IBMT Trustee Alan Lloyd introduces his upcoming history of International Brigaders connected to Hampshire. It will be published by the Clapton Press in September and is available for pre-order here. Thanks to Simon Deefholts at the Clapton Press, my long promised book about International Brigaders connected to Hampshire will be released on 15 September. The […]
Margaret Powell (1913-1990) was a Welsh nurse, born in the village of Llangenny, who volunteered in support of the Spanish Republic in the civil war. She served in Aragón over the winter of 1937-1938 and in Barcelona for the rest of the conflict. She was one of the last British International Brigade nurses to leave […]
By Jim JumpIBMT Chair Families of International Brigaders could soon be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship, thanks to a draft law that has cleared its main hurdle in the Cortes (Spanish parliament). Article 33 of the new Democratic Memory Law offers citizenship to those descendants of the International Brigaders who can prove that they […]
This month marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Brunete. Fought west of Madrid, the Republicans were initially successful but, weakened by heat, fatigue, thirst and continual aerial bombardment, were unable to achieve their main objective, securing the heights overlooking Madrid. They suffered devastating casualties and loss of armaments. In the end, both sides […]
Elizabeth Estensen, actress and daughter of International Brigader Otto Estensen, was an honoured guest speaker at the IBMT’s 2022 annual commemoration on Saturday 2 July. She spoke about her father and the legacy of the volunteers. The speech is reproduced below. I’ve often been asked why my father had been given a German name. The […]
RMT President and IBMT Trustee Alex Gordon was an honoured guest speaker at the IBMT’s 2022 annual commemoration on Saturday 2 July. He spoke about the railway workers and merchant seamen who joined the International Brigades and their political legacy in the labour movement. Good afternoon to everyone attending today’s IBMT annual commemoration! I bring […]
IBMT activists shared the history of the of International Brigade volunteers from Manchester with attendees of the city’s annual history festival, held on the weekend of 11-12 June. Manchester Histories Festival 2022 was held in the restored Gorton Monastery, which is close to the birthplace of British Battalion commander Sam Wild, whose daughters Hilary Jones […]
Jim Jump reviews ‘Poems from Prison and Life’ by Marcos Ana, translated by David Duncombe (Smokestack Books, 2021). Jump is the Chair of the IBMT. This piece was originally published in ¡No Pasaran! 1-2022 which is available to read online here. Marcos Ana (1920-2016) was one of Spain’s longest-serving political prisoners. He spent 23 years […]
This is an edited version of a speech by IBMT member John Partington, who is also a member of the TSSA union, Reading Trades Union Council and Oxford and District Trades Union Council. It was read during a ceremony held on 1 May 2022 at the International Brigade Memorial in Reading, Forbury Gardens. The Reading […]
The IBMT’s Annual General Meeting will take place in Manchester on 15 October as part of a weekend of commemorative, educational and social activities. In the run up to the AGM this page will be regularly updated with AGM reports, notices for elections, agenda items and the agenda. Provisional programme Friday 14 October 7pm-9pm: Welcome […]
The contribution of Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for democracy and against fascism, was recalled and celebrated at the Jim Connell Festival, held on the weekend of 20-22 May in Kells, County Meath. Brenda O’Riordan and Liam Cahill at the Jim Connell Festival. Historian and writer Liam Cahill gave a talk based […]
On 14 May the IBMT, in cooperation with the Marx Memorial Library, hosted a launch event for ‘The Fighter Fell in Love’, the Spanish Civil War memoir of International Brigader James R Jump.
