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Anti-fascists who joined Spanish Civil War honoured

Robbie MacDonald
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Angela Ferguson
BBC News, Lancashire
LDRS Shah Hussein holds an International Brigade flag, which has red, yellow and crimson horizontal stripes, along with the words 'No pasaran'. The memorial, which includes the words 'Spanish Civil War 1936 - 1939' can be seen to his left.LDRS
Burnley Mayor Shah Hussein unveiled the memorial in Burnley

A memorial honouring men from East Lancashire who volunteered to fight fascism in the 1930s Spanish Civil War has been unveiled in Burnley.

Men from Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn are featured in the memorial to the International Brigade.

These men were volunteers who defended the democratically-elected Spanish government from a right-wing coup in 1936 led by Spanish General Francisco Franco.

The memorial, which is near Burnley Library, was unveiled by the Mayor of Burnley, Shah Hussain and Chris Keene from North East Lancashire Trades Union Council.

The Spanish Civil War was fought from 1936 to 1939, with General Franco's Nationalists against left-wing Republicans.

The memorial honours:

  • James Bridge, Nelson
  • George Buck, Nelson
  • Freeman 'Frank' Drinkwater, Burnley,
  • H Eastwood-Taylor, Rawtenstall
  • Harry Edward Gaze, Accrington
  • David Hartley King, Salterforth
  • Jack Howley, Colne
  • John Jolly, Burnley
  • Samuel Martin, Burnley
  • Frank Welsby, Burnley

In Lancashire, support for the International Brigade and Spanish soldiers who tried to defend the democratic government came in other forms too.

Medical aid with volunteer nurses and doctors was provided, along with fundraising activities for ambulances and humanitarian aid.

Lynne Strickland A sepia photo shows David Hartley Kind looking at the camera. The collar of his Royal Marines uniform can be seen.Lynne Strickland
David Hartley King from Salterforth and Nelson, pictured here when he served in the Royal Marines between 1924-31, was among the volunteers from Lancashire

National Archives files have shown that MI5 recorded the names of about 4,000 people from Britain and Ireland suspected of travelling to join the war.

Among the names on the list was Eric Blair, better known as author George Orwell.

He documented his experiences of fighting in the Spanish Civil War in his book Homage to Catalonia.

Volunteers across region

Volunteers from across the north-west of England were also among those who joined the International Brigade.

A plaque installed at Liverpool town hall in 2016 honours volunteers from Merseyside who fought in the Spanish Civil War.

About 200 people from Merseyside fought in the International Brigades, with at least 30 losing their lives.

A campaign is also under way to erect a memorial on Acton Square in Salford to honour 30 volunteers from the city, including nine who lost their lives.

The campaign is being led by representatives from the Salford Trades Union Council, the International Brigade Memorial Trust and the Working Class Movement Library.

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