaerdyBridge, intheMaerdyCommunityWoodlandProject, intheRhondda.Thepreviousplaque,unveiledin2000byBrigaderLanceRogers,hadbeenvandalised.OwenwaskilledattheBattleof

Brunete inJuly1937.

ChoirssingoutforFrankOwen

BroadcasterandwriterRobertElms(left)speaksin JubileeGardens;above:Na-Maraperformingatthegathering.

Above:Thenewplaque.Left:Frank’sbrother,ArnoldOwen(fourthfromleft),withthesingersonMaerdyBridge.