Are there any seniors on this forum who had relatives who fought or tried to get to Spain in the 30's to fight?

Local historian Bill Moore wrote a book on the experiences of Sheffield and nearby lads in Spain - I'll root out mine and photocopy it, if you're interested. (PM me your address and I'll try to get in in the post this week)

Greetings Texas from north of the 49th.
I don't know much about UK volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, but up here in Canada there was quite a contingent.
There were over 1200 volunteers who became the Mackenzie-Papineau battalion.
This was from a population of about 10,500,0000.
Norman Bethune MD pioneered blood transfusions in the field in Spain.
He later went to China to fight for the communists he died there in 1939.
A movie was made based on his life .
I think it had Donald Sutherland playing the part of Bethune.
Just a tit bit about the canucks

My dad (b.1919) wanted to....but his mum wouldn't let him!

This might be of interest :

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/tourist-information/visitor-attractions/green-spaces-gardens/the-peace-gardens/spanish-civil-war-memorial

Sweetdexter ,

A bit off-topic I'm afraid but the doctor you mentioned is a hero in China now .
I'm teaching in China and sometimes watch the one and only English language T.V channel and recently there was a documentary on his life .They had one of his children on the programme too , I think .
Incidentally , did he die in 1939 or 1949 ? The reason I'm asking is that I have a vague recollection of him being photograpthed with Mao Tse Tung AFTER the revolution . I wish I'd followed the programme closer now . Still , small world , innit !

I know my father volunteered but he never would speak about it.

Are there any seniors on this forum who had relatives who fought or tried to get to Spain in the 30's to fight?
I dont think football hooligans appeared until around the 1950's.

Are there any seniors on this forum who had relatives who fought or tried to get to Spain in the 30's to fight?

I am secretary of the IB Trust group organizing this year's 75th anniversy memorial in Sheffield and South Yorkshire in July It will be a pretty full programme and we'd like to get in touch with older families. My dad Sam was one of the Commanders of the British Battalion of the IVth Brigade of the IB and died here in Sheffield in the 80s.
Please PM me with any links
Thanks

See web page for exhibitions now on click on www.shef.ac.uk/spain1936/index

Are there any seniors on this forum who had relatives who fought or tried to get to Spain in the 30's to fight?

I'm sure that you are aware of the plaque in the Peace Gardens, commemorating Sheffield's Spanish Civil War dead.

Hello,

I am Spanish. My grandfather fought in the civil war.

He was only 20 years old when the war started, and was a law student. Even though his family was very conservative, he was recruited in the republican side.
He managed to escape to the nationalist side, and was made a prisoner by the sublevated army. He had an uncle on the nationalist side who acted as a guarantor for him, and he enlisted in the spanish falange, where he fought until the end of the civil war.

Such an interesting life. I regret so much he isn't here anymore to tell me his stories.

Cheers

I believe the well known trade unionist George Cabourn went to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

Has anyone any details about him?

It would be interesting to read another side to George's life.

George Orwell's "Homage To Catalonia" should be on the GCSE English Literature list.

My paternal grandfather.

He left Sheffield intending to fight with the communists and due to some mix up joined a CNT/FAI unit (anarchists). From his stories, he spent more time playing chess, arguing about politics and drinking with his new mates than actually fighting.

I'm sure that you are aware of the plaque in the Peace Gardens, commemorating Sheffield's Spanish Civil War dead.
I visited the remembrance service in Sheffield and then to the PIECE gardens so as to put my poppy in place ,Not another in sight lets hope that next year these lads are remembered along with the many as they were at the for front in the fight against fascism.

As i remember from stories told by my grandfather ,his brother who i visited as a young lad was one of those fighting for the communists in spain. I had forgotten all about that and i shall make some inquiries the next time im back in sheffield and see what i can dig up.