London gives remembrance to The British Battalion

On Saturday 10 December 2022, the London Branch of the Young Communist League of Britain gave remembrance to The British Battalion, who had returned to London via Victoria Station on 7 December 1938, after serving as volunteer fighters during the Spanish Civil War.

Challenge archive: Salute to the fallen

From 1936-1939 the Spanish Civil War waged between the people of Spain and the forces of General Franco. Over 35,000 men and women from over 50 countries left their homes in order to volunteer willingly to help the Spanish people, including 2,500 from Britain & Ireland.

Just under 200 of them were listed as members of the Young Communist League, and Challenge Magazine gave lots of coverage throughout. The following article from January 9th, 1937 is dedicated to three comrades who were killed on Christmas Day in 1936.

Welsh Communists mark 85th anniversary of Spanish Civil War and legacy of International Brigaders

A range of speakers contributed to the event at at the Welsh International Brigades Memorial earlier this month (21 July 2021) in Cathays Park Cardiff including Will Barton, secretary of the Cardiff branch of the Communist Party (whose speech is published in full below), Robert Griffiths General Secretary of Communist Party and Marc Bilbao Asensio from the Communist Party of Spain. There were revolutionary songs from Cor Cochian Caerdydd and a poem and reading from International Brigades Cymru. Keeping alive the memory of the Welsh international brigaders: Yn cadw’r cof am y brigadwyr rhyngwladol o gymru yn fyw.

Looking back on Oliver Law

David Horsley remembers the life and contribution of African American Communist and International Brigader, Oliver Law.