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Hartlepool’s heroes of the Spanish civil war
TONY FOX uncovers the story of Herbert ‘Avie’ Riding, one of five International Brigade volunteers from Hartlepool who fought fascism in Spain, as part of an annual commemoration of Teesside’s anti-fascist legacy
RED SOLIDARITY: Members of the International Brigade in the British cookhouse at Albacete, December 1936
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ON October 28 1938, as 300,000 Spaniards crowded the streets of Barcelona to bid farewell to the International Brigade, Major Sam Wild watched from a balcony as George Fletcher led the English-speaking XV Brigade in the farewell parade.
The 57th (British) Battalion marched at the front, followed by the 58th (Lincoln) Battalion, the 59th (Spanish) Battalion and then the 60th (Mackenzie-Papineau) Battalion took up the rear as they were the last battalion to be formed.
The men marched on a carpet of flowers under a shower of paper strips, and women rushed from the crowds lining the route to hug and kiss the marching men. Dolores Ibarruri (La Pasionaria) addressed the International Brigade volunteers, saying: “We shall not forget you; and, when the olive tree of peace is in flower, entwined with the victory laurels of the Republic of Spain — return!”
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The annual commemoration of anti-fascist volunteers who fought fascism in Spain now includes a key contribution from Italian comrades
TONY FOX reports from a Hartlepool event to commemorate those from the area who went and fought for liberty in Spain
An annual commemoration of those from north-east England who fought fascism in Spain is going from strength to strength. TONY FOX previews some of what will be on offer at the event
Teesside's links to Spanish civil war came alive with a school visit by Hutton Hall Basque refugee’s daughters and two new Billingham projects, reports TONY FOX
