Saturday 4th February 2023
Townhead Village Hall, Glasgow.
Saturday saw the Glasgow book launch of a new addition to the growing library of publications written about the Spanish Civil War. Published by Luath Press Ltd and edited by Willy Maley “Our Fathers Fought Franco" is a collection of stories of 4 volunteers (James Maley, Donald Renton, Geordie Watters and Archiebald Campbell McAskill Williams) who travelled to Spain to join the International Brigades and defend the newly elected Spanish government.
By the time Delores Ibárruri addressed the International Brigades in her famous farewell speech in Barcelona 1938, the 50-60 thousand strong brigaders who had arrived in Spain over the previous 2 years full of hope and a sense of freedom had been reduced to around 13000 volunteers. The Inter-Continental band of comrades had been on the front line of the fierce and brutal battles for control of Spain, many volunteers paid the ultimate price and remain entwined in the roots of that fledgling democracy. Others were captured, tortured and paraded as trophies by the military dictatorship that would continue to cast a shadow over Spain long after the final bullets of the war had been fired.
Almost nine decades have passed since the global call to arms that saw socialists, communists, anarchists and Anti-Fascists unite behind the Popular Front government in Spain when a military coup threatened the democratic changing of the guard at the Spanish seat of power and undermining any possible reforms promised by the new rainbow coalition.
With democracy in jeopardy , the eyes of the political world looked on. Meanwhile, in Britain a strong working class movement was mobilising in opposition to the ruling class that had sat at the head of the table of British society for generations. For the activists who had helped organise and unite workforces, rent strikes and hunger marches, the growing tensions in Spain was an opportunity to take direct action and support their fellow workers.
“They went because their open eyes could see no other way" is one of the inscriptions on the International Brigades memorial in London. Many thousands of those volunteers of the International Brigades were men and women who left everything behind in their homeland to support the newly elected Popular Front government. For those who did return home, the scrutiny and suspicion from intelligence agencies made it impossible for some to re-join society.
As part of the launch the authors offered an insight into their inspiration in creating this book as well as sharing stories of their parents and grandparents involvement in political movements before and after the Civil war in Spain, including confrontations with Oswald Mosley and Lord Haw-Haw. To hear these accounts retold with such passion provided a poignant, emotional but equally uplifting experience for those fortunate to be in the hall.
Paul and Chris of Glasgow social folk-rockers The Wakes delivered the soundtrack to the session with rousing renditions of Christy Moores Viva la Quinta Brigada, These Hands (written by the Wakes for Glasgow brigader James Maley) and wrapped up the event with socialist anthem The Internationale.
Delores Ibárruri, or La Passionara has a permanent link to Glasgow with her statue standing triumphantly on the banks of the river Clyde. So, its probably best to wrap this up with her closing words to the crowds who turned out to bid farewell to the volunteers
“Long live the heroes of the International Brigades!”
Royalties from the book are being donated to the IBMT, who help keep the memories and spirit of those who fought Fascism in Spain.
The book is written by Lisa Croft, Willy Maley, Jennie Renton and Tam Watters. More information on the International brigades memorial trust can be found at IBMT and the book can be ordered Here
