Jarama memorial missing

Alan Warren, from Porta de la Història, reports alarming news from Spain…

Historical researcher José Maria Olivera Marco has, over the past few years, tried to locate the British battalion Memorial at Jarama, and after an article in The Times by David Sharrock, the Ayuntamiento (council) of Morata de Tajuña assisted the Madrid-based Association of Friends of the International Brigades (AABI) in the construction of a monument with the original names of the British dead that were buried there.

On 24 February 2024, a large group of Brigader families and supporters gathered to unveil the plaque.

The memorial as unveiled in 2024.

Sadly, as often happens around the annual AABI event remembering Jarama, on visiting the memorial with grandchildren of British Brigader Richard Beadles, who died on the same day as some of the Brigaders on the original memorial (23 February 1937)), the plaque had disappeared.

The memorial as it is now, without the plaque listing the British dead at Jarama.

I was approached by José Maria through AABI last week to ask if it would be possible to crowdfund a new replacement plaque for unveiling in February 2027, the 90th anniversary. In summary, AABI are looking for €700 to make three or four out of methacrylate because if they're going to be vandalised, then AABI will have replacements.

Plans for a crowdfunder are already underway, led by AABI and supported by the IBMT, among others. Already €100 has been offered – a great start.

The plaque, current location unknown, listing the fallen members of the British Battalion.

There is a proposal to produce a resin model of the original plaque to raise funds. This is now being designed. A few other ideas include auctioning a few free bespoke tours of various battlefields of the British battalion. The winner need only pay travel expenses and accommodation.

The original memorial, raised in 1937.

While it is early days, we hope to share details of the campaign soon. But for now, we hope that members will consider supporting AABI's campaign and begin planning their trip to attend the memorial unveiling in February 2027.