Here’s our 14 February 2018 eNewsletter to IBMT members. Download this PDF – IBMT eNewsletter no. 37.pdf – to see the version with images.
Better still, become a member of the IBMT (www.international-brigades.org.uk/membership) and you’ll receive this fortnightly update of news and events direct to your inbox on the day it’s published, plus our magazine sent three times a year to your home address.
14 February 2018 No. 37
Go-ahead for closer ties with local groups
IBMT Trustees have agreed new guidelines to support the growing number of local and regional International Brigade commemorative groups.
The guidelines were drawn up at a meeting of the IBMT Executive Committee on 3 February, at which Trustees welcomed the creation of local groups and agreed it was important to help their work and campaigning activities.
Under the guidelines, independent groups will be encouraged to affiliate to the Trust. This will give them the benefits and rights of IBMT membership, as well as the facility to buy IBMT merchandise at discount prices for resale for their own fundraising.
The contact details of member groups can also be publicised by the IBMT and they will receive priority assistance in researching International Brigaders from their area.
See full story here:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/go-ahead-closer-ties-local-groups
IBA newsletters now online
Newsletters of the International Brigade Association are now available on the Marx Memorial Library (MML) website. The IBA was the veterans’ organisation for those volunteers from the British Isles who had fought in Spain. It published a newsletter for members from 1947 to 2000 when the IBA disbanded, to be replaced by the IBMT in the following year.
The newsletters have been digitised and catalogued thanks to funding from The National Archives. The IBMT was a partner in the MML’s funding application, and later this year we will jointly launch an online educational resource to publicise the newly catalogued International Brigades and Spanish Civil War archives held at the library in London.
Who wants our researcher's records?
The IBMT has a large collection of indexed cards and files on individual International Brigaders from Britain and Ireland. They were compiled by our researcher, Jim Carmody, who died in 2016. We are offering to give them away to anyone willing to collect them from the IBMT office in London.
Information in the records was drawn from published sources, from Comintern records and from archives at the Marx Memorial Library and elsewhere. Jim Carmody's research also covered areas of special interest to him, such as the volunteers from Ireland – including those who supported Franco – and the Spanish Republic's aviation. If you are interested in taking away all or a substantial part of these records contact the IBMT at admin@international-brigades.org.uk
New earrings and keyrings on sale
See the IBMT website for more new merchandise products. Sales help fund our vital commemorative, educational and publicity work. They include:
• Keyring in colours of the Spanish Republic. Large badge size (5.5cms diameter). £3.99 plus £2.99 p&p.
• International Brigades keyring. In Spanish Republican colours and showing the three-pointed International Brigade insignia. Large badge size (5.5cms diameter). £3.99 plus £2.99 p&p.
• Earrings in colours of the Spanish Republic. Bespoke perspex laser cut earrings designed for the IBMT in art deco style. 3cms x 2.25cms. £8.99 plus £3.99 p&p.
• Three-pointed star International Brigade earrings. Bespoke perspex laser cut earrings designed for the IBMT. 2.5cms x 3.5cms. £7.99 plus £3.99 p&p.
To place orders for any of the above (p&p charges reduce with orders for more than one item) go to:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/catalog/new-productsspecial-offers
See online…
Trove of unseen photos shows Gerda Taro and Robert Capa in action:
https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/02/12/inenglish/1518429171_470029.html?id_externo_rsoc=TW_CCpamphlets
Cataloguing Marx Memorial Library's Spanish Civil War pamphlets:
Spain brings up the bodies:
www.politico.eu/article/spain-franco-history-valle-de-los-caidos-fascism
Remembering the 'Basque children' in Suffolk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_67XzR_03M&feature=youtu.be
Memories of Eddie Balchowsky and the Spanish Civil War:
https://preaprez.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/memories-of-eddie-balchowsky-and-the-spanish-civil-war
Forthcoming events
Until 17 February OXFORD - ‘¡Buenos Días Dictador!’, a new exhibition of works by artist Sonia Boué about the Spanish Civil War, in particular a response to the years of exile suffered by many Spanish Republicans and their families; at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ; opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm. See:
https://oldfirestation.org.uk/exhibitions/buenos-dias-dictador and www.soniaboue.co.uk/section791050_348089.html
13-17 February GLASGOW - ‘549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War’, a new play by Wonder Fools, with stories and songs about the 549 Scots who volunteered to fight fascism in Spain; 7.30pm (plus 1.30pm matinée on 14 February) at Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow G5 9DS; tickets £12 from:
16-18 February MADRID - The annual international Battle of Jarama commemoration hosted by the AABI Spanish International Brigades friendship group, which attracts visitors from International Brigade associations around the world as well as many Spanish supporters. The visit includes a commemoration at the memorial to the Scottish volunteers at Tarancón on Friday, a walk across the battlefield (sensible shoes and outdoor clothing essential) followed by a complimentary lunch on Saturday and a selection of optional activities on Sunday. See:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/16-18-february-madrid
18 February MANCHESTER - Annual re-dedication of the Manchester International Brigade memorial and commemoration of the Battle of Jarama, commencing at 11am and lasting about an hour inside Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester M2 5DB. All IBMT members, trade unionists and labour movement activists are invited to attend.
1 March LONDON - Public seminar: ‘Spaniards in the NKVD and the Murder of Trostky: A Reassessment’, with speaker Boris Volodarsky. Chaired by Professor Paul Preston. 6pm in Seminar Room 1.11, 1st Floor, Cowdray House, LSE, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HJ). Organised by the LSE’s Cañada Blanch Centre. See:
www.lse.ac.uk/canada-blanch/events
15 March LONDON - Public seminar (title to be announced) with speakers Mercedes Kemp and Professor Helen Graham. Chaired by Professor Paul Preston. 6pm in Seminar Room 1.11, 1st Floor, Cowdray House, LSE, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HJ). Organised by the LSE’s Cañada Blanch Centre. See:
www.lse.ac.uk/canada-blanch/events
20 March-12 April MULTIPLE LOCATIONS - Award-winning folk trio The Young’uns on tour performing ‘The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff’, a suite of songs inspired by the International Brigades and named after the International Brigader who, like the group itself, hailed from Stockton-on-Tees. Dates include: 20 March LEICESTER / 21 March BATH / 22 March HASTINGS / 23 March MALDON / 24 March READING / 25 March EXETER / 26 March CARDIFF / 27 March BIRMINGHAM / 28 March HALESWORTH / 30 March WEM / 31 March NEW GALLOWAY / 3 April MANCHESTER / 5 April LONDON / 6 April BARTON UPON HUMBER / 7 April STOCKTON / 8 April CLITHEROE / 10 April POCKLINGTON / 11 April CARLISLE / 12 April BARROW. For more details and booking see:
and for more information see:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/younguns-dedicate-their-next-tour-international-brigades
For all events, visit our website.
Posted on 27 February 2018.