My courageous dad went to the Spanish Civil War 90 years ago to fight fascism

While the war saw fascists and communists clash for three years before ending in 1939, it has been overshadowed by the Second World War, which started the same year.

What is little known is that 2,500 British and Irish men and women went to Spain and over 500 were killed. Around 140 went from the Greater Manchester and east Lancashire.

Dolores Long’s father, Sam Wild, from Manchester joined the International Brigade in 1936 with other volunteers and later became commander of its British Battalion in the fight against fascism.

Furthermore, there were community campaigns in north-west town and cities to send aid to Spain. And some people helped Spanish refugee children who came to the region, including Watermillock House near Bolton.

Dolores Long is raising awareness of all this with the International Brigade Memorial Trust, a charity with supporters’ groups across Britain including Lancashire and Greater Manchester,

‘AMAZING COURAGE’

Dolores, of Whalley Range, Manchester, said: “Sam Wild, my dad, was born in Ardwick, Manchester, in 1908. His mother died when he was two and he was brought up by his father and left school at 14.

“As an unskilled and unemployed young man, he joined the Royal Navy because it was a job with accommodation and food. He travelled the world but was horrified at the poverty he saw and the outdated attitudes and rigid class system on navy ships. He deserted and returned home, becoming active in the unemployed workers’ movement and politics.”

In 1936, the Spanish Civil War arose after a right-wing coup by rebel army general Francisco Franco against Spain’s government. Because Nazi Germany and fascist Italy backed Franco, the conflict had major implications. Now, it is seen as a forerunner to the Second World War. But some people foresaw that in the 1930s.

Dolores said: “In 1936, my dad, aged 28, went to Spain with his friend Bert Masky in the International Brigade. Later in February 1937, they fought in the terrible battle of Jarama, which claimed the lives of many north-west volunteers including Bert. That battle is commemorated every year and we have a public event at Manchester Central Library on Saturday, February 28, this year.”

Dolores added: “In Spain, my dad was involved in many major battles and later became the British Battalion Commander. Under his leadership,the battalion took part in the vital defence of ‘Hill 666’ in the Sierra Pandols near Gandesa. Although wounded, he carried on fighting. For his leadership and gallantry, he was awarded the Spanish Medal of Valour.

“The volunteers had amazing courage – but also foresight too. They realised that democracy was at stake. They also knew that if fascism wasn’t halted there then a European war of unprecedented horror was possible. My father was one of those people.”

Sam Wild died in 1983 and his former home at Birch Hall Lane, Rusholme, has a Manchester City Council memorial plaque for his role in Spain.

FALSE IMPRESSIONS

However, Dolores is concerned about how the civil war is seen today and of poor public awareness.

She said: “If people know anything about the war, it’s often from writers like Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, Laurie Lee and WH Auden. The civil war is often described as ‘The Poets’ War’, so people think the volunteers were all young intellectuals.

“But the vast majority were ordinary, working class men and women, and many were Jewish. They’d already encountered British fascism with Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascist Blackshirts in Manchester and London. Many volunteers had never left Britain before but they were prepared to leave their jobs, families and friends to fight for their principles.”

Asked how her dad and others of his generation influenced her, Dolores said: “I had the great privilege of meeting many men and women who volunteered to go to Spain. They were a real inspiration to me and led to me getting involved in activity such as anti-apartheid protests, anti-nuclear weapons marches and anti-racist activities.”

Franco ultimately won the civil war and the Second World War began soon after. Franco remained in power for decades until 1975. The civil war, his reign and legacy still divide people today.

ACTIVITY TODAY

Dolores and other IBMT supporters’ activities include looking after civil war memorials in British towns and cities, and campaigning for memorials where they currently don’t exist. Memorials can be found in places including Pendle, Burnley, Wigan, Oldham and Manchester. Councillors and mayors have been involved in events too including the late Labour MP Tony Lloyd. More memorials are planned for Nelson and Salford this year, and Blackpool is being looked at.

Other IBMT activity includes history and education work with councils, museums, libraries. students, community and arts organisations. Nelson’s Unity Hall, the People’s History Museum in Manchester and Salford’s Working Class Movement Library all have Spanish Civl War collections.

Another aim is to get the civil war added to school lessons. Dolores said: “When I was growing up, the civil war was never dealt with in school. And most people know very little about it today. But the IBMT has really good materials for schools. It’s such an important era that we must understand and remember.”

Asked if there are lessons from the Spanish Civil War relevant to today’s world, she said: “We have seen the rise of the right in America and some European countries in recent years. So the bravery and foresight of the volunteers who went to Spain remains relevant today.”