Issue24/Autumn2009 INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE MEMORIALTRUST · 2018. 8. 28. · Issue24/Autumn2009 ¡Hemosllegadoacasa! IBMTNewsletter...
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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.
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