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The barricade moment
HELEN MERCER admires a skilful telling of 12 personal histories of engagement with the Spanish civil war

Forged in Spain 
Richard Baxell
Clapton Press, £16.99

RICHARD BAXELL’s new book has 10 chapters which provide short yet detailed and vivid biographies of 12 of those who fought in the Spanish civil war.  

Seven were International Brigaders (Malcolm Dunbar, Sam Lesser, Peter Kerrigan, Alexander Foote, Clive Branson, Alex Tudor-Hart and Ronnie Burghes). One fought with the POUM (Stafford Cottman) and one with Franco’s forces (Peter Kemp). 

Leah Manning is remembered for her role in ensuring the evacuation and settlement in Britain of Basque children. 

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