Spanish Civil War memorial honours East Lancashire volunteers who fought fascism

East Lancashire men who volunteered to fight fascism in the 1930s Spanish Civil War have been honoured in a new memorial in Burnley.

Men from Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn are featured in the  memorial to the International Brigade near Burnley Library. It was unveiled at a ceremony by the Mayor of Burnley, Coun Shah Hussain, and Chris Keene of North East Lancashire Trades Union Council.

The memorial highlights James Bridge from Nelson, George Buck from Nelson, Freeman ‘Frank’ Drinkwater of Burnley,  H Eastwood-Taylor of Rawtenstall, Harry Edward Gaze from Accrington, David Hartley King of Salterforth, Jack Howley from Colne, John Jolly of Burnley,  Samuel Martin from Burnley and Frank Welsby, also of Burnley.

The ceremony included speaker Lewis Ashworth from Barrowford. He is a University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) history graduate who has researched local links to the Spanish Civil War and other conflicts.

The Lancashire men joined the International Brigade as volunteers to defend the democratically-elected Spanish government from a right-wing coup in 1936 led by Spanish General Francisco Franco.

General Franco’s coup was backed by military troops, weapons and aircraft from Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist Italy.  Some nations, such as Britain and France, took a stance of non-intervention in Spain. But the USSR and left-wing movements did intervene, and the International Brigade was part of that.

Volunteers joined the International Brigade from across the world including Britain. They included members of the Independent Labour Party and the Communist Party.  Because of the issues involved, the 1936-39  Spanish Civil War is often seen as the ‘first battle of the Second World War’.

In Lancashire, support for the International Brigade and loyal 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 fund-raising activities for ambulances and humanitarian aid. Towns such as Burnley and Nelson had Spanish aid committees. Many mayors were involved too.  A display at Burnley Library illustrates the range of activities, including photos of activists and an ambulance provided by the people of Burnley. Also pictured are nurses including Molly Murphy from Leyland.

The new memorial has been supported by organisations including local trade unions , the TUC, University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), the International Brigade Memorial Trust and Burnley Council. The trust supports new memorials and wants the Spanish Civil War era taught in schools.

The ceremony the Burnley and Bolton Clarion Choir. Clarion choirs and other groups, such as cycling clubs, were originally linked to the former Independent Labour Party, which had a newspaper called The Clarion.

Today, there is a Clarion House outdoor club at Newchurch in Pendle, near Nelson. It has Spanish Civl War memorabilia along with many other local items. It is still used for outdoor, political and education activities including a cafe for  visitors on Sundays. Pendle Council has supported it along with charity trustees. Nelson’s Unity Hall, now home to Nelson Town Council, is a former Independent Labour Party venue with ILP architectural features and a reading room.