Serving in Spain - the International Brigades

Most of the Australians who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War fought in the International Brigades. The International Brigades were military units set up to organise the volunteer troops who trekked across the Pyrenees to fight for Republican Spain. The Brigades existed for two years, from 1936 until 1938, when all international volunteers were withdrawn by the Spanish Republic from its forces. It is estimated that during the entire war, between 32,000 and 35,000 members served in the International Brigades, including 15,000 who died in combat; however, there were never more than 20,000 Brigade members present on the front line at one time. Most units were divided by the country, or by the language spoken by the soldiers, with the Abraham Lincoln and George Washington battalions featuring predominantly Americans, the British Battalion, the Garibaldi Battalion (Italian), Thalmann Battalion (German), Henri Barbusse Battalion (French), Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion (Canadian). Australians usually were placed in one of the English-speaking battalions, unless they spoke a language other than English. The International Brigades were involved in the battles for Madrid, Jarama, Guadalajara, Brunete, Belchite, Teruel, the Ebro, and the Aragon fronts. Soon after the offensive of “Suicide Hill” in the Battle of Jarama, the British and Lincoln Battalions were merged, after taking losses of 37% and 25%, respectively. We have the names of at least 16 Australian soldiers are known to have died in the Spanish Civil War.

One Australian fought for Franco. Nugent Bull, a devout Catholic, said he enlisted to “defend the Catholic Church against Communism.” He stayed in Spain as a chauffeur after the war. As World War II approached, he left Spain for London, and later joined the RAF. He wrote letters home of “cracker bombing raids” on German arms factories, seemingly unperturbed that the same factories had been churning out arms for Franco just a few years past. On 8 September 1940, Nugent Bull’s bomber went down and he was declared missing in action, presumed dead.

As many could not state their intention before leaving Australia for fear of not receiving their passports, there may have been more volunteers whose names have been lost to us. The Workers’ Weekly reported 4 unnamed Australians killed with a French volunteer unit early in 1938, as well as 10 Australian volunteers who drowned in the sinking of the City of Barcelona. Below is a list of all Australians known to have volunteered for service in Republican Spain.

Aarons, Sam

Alexander, Jack

Baratta, Ernesto

Barker, Salvado

*Barry, Jack "Bluey"

*Baynham, Ralph

Belcher, William

Blanchart, Barth

Bloomfield, Tom

Browne, Frank

Buckby, Ned

*Burgess, Jack

*Butler, Percival

Buttonshaw, Harvey

Carter, Joseph

Cleaver, W. L.

Coll, Peter

Craig, J.

*Dickinson, Ted

Downing, Orme

Duesa, Barba

East, Lionel

Edmonds, Lloyd

Elliott, Louis

Fisher, John

Franklyn, Jack

Frederico, Juan

Fulton, Paddy

Garcia, Jesus

Hayman, Arthur

Hurd, Ron

*Hynes, Harry

Jordana, Ray

Keating, "Aussie"

Kennot, Lloyd

Kirkpatrick, Jack

Knight, Norman

Lynch, P.J.

Matheson, Colin

*McCarthy, Cormac

McIlroy, Charles

McNeill, Jim

McPhee, Ken

*Morcom, Bill

Murphy, Tom

*Newman, Jack

Plaza, Angelo

*Rebecchi, Kevin

Riley, Charles

Robinson, Albert

Sala, Rosenda

Sime, Arthur

*Stevens, "Aussie"

*Stevens, Jack

*Stewart, Jack

*Torches, John

Walters, Charles

Whately, Dick

*White, Leslie

*Young, William

* Died while serving in the war

Defenders of Republican Spain, circa 1937

Defenders of Republican Spain, circa 1937

We Went To Spain, a booklet celebrating the sacrifices made by Australians for Republican Spain

We Went To Spain, a booklet celebrating the sacrifices made by Australians for Republican Spain

Sam Aarons (centre, shirtless) with other members of the International Brigades

Sam Aarons (centre, shirtless) with other members of the International Brigades

The banner of the Tom Mann Centuria, a unit of the International Brigade, named in honour of Tom Mann, a British trade unionist and socialist who worked in Australia 1902–10. Jack 'Blue' Barry, standing right front, with rifle.

The banner of the Tom Mann Centuria, a unit of the International Brigade, named in honour of Tom Mann, a British trade unionist and socialist who worked in Australia 1902–10. Jack 'Blue' Barry, standing right front, with rifle.

Ralph Baynham, a member of the Amalgamated Printing Trades Union, died in Spain in 1938. An ardent anti-fascist, he had spent his life savings on his ticket to Spain.

Ralph Baynham, a member of the Amalgamated Printing Trades Union, died in Spain in 1938. An ardent anti-fascist, he had spent his life savings on his ticket to Spain.

Joseph Carter, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Joseph Carter, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Lloyd Edmonds, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Lloyd Edmonds, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Lloyd Edmonds with Sam Aarons and other members of his squadron

Lloyd Edmonds with Sam Aarons and other members of his squadron

Lloyd Edmonds, with some of his squadron, and American poet Langston Hughes

Lloyd Edmonds, with some of his squadron, and American poet Langston Hughes

Jack Franklyn left for Spain in 1936, and joined the Republican forces. He was fought in the battle of Belchite in 1938 before being repatriated to Australia in 1939.

Jack Franklyn left for Spain in 1936, and joined the Republican forces. He was fought in the battle of Belchite in 1938 before being repatriated to Australia in 1939.

Jesus Garcia, a volunteer from Australia, and nurse Mary Lowson in Spain

Jesus Garcia, a volunteer from Australia, and nurse Mary Lowson in Spain

Many International Brigadiers continued to support the cause of Republican Spain after returning to Australia . After being invalided out of the Republican Army, Ron Hurd travelled across Australia, raising funds for Republican Spain.

Many International Brigadiers continued to support the cause of Republican Spain after returning to Australia . After being invalided out of the Republican Army, Ron Hurd travelled across Australia, raising funds for Republican Spain.

A number of Queenslanders who volunteered were originally from Spain. Ray Jordana returned to Spain to fight for the Republican cause. He was repatriated to Australia in 1939.

A number of Queenslanders who volunteered were originally from Spain. Ray Jordana returned to Spain to fight for the Republican cause. He was repatriated to Australia in 1939.

Charles McIlroy, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Charles McIlroy, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

James McNeil, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

James McNeil, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Charles Walters, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Charles Walters, an Australian volunteer in the Spanish Civil War

Bill Young, known as "Big Bill" worked in the bush and in construction jobs. He helped defend workers' meetings against attacks from the fascist New Guard during the Depression. He died in Spain during the Ebro offensive.

Bill Young, known as "Big Bill" worked in the bush and in construction jobs. He helped defend workers' meetings against attacks from the fascist New Guard during the Depression. He died in Spain during the Ebro offensive.

International Brigades Medal

International Brigades Medal

Australians In Spain: Our Pioneers Against Fascism, a Memorial Booklet

Australians In Spain: Our Pioneers Against Fascism, a Memorial Booklet

Nugent Bull, second right, the only Australian to volunteer for Franco

Nugent Bull, second right, the only Australian to volunteer for Franco