History - Who Left to Fight

XV International Brigade - Who left to fight?

It is now estimated that around 200 people from Ireland fought with the International Brigades in Spain. Most of those who participated in the Brigades from 1936 to 1939 came from ordinary working class backgrounds. It is said that the majority had been closely involved in republicanism locally within the ranks of the Irish Republican Army or possibly even other family members may have been.

The rest had been involved with radical politics of the day, the trade union movement and a host of other issues surrounding areas of social change. Many had first-hand experience in weapons and had actually participated in guerrilla welfare that had ravaged the land during the war of independence and civil war period. Skirmishes with the British Army and the police that taken place throughout the countryside, in the towns and villages in and round Derry, Tyrone and Donegal.

Why did they leave?

Historically speaking, it wasn’t that long following the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the civil war that came afterwards and so for those who grew up listening to stories of victorious battles, captures and escapes fueled the fire for many internationalists and the fight for a republic. Earlier volunteers who arrived back from Spain spoke of their ‘revolutionary’ training received at the hands of Russians on the frontlines. The collectivization of the land and of the farms struck a cord with many from Ireland.

How did they leave?

What with news filtering out slowly in the national newspapers reporting on stories of increasing division within the Iberian peninsula, public meetings were held in both Belfast and Derry by leading radicals, some public gatherings even involved first hand reports by volunteers who had spent months previously touring Spain, relaying worrying developments as the situation changed from week to week.

As the situation changed, tensions mounted, ideological and political divisions became much more defined. Just as what happen during the civil war in Ireland some years prior to the outbreak of revolution in Spain, entire families broke up amidst heated debate brought on by what was now taking place in a far off country.

The Catholic Church locally, prompted by their hierarchy at Vatican in Rome openly participated in lambasting the republican movement in Spain, favouring of nationalist leaders such as the fascist dictator General Franco.

As the civil war increased throughout Spain so too did attacks from the pulpits of every Sunday sermon of every high mass across Ireland. Disdain from the church was clear to all as they churned out reels of misinformation. They continuously use exaggerated and inflamed language and as well as stories deliberately drawn up to condemn the republican rising of Spain.

It was under this cloud of reaction and fear that locally those who decided to volunteer for the international brigades had to contend with. The fear was so great that many left to fight informing their loved ones and the tight-nit community to which they belonged to that they intended to seek employment in places such as London so as not to arouse any suspicion.

What would they have experienced?

Most volunteers had problems with the language (mostly Castilian however Basque and Catalan was of course equally widely spoken) but given the international aspect of the Brigades, problems were normally overcome fairly quickly.

Basic food supplies for most families at that time were getting extremely short as the civil war progressed. Many headed north wards over the Pyrenees and into France leaving behind their homes and small farm lands where their families had worked throughout the south of the country for safer pastures. These poorer immigrants were never to return years following even after the Civil War.

As for those volunteers food rations in each brigade was normal. Many based in various insolated outposts and villages lived along side the locals as ground was gained then lost battle after battle. When food ran out for the locals, volunteers went without until supplies got through.

Peader O’Donnell who traveled extensively throughout Catalunya, spoke of his amazement and astonishment of how the land was taken off wealthy landowners only to be collectivized amongst the small farmers. The images of collectivization itself, which he witnessed at first hand, bore much resemblance to his own native Donegal back home in Ireland, a sometimes barren and rugged land. This experience encouraged him greatly to write of his experiences in his book ‘Salud! An Irishman in Spain’ (1937).

Who came back?

Approximately one third of those volunteers were killed and many more never returned back to Ireland. Of those who did arrived back to Ireland and to the North West, there were no hero’s welcome waiting for them. No victorious rallies in the streets or magnificent speeches amid rapturous applause by jubilant locals. The volunteers who had made it home were left only with their memories which they held dearly. Memories of true friendships forged in the battle fields of now far flung places just like the Jarama valley.

Unemployment and poverty in the North West was rife to say the least. These were dark days for Donegal, Tyrone and Derry. With such widespread social inequalities now prevalent, it wasn’t long before several of them once again participated in the day to day local struggles. Locally that meant on issues relating to social change and national liberation. Some became active in the trade union movement as industrial unrest had become the norm, while others put their knowledge and tactics of guerrilla warfare to good use in the fight against British imperialism.

The ideal that had first incited them on, a dream of creating a better life for everyone had now become a reality for those who had lived through the experiences of the Spanish Civil War years. The dream had become a reality that another world is now possible.

By John Black
No Pasaran! North West Spanish Civil War Project

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