During July of 1936 military uprisings would set Spain on course for a civil war. The divide between Nationalist and Republicans would develop into a full scale war that would see Germany and Italy supporting the Fascists and the USSR supporting the Rebublicans. Many of the military methods used later by Hitler and the Nazis would be tried and tested on Spanish cities, the concept of 'total war' and the use of aerial bombardment were developed during this conflict.

The rise of Fascism across Europe would see volunteers from many countries across the world head to Spain to help the Republican cause. Socialist, Communists and those who could forsee the evils of Fascism were bound together as,
"The International Brigade"

There were many volunteers from Scotland including large numbers from Dundee and surrounding areas. The 'Roll of Honour' is located at the McManus Galleries in Dundee.

The FBU in Tayside is honouring their memory and the sacrifice of those volunteers.

The 16 Names : Names on the Dundee Memorial

John Alexander; d July 16th 1937, Brunete. 13 Benvie Road, Dundee. Railway Labourer with LNER. Left Dundee in May ’37. Single. Obituary in Dundee Courier; Sept 6th 1937.

James Cockburn; d Jan 12th 1937, Las Rozas: Born Dundee, 1911. Living in London, working as a Gas Fitter, when he enlisted. Arrived in Spain on Dec 3rd 1936. Fought with the Saklatvalas (the first British unit formed in the civil war. Named after Shapurji Saklatvala, born in India and one of Britain’s first Communist Party members to become an MP in 1922) in the No 1 Company of the XIV Brigade at Lopera. Died, reportedly from wounds received on Dec 28th 1936, helping to prevent the Fascists from encircling Madrid. Recorded as from London on the main British Brigade website.

Matthew Cox; d March 1938, Aragon.

Andrew Finnan; d March 1938, Belchite.

Frank McCabe; d August 1937, Quinto.

John ‘Patsy’ McEwan; d 1937; 30 Todburn Lane, off King Street, Dundee. Family lived at 28 Milton Street. Juvenile Footballer with Dundee team Derby United, then a Junior with Osborne and Downfield. Timber Yard Worker with Bell & Sime Ltd and a Young Communist League member, his name appeared in a list of those killed in Spain in the Daily Worker in the Spring of 1937. However this was revised in the same paper of Sept 3rd 1937, page 3, stating that the names of John McEwan and James Donald (Methil) had been listed as killed in error and that both were alive. Last words to his mother were; “If I don’t go and fight Fascism, I’ll just have to wait and fight it here”. Obituary appeared in Dundee Courier; Aug 20th 1937 (with photo), conflicting with the report of his being alive printed two weeks later in the Daily Worker.

William McGuire; d Feb 28th 1937, Jarama. Left Dundee for Spain in January 1937 with Tom Clarke. YCL member. One of 3 Dundee brigaders honoured at a memorial meeting in the Foresters Hall on April 4th 1937 (along with Stalker and Tadden), reported in the Dundee Courier the following day.

James McHugh; d March 1938, Gandesa. The plaque lists him mistakenly as John McHugh.

John McLanders; d April 1937, Jarama. 17 North Wellington Street, Dundee. Age 36. Unemployed. His wife of 7 years said he left for Spain on New Years Day 1937. Obituary in Dundee Courier; May 7th 1937.

John Mudie; d March 1938, Caspe.

James Murray; d March 1938, Caspe.

John Bruce Ness; d July 26th 1938, Ebro. 11 Robertson Street, Dundee. Age 33. Unemployed, single. Attended Glebelands School and served his apprenticeship as a mechanic at Larchfield Works, Walton Street (James Prain & Sons Ltd). Left for Spain in October 1937.Obituary (with photo) in Dundee Courier; August 27th 1938.

David Samson, d July 1937, Brunete.

Malcolm Smith, d Aug 19th 1938, Sierra Pandols. 157 South Road, Dundee. 27 years old. Pupil at Liff Road School. Baker who served his time with Martin Simpson of 141 Princes Street. Left for Spain on Sept 23rd 1937. Quote from Ian MacDougall's 'Voices from the Spanish Civil War' (Polygon, ISBN 0 948275 19 7), page 318; Tom Murray's memoir;
"It was a nasty situation. Well, I got up and here I found George Jackson lying stretched out. George came from Cowdenbeath and I think he was one of the recruits that I got to go with me when I went out there. Charlie McLeod of Aberdeen was lying with his head on George Jackson's chest. And Malcolm Smith of Dundee was lying about a yard or so away. All were dead by the blast of this anti-tank shell." This event took place either on Hill 481 or Hill 666, Sierra Pandols above the Ebro River. Obituary (with photo) in Dundee Courier on Aug 27th 1938, but giving date killed as July 26th 1938.

Alexander Kenneth Stalker, d Feb 12th 1937, Jarama. Was born in Dundee, son of Professor A.M.Stalker. Attended Dundee High School. Age 40 on enlisting in the Brigades in December 1936. He was an Engineer and Draughtsman who attended University College, London from where he went to Spain. He lived in the Balham/Putney area of London and is recorded as from London on the main British Brigade website. He was a member of the Associated Engineers & Shipbuilding Union. He served in the Army in the Great War and had worked in the Far East & India. Member of the CPGB. Went into action at Lopera in late December 1936 with the No 1 Company (Anglo /Irish) of the French XIV Brigade and later in January at Las Rozas. Returned to Albacete and joined up with the British Battalion of the XV Brigade.
Went to Jarama on Feb 12th 1937 as Political Commissar. Took command of the No 3 Company when its Commander Bill Briskey was killed. Kit Conway was another commander whose heroism at Jarama has been widely acknowledged. Following the deaths of some of his fellow officers, he commanded three separate companies at a particularly crucial juncture on February 12th 1937. It was on this day, soon after 12 noon, that he was fatally wounded. One of his comrades, James Prendergast, described his passing: "I reach the hill-crest where Kit is directing fire. He is using a rifle himself and pausing every while to give instructions. Suddenly he shouts, his rifle spins out of his hand, and he falls back. He is placed on a blanket. No stretchers left now. His voice is broken with agony. 'Do your best boys, hold on.' Tears glisten in our eyes. Many are from other companies. But all remember Kit at Cordoba and Madrid. His gallant leadership then and today won them all. Kit is taken away. I see Ken Stalker. He is the only experienced man left. I run to him and he takes command. In the ambulance I meet Kit. He is in terrible agony and can talk little. 'How are the rest?' is his constant question. Next morning they told me our great leader was dead." Ken Stalker was killed soon afterwards, shot in the head later the same day, defending the Madrid-Valencia road. Obituary in Dundee Courier; March 10th 1937. One of 3 Dundee brigaders honoured at a memorial meeting in the Foresters Hall on April 4th 1937, reported in the Dundee Courier the following day.

William John Tadden, d Feb 27th 1937, Jarama. 38 Elizabeth Street, Dundee. Age 36. Served for 7 years in 1st Battalion, Black Watch including in India. Unemployed when he left for Spain. Obituary (with photo) in Dundee Courier; March 19th 1937. One of 3 Dundee brigaders honoured at a memorial meeting in the Foresters Hall on April 4th 1937, reported in the Dundee Courier the following day.

The Refugees in Montrose

The colony in Mall Park Road was the most northern Basque colony in Great Britain and was sponsored by the Dundee Breakfast Union. Mr D Chapman was the Secretary of the Committee of Basque Children at Mall Park and Miss M Wilson was director of the centre, in charge of the 25 to 30 children. Miss Wilson was well-known to Montrose. She had red hair and was a protestant missionary.

Much re-building of the area has occured since 1937 and the children all remember, that to the left was a park from where the house got its name; Mall Park.