Why we want a memorial to brave Spanish Civil War volunteers in Blackpool

A memorial could be set up in Blackpool to honour those from the resort who volunteered to support the Spanish people in their fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Trades Union Council, a member of which, Dave Blacker, who had an uncle who was among the volunteers, has launched the campaign and it hopeful it will be successful, a year on from a similar memorial being established in Burnley.

The memorial highlights James Bridge from Nelson, George Buck from Nelson, Freeman ‘Frank’ Drinkwater of Burnley, H Eastwood-Taylor of Rawtenstall, Harry Edward Gaze from Accrington, David Hartley King of Salterforth, Jack Howley from Colne, John Jolly of Burnley, Samuel Martin from Burnley and Frank Welsby, also of Burnley.

Lancashire men were those from across the world who joined the International Brigade as volunteers to defend the democratically-elected Spanish government from a right-wing coup in 1936 led by Spanish General Francisco Franco.

General Franco’s coup was backed by military troops, weapons and aircraft from Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini’s fascist Italy.

Some nations, such as Britain and France, took a stance of non-intervention in Spain, but the Soviet Union and left-wing movements did intervene, and the International Brigade was part of that.

With the help of the International Brigade Memorial Trust and a researcher, Lewis Ashworth, from Barrowford, near Nelson, the Trades Union Council has come up with the names of 11 men involved who had a connection with Blackpool.

But a spokesman said: “We are sure there are others who kept their involvement quiet as it was illegal, and used aliases.

“If anyone knows any more names, we would love to hear them as we are keen to push for a plaque to be put up in Blackpool in their memory.”

Dave Blacker, whose uncle Frank Everett spent much of his life in Bournemouth, said: “I’m really proud of him and it would be great to have a memorial.

“The Spanish Civil has largely been forgotten by the history books but it is important to preserve the memory of those brave volunteers.”

The names so far are -James Kenny; James Mann, born in Bolton and married there in 1933, but living in Victory Road in the 1939 registration; Maurice Stott, who, according to the newspaper reports referenced in his profile, was "living in Blackpool for some time" prior to Spain, and Ullswater Road is mentioned; Harry Sutcliffe, ood evidence he was in Blackpool before and after Spain; Claudian Howarth, born in Fylde, son of a "public entertainer"; Conrad Singer/Zingher/Zhingher, born in Romania, but married in Britain and buried in Carleton Cemetery; Derrick Boon, in 1939 living in Bela Grove; Michael Clarke, died in Blackpool and Fylde, May 1988; William Cooney, died in Blackpool, Jan 1976; Frederick Cronshaw, in 1939 living in Bardsway Avenue, Blackpool; William Halliday, died in Blackpool April 1977.

The Trades Union Council can be contacted with any further names via Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/254929142373/