British Battalion in Spain

“Spain...taught us what internationalism means...There one learned that men could be brothers, that nations and frontiers, religions and races were but outer trappings, and that nothing counted, nothing was worth fighting for but the idea of liberty”.

Flag of the British Battalion XV International Brigade.

British Battalion Flag: the original, which was presented at Mondéjar Plaza Mayor on 30/11/1937, was captured during the Aragon retreats.

Men of No.1 Company, British Battalion. Maurice Davidovitch (middle row second left) Andre Diamant (middle row second right) Thanks to Jim Carmody for these two identifications

Left: Jock Cunningham, George Nathan and Ralph Campeau.

Early British Volunteers: Back row left: Bill Benson (Stretford, Manchester) possibly Alec 'Tiny' Silverman (4 Beaumont Square, London), James Alwyn (Bolton). front row left. Frank Graham, Bill Tattam and Maurice Levine

The first organised Manchester group to arrive in Albacete, pictured outside the bullring in November 1936. Left, with pipe, George Westfield (killed Aragon, 1938). Bill Benson, Maurice Levine (centre) Eddie Swindells, Jud Colman. Extreme right, front row, is Tony Theodopolis. Photograph taken by Ralph Cantor. Picture Courtesy of The Working Class Movement Library.

Madrigueras, mid December 1936: Left: Wilf McCartney first commander of the British Battalion December 1936 to February 1937, Dave Springhall Battalion Commissar, December 1936 till February 1937. Peter Kerrigan, Tom Wintringham, and Irish Republican Frank Ryan,

Volunteers in the bullring of Albacete, late November 1936. Thought to be Polish miners, this photo was taken by Ralph Cantor with his Box Brownie camera.

Albacete January 1937: British members of Number One Company, La Marseillaise Battalion, 14th International Brigade. Pictured on their return from the Madrid front are, from left: Eddie Swindells, Sydney Quinn and Maurice Levine. John Malcolm (seated) All are wearing French WW1 winter uniforms.

North West Volunteers of the British Battalion: Augustus 'Gus' Harris (Bootle) first right. Gus was killed at Brunete in July 1937. Picture courtesy of the Manchester Working Class Movement Library. Thanks to Stuart Walsh.

Unknown British Volunteers. Picture courtesy of the Manchester Working Class Movement Library. Thanks to Stuart Walsh.

Unknown British Volunteers. Picture courtesy Working Class Movement Library.

Jarama: British Volunteers in the trenches. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_196148

Jarama: British Battalion. Tommy Smith (second left, dark hair, Liverpool), Jack Headly (striped top behind Tommy) William Robert 'Digger' Wallace (on guitar, from Liverpool) Mick Johnson (Liverpool) Bobby Walker (hand in clenched fist salute, Edinburgh.) Thanks to Danny Payne for these Identifications

Jarama: British Volunteers, Bill Meredith (second left) Bert Williams (Fourth left) Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_196134

Jarama 1937: British Battalion. Political Commissar, Bert Williams (first right) Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_196132

British Battalion at Jarama. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_ 196131

Jarama, 1937: Members of the British Battalion. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_ 196191

Behind the trenches at Jarama, the Saklatvalas enjoy some food

Memorial Ceremony for the fallen of Jarama. Brigade Commissar George Aitken gave the oration, Company Commissar George Brown also spoke.

Jarama sector: Leading Comrade George Brown addressing the troops.

Jarama wounded at La Pasionaria Hospital, Murcia, February 1937. 3. Pat Curry (Bootle) 6. Joe Garber 7. Bert Overton (Stockport) 9. James McLennan (Greenock). 10. André Diamant (London/Cairo) 15. Jimmy Allen who lost four fingers, (Liverpool) 19. Walter Gregory (Nottingham) 21. Paddy Power (Waterford) 23. George Rowe (London)

British Battalion Officers and NCO's at Jarama in May 1937. Back row 3rd left Charles Goodfellow, who was killed during the battle of Brunete, Battalion Commissar Bert Williams, Company Commander Bill Meredith who was killed at Villanueva de la Canada and Battalion Commander Fred Copeman. unknown, Lt Morris Davies, Fred Morris, Alec Cumming (disappeared in the Sierra Caballs in Sept 1938) Middle row 3rd from right is Tom Glyn Evans

February 1937? Wounded volunteers from Jarama: Back left: Fred Copeman, Joe Ryan? Frank Ryan. Front row: Jim Prendergast, Andre Diamant, and Ben Davies. Thanks to Stuart Walsh for the picture. Thanks to Jim Carmody for his help with some of these identifications.

Noel Carritt (left) at an advanced dressing station, Brunete, July 1937.

Brunete, July 1937.

Members of the British Battalion after the retreat from Mosquito Ridge, Battle of Brunete, July 1937. Jack Shaw is third from left leaning on his arm. Frank Graham from Teeside sitting up in glasses. Purported to be Giles Romilly (lying down, face obscured)

British Volunteers left: Joe Norman, Joe Caniffe, unknown, unknown, Bill Thompson, unknow, George Fletcher, unknown. Picture courtesy Working Class Movement Library.

Bill Meredith (L) No. 2 Company Commander with Bob Elliott No.2 Company Political Commissar. Both killed in action at Brunete. Bill on 6/7/'37 and Bob on 8/7/'37. Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_ 191072

Left: Unknown, Unknown, Albert McIntosh, Bill Rust, Joe Norman, Joe Caniffe, unknown. Front. all unknow except Sam Wild (first right). Photo signed by Harry Pollitt

Daily Worker photo of CPGB General Secretary Harry Pollitt (middle, dark jacket) upon his visit to Ambite, Madrid. left: Walter Tapsell, Bill Paynter, Fred Copeman, George Aitken, George Brown and Bert Williams

Irishman Paddy O'Daire (l) with Frank West from Hammersmith, London.

British Battalion Volunteers: from left: Francis O'Brien (Dundalk) Ted Edwards, Sam Wild (Ardwick) Albert L McIntosh (Platting) John Leith "Hookey" Walker (Fife) Battalion Quartermaster, Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11-1325

Mondéjar Plaza Mayor 30/11/1937: Scene at ceremony of the presentation of flags to the British Battalion. Flag bearer on the left unknown, but on the right is Albert L McIntosh. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11-1793

British, Spanish and American Volunteers who were present at the Mondéjar flag ceremony. from left, all unknown till 5th left Bill Alexander, Hookey Walker, unknown, Fred Copeman, Bobby Walker, unknow, unknown, unknown, Albert McIntosh. front row left: unknown, unknown, Sam Wild, Lt Cipriano Escudero, Wally Tapsell, Robert Merriman, Dave Doran, unknown.

Rehearsal for the flag presentation. note all the children eager to see the British Battalion. Thanks to Alan Warren for this picture.

Fred Copeman commands the British Battalion of the XV International Brigade, at Mondéjar Plaza Mayor. Bobby Walker on the right.

Mondéjar Plaza Mayor, 30/11/1937 where the British Battalion were presented with the Battalion banner by senior CPGB member Bill Rust.

Sam Wild (in front) drills the troops at Mondéjar Plaza Mayor during the flag ceremony 30/11/37

Mondéjar Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor 30/11/1937. Nearest Dave Doran (Lincoln) Bill Rust, Fred Copeman, Wally Tapsell with Bill Alexander standing out front. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_176003s

Mondéjar Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor on 30/11/1937. Left: Wally Tapsell, Bill Rust (who brought the flag over from the UK) and Fred Copeman. Thanks to Alan Warren for this picture.

Mondéjar Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor. 30/11/1937 at the presentation of the Brigade flags. From left. Dave Doran (Lincoln) Jim Ruskin, and Bill Alexander. Lt Cipriano stands in the middle of the small group on the left. Thanks to Jo Yurek for this picture.

Darmos April 1938: Left: Lieutenant Tom Glyn Evans and Political Commissar Frank West.

Members of the British Battalion No 2 Company: Irishman Johnnie Power (third left) and Welshman Archie Cook (fourth left ) others in the picture but not identified are: John Longstaff, John Fanner, Charles Nelson, Francisco Olmos, Juan Ponce and Andrew Shaw.

In the Trenches at Fuentes de Ebro: left, George Fletcher, Hamish Frazer and Harry Dobson. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:177_184003

Left; Hookey Walker, Harry Poll (Lincolns) Dave Doran (Lincolns) Vladimir Copic (XV Brigade Commander) unknown, Bill Rust (Daily Worker) Harry Pollitt (CPGB Gen Sec) Malcolm Dunbar, Fred Copeman, unknown, Wally Tapsell, Bill Alexander.

CPGB General Secretary Harry Pollitt addressing the men of the British Battalion in September 1937. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 177_ 176005.

The British Battalion march into the town of Teruel in Southern Aragon which fell on 21/12/1937.

The Major Attlee Company Banner: Darmos: 10/04/1938: Lt Morris Davies holding the left side of the flag, Lt Tom Glynn Evans holds the other end. Picture by Daily Worker.

Men of the British Battalion, No. 1, Major Attlee Company, 15th International Brigade, Darmos 10/04/1938. 2. Lt Domingo Morales Garcia, 3. Lt Morris Davies, 6. William McCauley, 8. Ernie Hartwell, 9. Charles Bennett, 10. Edwin Greening, 11. Lt Tom Glyn Evans, 13. Jack Roberts? 16. Arthur Johnson 19. Company Commander, Sam Wild,. 24. Frank West, 28. George Green, 31.Goff Price 33. Edward Flannagan, 35, Tom Howell Jones. Please click on photo to enlarge.

Darmos: 10/04/1938: Frank West (Political Commissar of No2 company) holding broad edge of pennant, over his left shoulder at the back is Evan Jones, behind pennant in glasses is George Green, Goff Price (behind Edwin's right shoulder) Andrew Flanagan (holding the tip) In the black beret at the back is Tom Howell Jones, (killed in the Sierra Pandols) The name Saklatvala can be seen on the pennant, this was the first name given to the British Battalion in Spain

Picture 1. Darmos, April 1938?: Michael O'Roirdan (standing fifth left) George Green (standing seventh left) Hookey Walker (kneeling first left) Robert Fields (third left) Billy Griffiths (kneeling third right)

Picture 2. Darmos, April 1938. Benny Goldman (standing seventh from right) Jack Kremmer? (on Benny's right) Ernie Hartwell (kneeling second left)

Picture 3. Darmos, April, 1938. Sol Frankel (kneeling first right) Battalion Commander Sam Wild (standing first right)

British Battalion: Location unknow. Rowley Williams (second left front row) Brazzel Thomas (third left front row) Arthur Johnson (black cap behind Rowley) Bob Cooney (fifth left front row) William McAulay (Sixth left front row) Evan Jones (first right standing)

The British Battalion behind the lines 1/5/1938. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:

British Battalion: CPGB General Secretary Harry Pollitt (not in shot) giving a speech on one of his five visits to the Battalion in Spain. Morris Davies from Treharris, Wales (seated, white shirt with dark top, leaning on one hand in centre right of picture)

Darmos: From left: Lieutenant Cipriano Escudero, Battalion Commander Sam Wild and Sargento Juan Parra Artero.

Standard bearer with the No. 1 Company Major Attlee Banner. Labour leader Clem Attlee visited the British Battalion in November 1937. The first company was then named in his honour.

John Ness (Dundee, kneeling 4th from left) Alun Menai Williams, (at the back bare forehead, smiling) Peter Cassidy (Dundee, 3rd from left holding rifle. John McLean (next to Cassidy)

Machine Gun Crew, left: Jesus Cano Candel, John Lobben, and Joaquim Plaza

The machine gun used by the Republican army was the Russian made Maxim, as seen above and in the picture on the right.

British Machine-Gun crew with Maxim gun: left: unknown, Joe Carter (NZ) Frank West, unknown.

Picture purporting to show members of No. 2 Machine-Gun Company in the Jarama Valley, February 1937.

XV Brigade Machine-Gun Company, Ambite December 1937.

Merseyside Volunteers: Marça, late May 1938. from left: Robert Doherty (first left officers cap) Jack Jones (in front with black beret) Frank Proctor (bare chest) George Bean (in light trousers, Visiting President of the Liverpool Guild of University Undergraduates) Frank Deegan (back row middle with cap at an angle) William "Ces" Bibby (holding bayonet to Frank's left) Bill Thompson (black beret behind 'Ces') James Jump (next to Cecil with the black curly hair) Ernie Pilson and Australian Kevin Rebecchi (in front of bush) Thanks to Danny Payne for his help in identifying these volunteers from his home city.

Among the trees of the Valley de Fontaubella, June-July 1938, 10 miles from Mora de Ebro, and close to the Catalan village of Marsa. Also known as the 'Chabola Valley'. Below trees on the left with glasses and smoking is Bertram Vranch from Abertilly.

The Major Attlee Company in the Valley of Fontaubella near Marça, June-July 1938.

British Battalion, Major Attlee No. 1 Company, XV International Brigade. Company Commander 'Taffy' Evans (holding banner on the right) George Murray from Scotland (extreme right)

The Paper Mill, Marca, June 1938: Officer's of the XV Brigade on the appointment of the new Brigade Commander, Jose Valledor, he is centre with the out going Vladimir Copic to his right. Also in picture are: Johnnie Gates, Malcolm Dunbar, Bob Cooney. Sam Wild, Hookey Walker, Major Edward Cecil-Smith, Egan Schmidt, Cpt David Kamy, George Fletcher, Paddy O'Daire, Arthur Nichol, Frank Rogers, Milton Wolff, George Watt, Sandor Voros. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:11-0451

The Paper Mill, Marca, June 1938: Some of the officers before or after the photograph on the left was taken. Vladimir Copic (second left) James Bourne (third left) Sandor Voros ( fourth left, bald forehead) Radomir Smrcka (fifth left, moustache and officer's hat) Malcolm Dunbar (sixth left, dark shirt) New Brigade Commander Jose Valledor (looking at camera in centre) Captain David Kamy on the right. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11-0452

Sol Frankel (second left) Johnny Power (centre) Max Nash and George Wheeler prior to the Ebro Offensive.

Student Ted Heath, visits the British Battalion in mid July 1938 just prior to the Ebro Offensive. Heath would, in later years, rise to the position of British Prime Minister.

Welshman Jack Roberts (standing first right) and Dundonian Peter Cassidy (first left kneeling)

Ebro crossing: Ferry crossing point at Asco. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:

British Battalion Officers just prior to the Ebro offensive, July 1938. Standing Left to right: Fred Morris (Maerdy) Tom Glyn Evans (Kenfig Hill) Morris Davies (Treharris) front left: Commissar Frank West, (London) unknown, Battalion Commander Sam Wild (Manchester) Lt Cipriano (Spain) Lieutenant Johnnie Power (Waterford) unknown, Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney (Scotland)

British Battalion volunteers during the Ebro offensive 19/07/1938.

Crossing the Ebro by boat, 25/07/1938. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11_0529

Republican forces cross the Ebro at Miravet.

Crossing the Ebro pontoon bridge. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11_1874

Ebro Offensive, Hill 481. British Officers. Left; Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney, Captain George Fletcher and senior Communist Party member, former British Battalion Commissar and in his then capacity as Daily Worker correspondent, Peter Kerrigan.

XV International Brigade Officers on the slopes of Hill 481, near Gandesa: clockwise from left: unknown. Assistant Commissar of the XV IB José Maria Valera, Major Valledor, unknown, British Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney, Sandor Voros (Lincoln Battalion) unknown, Alan Gilchrist, Paddy O'Daire, Cipriano Escudero, Tom Murray, British Battalion Commander Sam Wild, Peter Kerrigan, Captain George Fletcher, unknown, XV Brigade Commissar, John Gates. (Lincoln Battalion)

British Battalion Officers on Hill 481 aka the 'Pimple' clockwise back left: Peter Kerrigan, Battalion Commander Sam Wild, Battalion Secretary Ted Edwards, Captain George Fletcher, unknown, Company Commissar Allan Gilchrist, Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney.

Sierra Pandols August 1938. Jim Brewer (third left) and Battalion secretary Ted Edwards (second right middle row) Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11_17343.

Sierra Pandols: British Battalion Estado Mayor (HQ) Battalion Commander Sam Wild (second left) Johnnie Power (first right) Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11_1741

Sierra Pandols: British Battalion Armoury. John Bassett (first right) Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: 11_1740

Placa de Libertat, Darmos, 24/09/1938: from Left: Hookey Walker, Alan Gilchrist, Bob Cooney, George Fletcher, Dr Wolf Jungermann, Sam Wild, unknown, Johnnie Powers, Bobby Walker. Thanks to Alan Warren Jungermann ID.

Placa de Libertat, September 1938: This photo was taken days after the 'Last Stand' near Corbera. Sam's right hand is still bandaged from a wound in the Sierra Pandols. Left: Jesus Cano Candel, Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney, Battalion Commander Sam Wild and Cabo Joaquim Plaza Vidal. Picture courtesy of Mike Wild

Placa de Libertat, Darmos, September 1938. left back row: Benny Goldman, Bob Cooney, Alan Gilchrist, Bobby Walker, Lt Escudero Cipriano. Kneeling front left: Battalion Commander Sam Wild, and Hookey Walker.

Marca: British Battalion survivors after the last action on 23/9/1938. Pic probably taken on the 24th: 6. Bob Cooney 7. Percy Thompson 9. David Plain, 13. Joe Latus 14. Allan Gilchrist 15. Peter Kerrigan 19. Bobby Walker 21. Alun Menai Williams, 20. John Bassett. 22. Cipriano Escudero 26. Jim Brewer 34. John Dunlop 37. John 'Hookey' Walker 40. Benny Goldman 41. George Fletcher 42. Sam Wild 44. Johnnie Power. Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library: My thanks to Ray Hoff for numbering the photo.

October 1938: At the start of the march (next picture along): Ernest Osbourne (left with hands clasped) Jim Brewer (second left) holds the Spanish Republican flag. John Peet stands holding an as yet unidentified pennant. Alun Menai Williams holds the Major Attlee Battalion Banner. Captain George Fletcher stands far right.

October 1938: Near Marça, between Torre de Fontaubella and El Pradell railway station. Welshmen Jim Brewer with beret and moustache is carrying the Spanish Republican Flag. John Peet is seen holding an obscured pennant. Alun Menai Williams with black beret carrying the Major Attlee Company Flag. Photo by Robert Capa

October 1938: The British Battalion on the football field at Marça. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:

25/10/1938. Les Masies, near Tarragona.

25/10/1938. Les Masies, near Tarragona. Farewell ceremony. Left: Colonel Vicente Rojo, Major Juan Modesto, Prime Minister Juan Negrin, General Enrique Lister.

25/10/1938. Les Masies, near Tarragona.

25/10/1938. Les Masies, near Tarragona. Farewell ceremony.

Friday 28/10/1938 around 5.00pm: Farewell parade through Barcelona given in honour of the International Brigades.

Film of the Parade

Friday 28/10/1938 around 5.00pm: Farewell parade. Flowers for this Brigadista.

Friday 28/10/1938 around 5.00pm: Farewell parade. Flowers litter the streets as the people of Barcelona pay tribute to the International Brigades.

Dolores Ibarruri (la Pasionaria) gave her now ledgendry impassioned speech, which closed with the line "Long live the heroes of the International Brigades!"

Speech by Maxine Peake

Friday 28/10/1938 around 5.00pm: Farewell parade through Barcelona given in honour of the International Brigades.

Memorial to 29 members of the British Battalion who died on 27/2/1937 in an attack on fascist positions in the Jarama Valley. Closer study reveals names and dates for the 23rd of February and two for April. The monument was destroyed soon after the end of the war.