Volunteers united by a common goal - fighting fascism

A small memorial plaque in Castle Park commemorates four Bristolians who died in the 1930s fighting fascism in Spain. Ethan Horton looks at the story of the International Brigades.

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A PLAQUE in Castle Park, likely unnoticed by most passersby, commemorates Bristol's contribution to the Spanish Civil War. Fixed to a stone wall below the ruins of St Peter’s church, it remembers four men who died fighting in Spain with the International Brigades: William George Boyce, William J Burton, Leslie Huson May and Terrence Stephens.

It was unveiled almost 40 years ago, on December 11, 1986, by Jack Jones, former secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union. At the unveiling, Jones told the crowd: “The city of Bristol joins many cities in recognising the sacrifice made by men who 50 years ago left their homes, loved ones, and careers to fight fascism”.

Jones himself served with the International Brigades, volunteers from all over the world fighting for the Spanish Republic against Franco’s Nationalist forces.

Alongside Jack Jones were other people wishing to pay their respects, including Winifred Sandford, who lived in Castle Cary at the time. By 1923, she had joined the Communist party of Great Britain and moved to the Spanish side of the Pyrenees Mountains. She married Ralph Bates, the brother of HE Bates, the prolific mid-20th-century novelist.

The war provided her with “many vivid memories” As the only English person to speak fluent Spanish in the area, she worked on getting a bulletin out during the war. “You were expected to help with everything. I helped with medical operations and transporting the wounded. Sometimes, I just sat down at the side of the road to give my blood”

British International Brigades volunteers in Barcelona before leaving for the front, December 1936. About 50 men from the Bristol area fought in the Brigades

Backed by conservative and fascist factions, with General Francisco Franco emerging as the main leader of the Nationalists after the revolt consolidated. Together, they sought to overthrow the left/centre coalition government and restore the traditional order of Spain.