Merseyside International Brigades Network
Jack Edwards, Merseyside Volunteer, 1914–2011
Jack Edwards, veteran of the battles of Jarama, Teruel and the Ebro and a cheerful and loyal friend to many people in the IBMT, died this morning (26 January 2011) in hospital in Telford at the age of 97.
Born in Liverpool on 3 January 1914 into a family of socialists, Jack worked as a motor mechanic after leaving school and, as a member of the Young Communist League, was on several occasions involved in clashes with Sir Oswald Mosley’s fascist Blackshirts.
He arrived in Spain in January 1937 and was with the British Battalion at Jarama in the following month, where he was wounded. He afterwards joined the 1st Transport Regiment and later the 129th Artillery Division, seeing action in Aragón and the Ebro. He returned home in January 1939. During the Second World War he served with the RAF from 1940-46.
Jack attended our annual general meeting in Liverpool last October and unveiled the newly located plaque to the Liverpool volunteers in Jack Jones House. He was in recent years one of our most vocal and active veterans and, until the 2010 AGM, a member of the IBMT committee.
Writing in 2009 about his thoughts on the Spanish Civil War in Max Arthur’s “The Real Band of Brothers”, he said: “People think of it as a forgotten war, but it should be remembered, really, as a fight against fascism, for democracy; that’s the main point of the war. It’s becoming a forgotten war because it wasn’t worldwide. It’s only because people keep bringing it up now and again, but I’m surprised it’s not taught in the schools – they should teach it out of respect for democracy. That would leave behind the legacy of the Brigaders – something that people could remember us for.”
Jim Jump
IBMT Secretary
IBMT AGM, Liverpool 2010
The International Brigades Memorial Trust held its AGM in Liverpool this year. The event, locatd appropriately at the Unite headquaters Jack Jones House, drew over three hundred IBMT members, the families of brigaders and supporters. The eventing event at the Casa saw several local artists perform to a packed house.
News & Events
AGM: IBMT AGM Liverpool,
The Internatonal Brigades Memorial Trust held its AGM in Liverpool is October.
Liverpool exhibition draws hundreds to commemorate the Merseyside Volunteers
The exhibition to commemorate the Merseysiders who volunteered to fight for the Spainish Republic saw over 250 people attend the event at the Peoples Centre in Liverpool on the 3rd September. The event, organised by the Centre and the MIBN, and funded by Unite the Union, presented details of the volunteers and their experiences in Spain, Brigade banners and memorabelia from the period.
Brigaders Jack Jones and Jack Edwards - the last remaining Merseysiders - were guests of honour. Also attending were the families of many of the Brigaders, members of the IBMT, local trade unionists, and supporters from across the region and from other parts of the country.
More details of the exhibition and images from the event are available on this site.
The exhibiton has now ended, but the Peoples Centre and the MIBN would like to make the exhibition available to school, libraries, colleges, trade unions, societies and other organisations. If you would like to make use of the materials please contact the MIBN - email info@mibnet.org.uk for more information.
Exhibition reveals more details about the Merseyside Volunteers
Since the exhibition the MIBN has been contact by the relatives and friends of several of the Volunteers. These have revealled details about the lives and experiences of the men in Spain and in the UK that have never come to light before, including photographs and documents. We will be using the information provided to update our records and will be making the information available ot the public though our website and forthcoming publications. We are very thankful to the peole who contacted us for the help and support.
The relatives of Volunteers previously unknown to either the MIBN or the IBMT, have also come forward. These include: Tommy 'Dusty' Miller, Charlie Killen and Joe Nodwell. The details of these volunteers will be added to IBMT records and the MIBN exhibition details will be amended in due course. We expect that the details of other 'missing' Volunteers will also arise in the near future.
If you have details relating to any of the Volunteers, or you believe there are names missing from the Brigader List, please contact us.
Once again, we would like to extend out thanks to those who provided this information.
Commemorative exhibition poster
To coincide with the exhibition, the MIBN and the Peoples Centre commisioned a poster to commemorate the Merseyside volunteers. The poster shows the names of all the 179 volunteers listed in the exhibition. The poster was designed by FOLD DESIGN.
The poster – A2 size (420w × 594h mm ), is available priced £10 including poster and packaging.
Contact: info@folddesign
Booklet to be released
The MIBN and the Peoples Centre will be releasing a commemorative booklet based on the September exhibition. The 64 page booklet will contain the information from the exhibition along with expanded profiles of several of the Merseyside Volunteers, and an updated Brigader list. The book will be available from the Peoples Centre and independent Merseyside booksellers.
Expected release date ; April 2009.
Are you a relative or friend of an International Brigader? The network would like to hear from you.
Are you researching the Spanish Civil War or the International Brigades? We have a growing archive of material and an extensive network of contacts.
Join UsThe network needs members to enable the work of researching and commemorating the lives of the Merseyside Volunteers. Membership is free. You just have to bring your enthusiasm and commitment to make a contribution to the work
Support UsThe network needs sponsors to provide financial support that will allow it to undertake research. Can you, your union or your organisation help?
if you have skills that will help the network and its work: research, fund raising, IT, photography, contacts etc, we want to hear from you
email:mibnet@hotmail.com
Perma Links
International Brigades Memorial Trust (IBMT)
Liverpool memorial to the International Brigades
Salford Working Class Movement Library
