Memorials

Relief carvings in wood to local volunteers, including two killed on 25 August 1938 in the Battle of the Ebro. Installed by Aberdare Labour Party and local trades council in the party’s premises in December 1967. Relocated to Aberdare Central Library and unveiled by Michael Foot MP June 1986.

Bob Cooney Court in Berryden, AB25 3SP, named after local International Brigader (1908-1984). An explanatory plaque (below) was added inside the court on 17 October 2015.

Mural of local Brigader John Londragan painted by Portuguese artist Vhils (Alexandre Farto) and unveiled as part of Aberdeen’s Nuart Festival. Painted on the wall of a car park next to Aberdeen’s Union Square. The mural is based on a photo taken in Albares, Spain, in 1937 with US Brigader Peter Frye and the daughters of a Spanish shopkeeper Juan Ataro.

Books in the XV Brigade Memorial Library, Aberdeen Unemployed Centre, 54 Frederick Street. Provided by volunteers and the Aberdeen Trades Council, 1989.

Blue plaque to James Keogh, killed on 22 March 1938 at Calaceite. The plaque is situated on a wall, in the atrium, between the Central Art Gallery and the Tameside Local Studies and Archive Centre, Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne OL6 6BH. Unveiled 25 November 2011.

Plaque saluting the courage of the International Brigaders and in recognition of the people of Barnsley who supported democracy in Spain. Unveiled by Mayor Margaret Morgan, 16 October 2006.

Bronze plaque in the entrance to the Shankill Road Library to the seven Shankill men who died in Spain: William Beattie, Bill Henry, James Isaac Hillen, William P Laughlin, Joseph Lowry, Henry (Harry) McGrath and Andrew Molyneaux. Unveiled on 1 February 2014. Initiative of the Belfast-based International Brigade Commemoration Committee, with support from local community organisations.

Plaque in the John Hewitt Bar and Restaurant, 51 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1. Unveiled by Bob Doyle, 16 September 2006.

Statue in Writers' Square. Erected by International Brigades Commemoration Committee and unveiled by Bob Doyle, 13 October 2007.

Mural to the Belfast men who fought against fascism in Spain on the International Wall, Northumberland Street, off Falls Road. Erected by Teach na Fáilte Irish Republican ex-prisoners' support group. Unveiled 20 April 2013.

Plaque in memory of Jim Stranney, killed in the Battle of the Ebro, July 1938, at 7 John Street, BT12 4AG. Unveiled 26 February 2011.

Memorial and portraits of William (Liam) Tumilson, killed at Jarama in March 1937, and Jim Stranney, killed in the Battle of the Ebro, July 1938, at the Republican Memorial Garden in Arun Court, Arun Street, in the Short Strand area. Erected in 2010.

Milltown Cemetery – Jim Stranney listed on family headstone – Buried in Spain.

A plaque dedicated to the men from Blackwood, Wales, who fought, and died, defending democracy in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. Located in Blackwood, Wales.

Memorial to three local volunteers killed in Spain at Blantyre Miners’ Welfare Club. Erected by East Kilbride & South Lanarkshire Trades Union Council, 24 October 2009.

Plaque outside Bolton Socialist Club, 16 Wood Street, Bolton BL1 1DY, dedicated to the local International Brigade volunteers, in particular James Alwyn, who was killed at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937. Unveiled on 16 September 2017.

Memorial plaque in Castle Park, Bristol to 4 Bristol volunteers killed in Spain. Erected by Bristol City Council, 11 December 1986.

Memorial in Burncourt (Co Tipperary) to Kit Conway, killed at Jarama, February 1937. Unveiled 11 June 2005.  Photo thanks to Manus O'Riordan and Le Bod.

Plaque upper floor of centre of Caerphilly Visitor Centre, The Twyn, Caerphilly CF83 1JL.

Plaque in Camden Town Hall, Euston Road, NW1, to volunteers and supporters from Camden. Erected by Camden Borough Council, 29 April 1995.

Tom Jones Room in regional office of Unite (1 Cathedral Road, CF11 9HA) in memory of north Wales volunteer who became regional secretary of the Transport & General Workers' Union.

Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Statue and plaque to four print and media workers killed in Spain in Marx Memorial Lib­rary, 37A Clerkenwell Green, EC1. Unveiled 14 December 2009. Originally erected 1986 by printworkers’ union SOGAT at convalescent home in Rottingdean, Sussex, then unveiled at GPMU union centre at Quorn, Leicestershire, by Jack Jones, November 2002.

Large mural-style painting by Rosa Branson marking 75th anniversary of the creation of the International Brigades, donated to Marx Memorial Library, 37A Clerkenwell Green, EC1, in 2011. Viewing by appointment.

Plaque to Tom Gaunt (killed in Aragón, March 1938), Parish House. Erected by Chesterfield & District Cooperative Party and unveiled by Dennis Skinner MP, 31 October 2009.

The Mary Elmes Bridge is named after the Spanish Civil War aid worker, who during the Second World War rescued Jewish children from being sent to Nazi concentration camps. It enables pedestrians to walk across the River Lee between St Patrick’s Quay and Merchants Quay. The bridge was inaugurated in 2019. Mary Elmes (1908-2002) studied in Dublin, London and Geneva, and in 1937 travelled to Spain. There she ran a Quaker children’s hospital in Alicante, which later transferred to a small mountain village to avoid fascist bombs.

“No Pasarán!” mural on the side of 152 Chastilian Road, DA1 3LQ. Painted by owner Sean McNeill, autumn 2014.

Plaque in Unite the Union office, 56 Carlisle Road, BT48 6SR. Erected by the North West Spanish Civil War Project. Unveiled 18 July 2013.

Hart's Corner, Glasnevin. Memorial bench dedicated to Michael O'Riordan (1917-2006) and daughter-in-law Annette (1953-2013). Erected by Manus O'Riordan, son of Michael, in May 2014.

Memorial headstone in Glasnevin Cemetery over grave of Frank Ryan. Erected following repatriation of his remains for reburial in June 1979.  Photo thanks to Manus O'Riordan.

Unite offices, Middle Abbey Street.

Mural dedicated to Bob Doyle inside the Cobblestone Bar, North King Street, Stoneybatter. Unveiled 7 October 2012. The mural was originally on the outside of the building (as pictured) but, because of planning restrictions, has since been moved to inside the pub. On 6 July 2019 a plaque dedicated to Bob Doyle was also unveiled outside the Cobblestone Bar. 

Plaque to six International Brigade volunteers from Inichicore at Senan Court, 109 Emmet Road, Dublin 8. Erected by Inichicore Friends of the International Brigades. Unveiled 4 May 2013.

Plaque in Peace Gardens, Albert Square. Erected by Dundee City Council, 23 February 1975. Rededicated, with supplementary plaque, by Jack Jones and Jack Edwards, 11 October 2008.

Dungannon Council Offices have had a framed plaque of Charlie Donnelly in the Council Foyer. Painted by local artist, S Keenan, in 2004.

Plaque to Durham volunteers in Miners’ Hall. Unveiled by Jack Edwards, 10 October 2009.

Plaque in memory of volunteers from the city on bench in East Princes Street Gardens. Erected by Edinburgh City Labour Party.
Text reads, 'In memory of those who left this city to serve in the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War’. Edinburgh City Labour Party.”

Memorial to Michael Russell in Simms Lane, Ennis, Co Clare. Unveiled in 18 May 2019. Michael Russell was killed at Jarama. The Irish translates as 'You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend' (La Pasionaria, Barcelona, 28 October 1938).

Portrait of Luton car worker James “Joe” Gough, died at Boadilla del Monte in December 1936, painted by Frank Casey and donated by artist in Unite London & Eastern regional office, 33-37 Moreland Street, EC1V 8BB. Installed in August 2014.

Memorial in Fulham Palace Gardens, SW6, to volunteers from Hammersmith and Fulham. Erected by Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council and local trades council, 31 August 1997.

Pasionaria statue in Custom House Quay. Erected by City of Glasgow, 23 February 1980 and rededicated 23 August 2010.

Plaque in Baillieston Public Library to William Keegan. Erected by Scottish Trades Union Congress, National Union of Mineworkers and Glasgow and Strathclyde councils, 1 December 1989.

Bench seat to Ralph Fox outside the Halifax Town Hall.  The bench was moved to its current location in 2019.  Previously it was in the walled garden in Manor Heath Park, Skircoat Green, close to where he was born and raised at 11 Heath Avenue. The bench was beforehand located in Piece Hall, Blackledge, where it was from 2010 until 2016. Originally in Bull Green. Erected by Ralph Fox Memorial Committee, 24 April 1950 and re-dedicated in 1979.

Statue by Arthur Dooley and plaque erected in Unite union offices, 128 Theobalds Road, WC1, to members who fought in Spain. Erected by the T&G union, 1 June 1990.

Memorial to the Hull volunteers at Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AA. Created by Dan Jones. Unveiled on 16 March 2019 in the presence of the families of nine of the volunteers. The monument includes the names of the known volunteers from Hull.  

Plaque in Inistioge graveyard to George Brown, born in Inistioge (Co Kilkenny), killed at Brunete, July 1937. Unveiled by Jack Jones and Bob Doyle, 28 June 2008.

Memorial stone for John Smith in Knadgerhill Cemetery, Irvine, replacing a previous one on which the inscription had become illegible. Raised by Irvine & North Ayrshire Trades Union Council in November 2017.

Plaque and memorial, Forth Avenue. Erected by Kirkcaldy District Council and Friends of the International Brigades, May 1980 and September 1986. Rededicated 4 April 2009.

Memorial plaque in Peace Walk, Victoria Park, University Road, to three Leicester volunteers killed in Spain. Erected by Leicester Socialist Centre, 15 February 1993.

Plaque to Halcrow Verstage (killed at Brunete, July 1937) and local volunteers, in Town Hall, Catford Road, London SE6. Unveiled by Bill Alexander and Jack Jones, 13 February 1999.

Memorial stone to the six Limerick volunteers (Paddy Brady, Gerard Doyle, Frank Ryan, Joe Ryan, Maurice Emmet Ryan and Jim Woulfe) in the grounds of Limerick City Hall. Unveiled on 14 September 2014 by the Limerick International Brigades Memorial Trust. 

Jack Jones House (2 Churchill Way, L3 8EF), regional offices of Unite, named after local volunteer and union leader.

Permanent exhibition of photographs of Merseyside volunteers in The Casa Bar, 29 Hope Street, L1 9BQ. Opened by Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, 15 September 2012.

Plaque on the ground floor of Liverpool Town Hall (High St, L2 3SW) marking the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War and paying tribute to those people from Merseyside who supported the anti-fascist cause in the Spanish Civil War. Unveiled by the city council on 19 December.

Memorial bench for Spanish Civil War nurse Margaret Lesser (Powell) in the Playground, Llangenny (Powys). Installed in October 2019 by her daughter with the help of the Rev Chris Bowler.

Memorial on the grave of Jim Haughey [along with CWG headstone]. This War Commission Grave is in Dougher Cemetery, Lurgan.

Plaque to Frank Owen by bridge in Maerdy Community Woodland Project. Unveiled 2000 by Lance Rogers and rededicated August 2009.

Carved wood memorial in Town Hall, Albert Square, to Manchester volunteers. Erected by Manchester City Council and Manchester branch of printworkers’ union SOGAT, 12 February 1983.

Moston Cemetery, Moston Lane, Moston M40 9QL. An inscription on the family memorial to Tommy Moore: 'also Thomas, their beloved son killed in action in Spain Jany 24th 1938, aged 22 years.' Photos by Stuart Walsh.

Wooden memorial plaque, made in 1939, in Town Hall. Rededicated 9 October 2009. IBMT member Tony Fox has produced a leaflet documenting the history of the memorial and the Teesside Brigaders listed on it or involved in its creation, which is available here: Teesside Memorial Leaflet

Spanish Civil War memorial in Duchess of Hamilton Park. Erected by the No Pasaran Memorial Committee of North Lanarkshire and unveiled on 20 July 2013. Photos by David McNay.

Memorial stone in Victoria Gardens. Erected 1996.

Information board in the grounds of the Civic Centre listing the names of the 35 International Brigaders from the North-East who were killed in Spain. Unveiled on 9 November 2016. Sponsored by Newcastle City Council and the IBMT, GMB, RMT, Unite, North East Co-op and Jarrow Trades Union Council.

“Echoes of Spain” mosaic under Westway flyover, Portobello Road, W11, commemorating local volunteers and Spanish Republican refugees. Unveiled 18 October 2006 by Jack Jones and Ambassador Carlos Miranda.

Sculpted relief and three plaques in County Hall, West Bridgeford. Erected by Notting­hamshire County Council and unveiled by Jack Jones and Ambassador Alberto Aza, 24 September 1993.

Hillside memorial stone for 7 locals by Friends of the International Brigade, Ireland.

Memorial to 31 Oxfordshire volunteers, naming the six who died in Spain, at Junction of Headington Hill and Morrell Avenue, St Clement’s, Oxford. Erected by Oxford International Brigade Memorial Committee and the IBMT. Unveiled on 10 June 2017.

Ceremonial red stole in St Luke’s Church, Farnborough Way, SE15. Provided by Brigader Douglas Eggar and St Luke’s Church.

Memorial for local volunteers at North Inch. Erected by Perthshire International Brigade Memorial Fund, 5 June 2010.

Plaque to Christopher Caudwell on Atlantic Inn. Erected 20 October 2007.

Headstone in churchyard on grave of John Pascal Rickman (died in April 1937 from wounds sustained in Battle of the Jarama).

Plaque on the side of the town's main war memorial in Civic Square.

Stained glass window at Prestonpans Labour Party Social Club, 5 Kirk St, Prestonpans EH32 9EA. Unveiled in May 2021.

Silverthorne Room in regional office of Unison (10 Church Street), in memory of Thora Silverthorne.

Memorial plaque in Rhondda Council Chamber, Pentre, to Rhondda volunteers. Erected by Rhondda Borough Council and unveiled 2 September 1989 by Jack Jones.

Memorial seat and stone obelisk in Peace Garden, on corner of Wharncliffe Street and Doncaster Road to Tommy James. Erected by Rotherham Community College and Wortley Hall, April 1985 and February 1986. The plaque on the bench reads: Tommy James: born 1898 Rotherham Workhouse. Fighter for peace and freedom 1913-1918 Soldier in First World War 1920-1936 Unemployed and Hunger Marches, local leader in the General Strike 1936-1937 Fighter in the Spanish Civil War 1937-1939 Public Agitator College Square 1967-1971 President Rotherham Trades Union Council Worker Writer Socialist, died 1971. Memorial obelisk was erected in 1986 on the 50th anniversary of the election of the election of the Popular Front government. The plaque reads: ‘We tread but one path. This open space is dedicated to the memory of Tommy James, Man of Rotherham 1898 -1971’

Plaque dedicated to the members of the Independent Labour Party and the Clarion cycling clubs who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Mounted at Clarion House, near the village of Roughlee in Lancashire. Paid for and installed by the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895.

Plaque in Working Class Movement Library to Independent Labour Party volunteers. Unveiled 30 May 2009.

National memorial and sculpture by Ian Walters in Jubilee Gardens, SE1, to the 526 killed in Spanish Civil War who went to Spain from Britain and Ireland. Erected by Greater London Council and International Brigade Association and unveiled by Michael Foot MP, 5 October 1985. Moved to new site in the park in April 2012.

Plaque naming local volunteers in John Harvard Library, 211 Borough High Street, SE1 1JA. Unveiled there on 25 October 2016. Originally unveiled in Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Peckham Road, SE5, on 1 November 1986. Erected by Southwark Borough Council.

Memorial in Hall, Town Hall, Corporation Street to local volunteers. Erected by St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, 1 November 1987.

Memorial plaque in Town Hall, Glebe Street, to three volunteers killed in Spain. Erected by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, 7 September 1989.

Welsh national memorial plaque in Miners’ Library, Hendrefoilan House, Gower Road, to 33 volunteers from Wales killed in Spain. Erected by the South Wales Miners’ Federation, 14 January 1976 and unveiled by Will Paynter.

Spanish chestnut tree in Coate Water Park, to Percy Williams, killed at Caspe in 1938. Erected by Thamesdown Borough Council, 1 November 1986.

Memorial plaque in Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, DT2 7EH, to nine volunteers from Bristol. Formerly in MSF union offices, 1 Tenbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym. Erected 1 July 1986.

Glass plaques in Unite Hall, Keyser Street, to volunteers from Waterford. Erected by Waterford Council of Trades Unions and unveiled by Peter O'Connor and Michael O'Riordan, 1 May 1994.

Plaque to Jack Brent (George Dickie) on 53 George Street, DG8 8NU. Erected 25 February 2006.

Plaque on bench in memory of Ivor Hickman (died 22/23 September 1938 in the Battle of the Ebro) next to Northbrook Building at Peter Symonds College, Owens Road.

Plaque in Labour Hall, Lyndhurst Road, to five Worthing International Brigade volunteers. Unveiled in July 2007.