British Battalion
"We fight to free Madrid as the first step to freeing Spain. We fight to free Spain as the first step towards freeing the world of fascism."
(Orders of the Day 15th Brigade, July 5th 1937, the day before the battle of Brunete)
(Orders of the Day 15th Brigade, July 5th 1937, the day before the battle of Brunete)
![]() Sam Wild: born 19/08/1908, Ardwick, Manchester. Joined the British Navy in 1924 at 16 and served for 11 years. Able seaman Gunner. Enlistment Address: 34 Stockton Street, Moss-side, Manchester. NUWM. Age: 28. Occupation: Sailor/Rigger. Single. CPGB (1934) CPC (Communist Party of Spain) Sailed Dover to Dunkirk: 31/12/1926 (V 15. 453a.) Arrived in Spain: 2/1/1937. Enlisted in Battalion: 5/1/1937. Made section leader on 1/2/1937. Wounded four times, once in each arm, and twice in the left side on 12/2/1937 at Jarama. Recovered in hospital and was back at Jarama on 17/5/1937. Posted to Battalion armoury. Placed in charge of No's 1 and 2 Company after Villauneva de la Canada. He also saw action at Brunete (Villauneva de la Canada) Teruel (Seguera de los Banos) Belchite (Caspe) Gandesa and the actions along the Ebro river. Wounded again at Brunete, taking a bullet to the right thigh on 9/7/1937. Rejoined Battalion on 7/8/1937. Sam returned to the UK for a propaganda tour on 29/9/1937, returning to Spain on 23/11/1937. Promoted to Battalion Adjutant on either 19/12/1937 or 26/12/1937. Possible wound sustained to the right hand during the Aragon retreats. Wounded in the right hand by a shell splinter in the Sierra Pandols (Ebro) Promoted to Battalion Commander on 17/3/1938. Promoted to Major on 17/10/1938. He received the Republic's highest decoration for bravery, the medal of valor. The citation read: "His untiring energy and efficiency gave an example of bravery to the whole Battalion." Sam was the last, and was regarded as the best Commander of the Battalion. Led the British Battalion home to Victoria Station on 7/12/1938. He returned to Manchester after his time in Spain and was active in raising funds for both the Spanish people, and in the International Brigade Association.
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![]() Fred Bayes Copeman: born 01/03/1907 in Wangford Union Workhouse, Beccles, East Suffolk, England. Joined the Royal Navy at age 14, serving on HMS Suffolk. Leading Seaman, Gunner's mate. Leader of the Invergordon Naval 'mutiny' over proposed paycuts in 1931. T&GWU. NUWM (National Unemployed Workers' Movement) CPGB (1934) Enlistment address: 17 Waller Road, New Cross, London. Occupation: Rigger. Arrived in Spain: 2/1/1937. Enlisted in Battalion: 5/1/1937. Machine-gun Instructor. Appointed 'spare' officer to No.1 Company. Wounded (head and arm) at Jarama on 16/2/1937. Became Adjutant to Jock Cunningham in March 1937, then promoted to Battalion Commander. Commanded the British Battalion from 17/3/1937 until 19/7/1937. Returned to the UK for a propaganda campaign in August 1937. Returned to become staff officer of the 15th brigade. Commanded the British Battalion again from 9/11/1937 until 26/12/1937. Prior to Teruel he nearly died from complications which resulted from an infected shrapnel wound. Some reports indicate peritonitis/appendicitis. Operated on and recuperated in Spain, being repatriated in May 1938. Returned to the UK and married Kitty Bowler. Worked for the Dependent's Aid Committee. Present at the return of the British Battalion to Victoria Station on 7/12/1928.
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![]() Thomas Henry Wintringham: born 15/05/1898, Grimsby. WW1 veteran. Dispatch rider and mechanic attached to the Balloon Corps seeing action at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Other sources say he served with the Royal Flying Corp and RAF in France. Oxford University Graduate, Balliol College. CPGB. (1923) Age: 38. Enlistment Address: Waner Avenue, Richmond, Surrey. Journalist for the Daily Worker arriving in Barcelona September 1936. Formed the Tom Mann Centuria. Joined the British Battalion in Albacete in January 1937. Training Officer/Machine-Gun Instructor. Commander of the British Battalion from 8/2/1937 until 13/2/1937. Wounded at Jarama at around 5.pm on 13/02/1937. Treated at Pasionaria Military Hospital in Murcia. Rejoined the XV Brigade on 18/08/1937 as a staff officer. During the Battle of Belchite on 24/8/1937, he was shot in the shoulder whilst directing operations as the Battalion attempted to capture the town of Quinto. Repatriated to England in November 1937. Helped found Osterley Park, a training school for the Home Guard in 1940. Died on the 6th of August 1949.
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![]() Joseph Wallace Cunningham: born 20/12/1902, at 17 Balgray Row, Glasgow.
Lived at 77 Whiflett St. Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland. British
Army (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Led a mutiny over pay and conditions whilst stationed in the Caribbean. CPGB (1931) Age: 33. Occupation: Miner. Trade Union: MFGB (Miners Federation Great Britain) Arrived in Spain
19/10/1936. Joined the Machine-Gun Company of the Commune de Paris
Battalion, part of the 11th (XI) International Brigade. Jock took part
in the fighting at Madrid, Las Rozas and Lopera. Joined the newly formed British Battalion. In command of No.1 Company 16th Battalion on 27/1/1937. Hospitalised by flu during the first day's fighting at Jarama. Arrived to take temporary command of the Battalion on the evening of 13/2/1937 after Tom
Wintringham was wounded. He and Irishman Frank Ryan were responsible for the 'Great Rally' of wounded and dispirited Brigaders on the 14th, rallying them back to the front to hold the Madrid to Valencia road. He himself was wounded on 14/3/1937, twice in the left arm and once in the chest. Cunningham was
hospitalised, returning in late May 1937. Promoted
to Major and given a staff role at Brigade HQ. After the Battle of Brunete he was recalled to the UK
(29/8/1937) along with Wally Tapsell, Fred Copeman and George Aitken. Tapsell vehement in his criticism of both Cunningham and Aitken. Jock did not return to Spain and became disillusioned with the Communist Party. Rather sadly, Jock was reported to have been seen by former Battalion Commissar Bob Cooney at a rally in Aberdeen, sometime in the 1950's, 'on the tramp' Jock died of bronchial carcinoma on 22/2/1969 Thanks to Mike Arnott for bio info. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:
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![]() George Sutherland Aitken: born: 1894, Airdrie, Scotland. Enlistment Address: 41 Midholm, London, NW 11. also 52 The Drive, Golders Green, London, NW 11. Age: 42. WW1 veteran, wounded at the Battle of Loos. Member of CPGB (1920) Communist Party organiser. A member of the AEU (Amalgamated Engineering Union) Attended the Lenin School in Moscow. Arrived in Spain 26/1/1937?. In Spain 28/1/1937(PF. 39 030) First Political Commissar of the British Battalion in action. He replaced the promoted Dave Springhall. Took temporary command of the British Battalion at Jarama after Tom Wintringham had been wounded around 5 pm on 13/2/1937. Aitken was relieved by Jock Cunningham later that evening. He later became Political Commissar of the XV Brigade and held this position through Jarama and Brunete. Recalled to the UK on 29/8/1937, along with Fred Copeman, Wally Tapsell and Jock Cunningham, Tapsell in particular was highly critical of Aitken and he was not to return to Spain.
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![]() Samuel George Montague Nathan: born 1895 or 1897. WW1, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. POW in Germany. Joined the International Brigades in December 1936. Commanded the British No.1 Company of the La Marseillaise French 14th Battalion who fought at Lopera in December 1936. Killed at Brunete on 16/07/1937 by bomb shrapnel. He was given a funeral with full military honours when buried.
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![]() Patrick O'Daire: born: 22 /05/1905, Glenties, County Donegal. IRA. NCO in the Free State army during the Irish Civil War. TGWU shop Steward. Emigrated to Canada in 1929 and was jailed for 15 months in Saskatchewan for provoking a riot. Member of the CPGB in Bootle, Liverpool, in 1934. Single. Occupation: Labourer. Enlistment Address; 1120 -14th Street, East, Saskatoon, Canada. Arrived in Spain: 7/12/1936. Enlisted in Battalion at Tarazona: 10/12/1936. Wounded at Lopera. Posted to No 2 Company XX (20th) Battalion, 86th Mixta Brigade. Appointed commander of the British Battalion from August–September 1937 and in 1938 he was promoted to director of operations of the 15th International Brigade. Repatriated on 14/9/1938. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:
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![]() Douglas Frank Springhall: (Dave or Springie) born: 28/03/1901, Kensal Green, West London. Royal Navy during WW1. Wrote 'Discontent of the Lower Deck'. Alumni of the Lenin School in Moscow (1928?) YCL (national leadership) Thames valley organiser of the National Unemployed Workers Committee Movement. CPGB (1920) Age: 35. Enlistment Address. c/o 16 King Street, Covent Garden, London. (CPGB HQ) NUC. Springhall was one of the first senior Party officials sent out to Spain on 16/12/1936 to become, firstly, British Battalion Political Commissar (December 1936-February 1937) and then Assistant Commissar of the entire 15th IB Brigade. Wounded on 20/02/1937 when a bullet passed through his cheek during the battle of Jarama. Recalled to England on 24/03/1937 (HS PF 38764) Picture: Spartacus.
A Comprehensive bio can be found at Graham Stevenson |
![]() Frank Ryan: (Proinnsias Ó Riain) born: 11/09/1902, Elton, near Knocklong, County Limerick. IRA East Limerick Brigade, 1921. University College Dublin. Adjutant of IRA Dublin Brigade in 1926. Editor of 'An Phoblacht' (Republican newspaper) Occupation: Journalist. Led a party of Irishmen to Spain on 11/12/1936. Connolly Unit. Wounded at Jarama on 13/2/1937. Seriously wounded in March 1937, he returned home to recover on 9/3/1937 (PF 45668) Returned to Spain but was captured and taken prisoner at Calaceite near Gandesa by Italian Fascists on 31/3/1938. POW at San Pedro de Cardena, Burgos. Tortured and ill-treated, with his health failing, Ryan was taken to Germany upon his eventual release on 25/7/1940 (PF 45668) He died in Dresden on 10/06/1944, aged 42. His body was returned to his native land on 22/06/1979, and buried in Glasnevin Cemetry, Dublin. Source: Tamiment XV Brigade Photograph Collection, Tamiment Library:
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![]() Alexander McDade: born 1905. Enlistment Address:112 Ellismuir (Ellesmere) Street, Glasgow. Age 32. CPGB. TGWU, Hope Street (October, 1929) Occupation: Labourer. Sailed for Spain, Dover to Dunkirk 27/12/1936, arriving 1/1/1937. Political Commissar with the British Battalion. Wounded at Jarama on 16/2/1937.? Alex famously wrote the lyrics to 'Jarama Valley' which was set to the tune of US folk song 'Red River Valley'. Reported killed at Villanueva de la Canada (Brunete) on 6/7/1937.
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![]() John Larmour: born 29/04/1910, Belfast. CPGB (1933) Age: 26. Occupation: Merchant Seaman. Enlistment Address: 53 Vanburgh Park, S.E.3. Reported to Albacete (Spain) 18/12/1936. Member of the British No.1 Company, French 14th International Brigade. Wounded at Lopera and Hospitalised. Joined the newly formed British Battalion, fought and was wounded at Jarama. (Feb '37) Repatriated 07/09/1937.
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![]() David Crook: born 14/08/1910 in London. enlistment Address: 69 Warrington Crescent, London W9. Education; Cheltenham College. Colombia University (New York) American League Against War and Fascism. YCL (1934) Labour Party (North Paddington) NUC (National Union of Clerks) Part-Time private secretary to Labour MP, John Parker (Romford) Left Dover for Dunkirk 3/1/1937 (V15 455b) Crossed into Spain by train on 02/01/1937. Elected Political representative for 140 British Volunteer's at Figueras. Political Delegate of Lewis-Gun Section at Madrigueras. Contemporaries included Christopher Cauldwell and future Battalion Commander Sam Wild. Group Leader No. 1 Section, No.1 Company.Wounded twice in the thigh at Jarama. Recovered at a Madrid Hospital (approx 7 weeks) Returned to Jarama front on 3/4/1937. At OTS, (Officer Training School) PozoRubio on 28/4/1937. However he was transferred to Madrid on the orders of the Estado Mayor (HQ) Worked as a spy for the Russians in Barcelona, reporting on the POUM and ILP. Trained by one Ramón Mercader (assassin of Trotsky) Repatriated.
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![]() Archibald Campbell McCaskill Williams: born: 3/10/1904, 90 Percy Road, Southsea, Portsmouth. Enlistment Address: Upper Arundel Street, Portsmouth. Sailed for Dunkirk on 21/12/1936? Arrived in Spain; 1/1/1937. Member of No.2 Machine-Gun Company captured on the second day (13/2/1937) of fighting in the Jarama Valley. POW at Talevera de la Reina. Kept a prison notebook (see Prisoners of war) Repatriated 30/5/1937. My personal thanks to Lisa Croft, grand-daughter of A.C, and his daughter, Rosemary Williams, for their generosity in helping with this image and information.
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![]() Cyril Alfred Sexton: Occupation: Shop Assistant/Clerk. Enlistment Address; 97 Benhurst Gardens, Selsdon, Croydon. Occupation: Gardner. Arrived in Spain: 14/1/1937. Member of No. 2 Machine-Gun Company at Jarama. Saw action at Jarama (February 1937) Brunete (July 1937) Aragon (August, September and October) and the Ebro campaign of May, June, July 1938. Positions Held: Peleton leader, Section leader, Chief Clerk of XV Brigade Base. OTS at Pozorubio 16/5/1937-5/7/1937. Confirmed Sergeant on 5/7/1937. Wounded at Jarama on 17/2/1937 (back and shoulder) and during the Ebro campaign on 26/7/1938 (right cheek of face) Many of No.2 machine-gun company were captured on the second day (13/2/1937) at Jarama. Cyril and his machine-gun crew evaded capture as they had been placed out on the left flank to give covering fire. The picture above show's Cyril the day after the operation to remove a bullet from his shoulder area. Taken at Murcia Hospital on 25/2/1937. My personal thanks to Clive Sexton for allowing me to use this photo of his father.
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![]() Charles L. Hart: aka 'Yorkie' Age: 25. M&GWU. Enlistment Address; 1 Stanmore Road, Burleigh, Leeds. Arrived in Spain: 14/1/1937. Member of No. 2 Machine-Gun Company at Jarama. He was No. 2 on the gun with Cyril Sexton as No. 1. Escaped capture on the second day of fighting in the Jarama Valley, as their gun crew had been placed on the left flank to provide covering fire for the Company.
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![]() Roy Theodore Watts: Born in 1914, Age: 24. Occupation; Co-op Salesman. 21 Daneshill Road, Newfoundpool, Leicester. YCL. (1932) Spain 14/02/1938. Machine Gun Company of the XV International Brigade. Also Communications Unit. Killed during the final three days of combat, 21-23rd September, during the Battle of Ebro.
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![]() Ivor Rae Hickman: born 08/10/1914 in Southampton. 24a Gordon Avenue. Age: 23. Enlistment address: c/o Mrs MacArthur Foxcole? Street, Petersfield, Hampshire. Cambridge University OTC (Artillery advanced examination) Occupation: Mathamatical Engineer. Married. CPGB (1936) Arrived in Spain: 14/10/1937. Enlisted in Battalion:17/10/1937. No.2 Company, No. 3 section, No. 3 group. Chief of Observers for the British Battalion. Killed during the final hours of combat in the Sierra Cabals, Battle of the Ebro on 23/09/1938
Ivor Rae Hickman is the subject of a very fine book by author John L. Wainwright. The Last to Fall pieces together the life of Ivor using previously unseen letters. |
![]() John 'Jack'Nalty: born: 8/9/1902, Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland. Family moving to Dublin when aged six. Enlistment Address; 1Merville Villas, Convent Road, Dublin. Joined the Fianna in 1917 aged 16. Occupation: Yard Foreman, Oil Works. ITGWU (Shop Steward) Joined the IRA (1919) and was a member of C Company, No. 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Arrested and interred in the Curragh, March 1923 until November of that same year. CPI (1933) IRC (Irish Republican Congress, 1934) One of a group which left Dublin for Spain on Friday 11/12/1936 led by Frank Ryan. Although personal bio states he and six others arrived on 8/12/1936. Trained at Madrigueras, near Albacete. Member of original No.1 Company. Fought at the village of Lopera (Cordoba) going into action on 27/12/1936. 1936. Received three bullet wounds from a machine-gun on 28/12/1936 at Villa del Rio, which resulted in a three month stay in hospital. OTS at Pozorubio on 28/4/1937. Rejoined Battalion on 10/5/1937. Rifle No: 5311. Machine Gun Company. Rank: Sergeant. On leave home and returned to Spain leaving for France on 26/3/1938 (V46 1224a) and arrived on 10/04/1938 with Patrick Duff. Jack Nalty was killed on 23/09/1938 on the Ebro front, the British Battalion's last day of action.
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![]() Frank Harold Ellis: 20 Baker Street, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. Married. Occupation: Transport. Age: 23. CPGB (1933) Trade Union: NUDAW (1934) Arrived in Spain 5/11/1937. Taken prisoner at Calaceite on 31/3/1938. POW at San Pedro de Cardena, Burgos. Repatriated 27/10/1938. WW2 Royal Artillery.
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![]() John 'Jack' Edwards: born: 3/1/1914, Wavertree, Liverpool. Address: 24 Walpole Street. YCL (1929) Enlistment Address; 81 Lawdon Road, Liverpool. Left Dover with a small party bound for Spain on 16/1/1937. Member of No. 4 Company which fought at Jarama. Wounded and sent to hospital at Benicassim to recover. Posted to the 1rst Regiment de Tren (Transport) as a mechanic before joining the 129th Artillery Divsion. Saw further action at the Aragon, Teruel and the Ebro. Repatriated in February 1939. died 26/1/2011. My personal thanks to Richard Baxell for this bio. Picture: Graham Stevenson
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![]() James Worton: Enlistment Address: 24 Manor Street, Middlesborough. Occupation: Boot repairer. Age: 26. YCL (1936) Arrived in Spain: 23/1/1938. Assume wound as reported present at Vic (Vich) hospital on 14/10/1938.
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![]() Arthur Porter: Enlistment Address: 16 Godfrey Avenue, Manchester. Single. Occupation: Sheet Metal Worker. Trade Union: NUDAW. CPGB (1931) Age: 29. Arrived in Spain: 4/2/1937. Killed at his post covering the retreat of his comrades at Jarama on 12/2/1937.
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![]() William Banks: Eccles, Manchester. Age: 29. Enlistment Address: 95 Lewis Street, Patricroft, Manchester. Occupation: Metal Engineer. AEU. CPGB (1930) Arrived in Spain: 5/2/1938. Killed in March 1938 on the Aragon front. Death certified on 30/8/1938 Picture courtesy Working Class Movement Library.
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![]() Edward John Flanagan alias Andrew Flanagan: born: 1917, Birmingham. Arrived Albacete, Spain on 16/12/1936. Wounded (hand) at Jarama on 27/2/1937. In action at the Aragon front in Feruary 1938. Wounded in the throat at the Ebro (26/7/1938) and taken to Mataro hospital. Repatriated December 1938. My personal thanks to Olga Flanagan for the use of this picture.
Andrew Flanagan and the International Brigades |
![]() Joseph Cryer: born: 2/5/1900, Lancashire. Age: 38. British Army (1918-1919) Liverpool University, Honours Course English Lit. (1919-1922) CPS (1937) Enlistment Address: c/o Mary Cryer, Eye and Ear Hospital, Manhattan, New York. Occupation: Lecturer in English Literature, at the Egyptian State University, Giza, Cairo, Egypt. Single. Arrived in Spain: 23/8/1937. Battalion Paymaster appointed on 30/9/1937. Rank: Sergeant appointed on 24/11/1937
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![]() Edward Walker Edwards: born 5/2/02, Wales. Enlistment Address: 335 San Bonnie Brae, Los Angeles, California. Occupation: Seaman/Clerk. Age: 36. Arrived in Spain: 14/1/1937. CPC (Communist Party of Spain) Wounded at Jarama on 14 or 15/2/1937. Served at Brunete, Belchite, Teruel, Aragon and the Ebro campaign. No. 2 Coy Clerk. Appointed Battalion Secretary on 19/7/1937. Citied in Army orders for 'devotion to duty' during Ebro campaign. Repatriated.
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![]() Alan Lawson: born 20/6/1912. Occupation: Cinematographer. CPGB (1936) Trade Union: Association of Cine Technicians. Arrived in Spain: January 1938. Film work for propaganda purposes working in the sub-secretariat of the Propaganda Ministerio de Estado (Department of State) as part of Ivor Montagu's film Unit.
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![]() James Hoy: born: 26/2/1910, Liverpool. Enlistment Address: ?CPGB, Southwark Branch, agitprop secretary (1934) T&GWU. Sailors and Firemans' Union (Liverpool) British Navy (4 years) Reported to have been of the leader's of the Invergordon Mutiny (13/9/1931) which was in protest of pay cuts to sailors wages. Occupation: Construction Worker. Arrived in Spain: 5/5/1937. John Brown Artillery, Anglo/ American Battalion, 14th Battery, 2nd Group, 11 Regiment, based at Almansa. Battery Scout. Political Delegate. Repatriated.
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![]() Ronald George Lane: born: 8/8/1916, London. Enlistment Address: 5 Clairview? Road, Streatham, London, SW 16. Occupation: Scientific Instrument Maker. Age: 22. CPGB (1938) Arrived in Spain: 17/8/1938. Joined Battalion: 6/9/1938. To Hospital, 8/9/1938.
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![]() Thomas Reginald Perry Poole: born: 11/9/1910, Southall, Middlesex, England. Occupation: Chofer. T&GWU. CPGB. Enlistment Address: ?. Arrived in Spain: 1/10/1936 or 30/3/1937. British Medical Unit. Sanatario. Ambulance Driver?
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Suggested reading:
'Unlikely Warriors: The British in the Spanish Civil War and the Fight against Fascism' Richard Baxell
'British Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, The British Battalion in the International Brigades, 1936-1939' Richard Baxell
'Crusade in Spain' Jason Gurney
'Britons in Spain, A History of the British Battalion of the XVth International Brigade' William Rust
'At the Margins of Mayhem' Angela Jackson
'They Shall Not Pass' Ben Hughes
'Unlikely Warriors: The British in the Spanish Civil War and the Fight against Fascism' Richard Baxell
'British Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, The British Battalion in the International Brigades, 1936-1939' Richard Baxell
'Crusade in Spain' Jason Gurney
'Britons in Spain, A History of the British Battalion of the XVth International Brigade' William Rust
'At the Margins of Mayhem' Angela Jackson
'They Shall Not Pass' Ben Hughes