International Brigade Memorial Trust
AABI (the Madrid-based Association of Friends of the International Brigades) has confirmed the plans for the 18th annual commemoration of the Battle of Jarama. You can find the full programme of AABI events on its website.
Friday 20 February – Ciudad Universitaria visit
– Route: following in the footsteps of the French Commune de Paris Battalion
– Meeting point: Paseo de Moret, Intercambiador de Moncloa exit
– Start time: 10.30am
– Duration: 1.5 hours approximately
– Tickets: the trip is limited to 50 people. You must register on the AABI website.
OR
Friday 20 February – IBMT Tarancón visit
Several IBMT comrades and others based in Scotland, as well as those from FIBI (Friends of the International Brigades in Ireland), are again planning to take a separate coach from Madrid to Tarancón on Friday morning to take part in the annual commemoration at the memorials in the municipal cemetery.
The commemoration will remember the 39 Scots who fell at Jarama, Tarancón’s civilian victims of the Franco dictatorship, those from the town who fell serving with Spain’s Republican forces and those Internationals and Spanish Republicans who died while being treated in the town’s hospitals.
The event will be hosted by ARMH Cuenca, the local historical memory association.
Email Mike Arnott at scotland@international-brigades.org.uk for more information.
Saturday 21 February – Jarama march
AABI’s 18thannual Jarama march will commemorate the role of the French Commune de Paris Battalion, part of the 11th Brigade. Expect a sizeable contingent from ACER, the French Friends of the International Brigades.
– 9.00am: Buses will leave Hotel Agumar, Calle Reina Cristina 7. Please show your email confirmation to board a bus.
– 10.15am: March begins.
– Meeting point: El Alto restaurant carpark.
– 10.15am-11.45am: Guide Miguel Ángel García will trace the steps of the French Commune de Paris Battalion, explaining the key moments of the battle.
– 11.45am: Bus transfer and visit to Arganda bridge. There will also be time to visit the memorial to Brigader Charlie Donnelly in Miralrio Park, Rivas-Vaciamadrid.
– 1.45pm: Transfer to a restaurant in Rivas-Vaciamadrid.
– 2pm-4.30pm: Lunch at Rincon de Martin restaurant.
– 6pm: Arrival back at Hotel Agumar in Madrid.
Tickets must be purchased in advance from the AABI website:
– Jarama bus: €20 (additional €20 pre-sale ticket required – see AABI website for minimum capacity terms)
– Jarama lunch: €25
Those interested in attending are reminded that they will have to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements. A number of those from the IBMT will be staying at the Hostal Persal, Plaza del Ángel 12, Madrid 28012 (www.hostalpersal.com/en/).
For those interested in the AABI events, please monitor the AABI website (www.brigadasinternacionales.org/) for updates.
For those interested in the alternative Friday trip to Tarancón, email Mike Arnott at scotland@international-brigades.org.uk.
