There's a valley in Spain called Jarama* ……

I grew up with stories of the International Brigade whose men and women went out to fight alongside the democratically elected Government of Spain against the forces of General Franco, his African army and a rat bag of conservative, ultra-nationalist and Fascist groups.

Spain Fights for Independence, For Peace and Solidarity Among All Peoples, 1936

Their battle honours included the defence of Madrid, the battles of Jarma, Brunete, Aragon, Teruel  and Ebro.

Their units were drawn from Britain, The USA, as well as Italy and Germany and the rest of Europe. 

Between 40,000 and 59,000 members served in the International Brigades with some 10,000 who died in combat

I was lucky enough to have met some of those who participated in the war including the writer Ted Willis who organised and drove food convoys to Spain.**

Later still I wrote about Madge Addy who worked in hospitals on the Republican side and was the last nurse out of Spain before the defeat of the Government and the victory of  Franco’s Nationalist army.***

Aid for the Basque Heroes,

So, I was intrigued by a conversation with my old Facebook chum Tony Flynn on a proposed plan for a lasting memorial to those from Salford who participated in the Spanish Civil War.

 Heading up the story he wrote, “I was speaking to Barrie Eckford an active member of Salford Trades Council and the International Brigade Memorial Trust which keeps alive the memory and spirit of the men and women who volunteered to defend democracy and fight fascism in Spain”.

Tony named the men from Salford who went out to Spain and in a fascinating article made an appeal for more information on the those who went and others who as yet have not been recorded.  

The article can be read by following the link and you can contact him at tony@salford.media or via messenger on Facebook.

Location; Spain and Salford

Pictures; Spain Fights for Independence, For Peace and Solidarity Among All Peoples, G. M. 1936-39,  Aid for the Basque Heroes, S H Prives, from The Palette and the Flame, 1980, and Nurse Madge Addy giving a blood transfusion; Daily Worker, November 11, 1938

 Nurse Madge Addy from Chorlton giving a blood transfusion, 1938

* Jarama Valley, ,Alex McDade, of the British Battalion, XV International Brigade, 1938  

**Whatever Happened to Tom Mix, Ted Willis, 1970

***Madge Addy, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Madge%20Addy

****PROPOSED PLANS FOR A LASTING MEMORIAL TO LOCAL PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, Tony Flynn,  https://salford.media/news/local-news/proposed-plans-for-a-lasting-memorial-to-local-people-who-fought-and-died-in-the-spanish-civil-war-r510/?fbclid=IwAR0UbZdnj0U-oWBkqhcgFzKf5rscJHE8vLlHSvXnU4d5ngpuBwC_eBYZ1HY