The International Brigades in the Spanish War ... - The Flag Institute
The International Brigades in the Spanish War ... - The Flag Institute
The International Brigades in the Spanish War ... - The Flag Institute
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<strong>Spanish</strong> Battalions<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were some <strong>Spanish</strong> battalions <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong><br />
short periods <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Brigades</strong>:<br />
♦ Astúrias Heredia (28/XI/36 – 7/XII/36 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XI IB)<br />
♦ Juan Marco (1/IV/37 – 5/VIII/37 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XIII IB)<br />
♦ Madrid (14/I/37 – 31/I/37 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XI IB)<br />
♦ Madrid-2 (17/I/37 – 8/III/37 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XII IB)<br />
♦ Otumba (1/IV/37 – 5/VIII/37 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XIII IB)<br />
♦ Pacífico (14/I/37 – 31/I/37 <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XI IB)<br />
♦ Pasionaria (III/37, Guadalajara battle, <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> XI IB)<br />
4. COMPANIES<br />
Among <strong>the</strong> more than two hundred companies exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Brigades</strong>, probably all of <strong>the</strong>m with<br />
specific flags, we know only three: <strong>The</strong> British “Major<br />
Attlee Company”, <strong>the</strong> Irish “Connolly”, and <strong>the</strong> North<br />
American “Tom Mooney”.<br />
4.1. Major Attlee<br />
It was <strong>the</strong> 1st company of <strong>the</strong> British Battalion. Early<br />
December 1937, Clement Attlee, Ellen Wilk<strong>in</strong>son and<br />
Philip Noel-Baker, leaders of <strong>the</strong> British Labour Party,<br />
visited <strong>the</strong> British Battalion; from this time, <strong>the</strong>ir first<br />
company took <strong>the</strong> name of Major Attlee.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> XV IB newsletter, <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>in</strong>formation about<br />
this company and <strong>the</strong>ir flag, a gift of <strong>the</strong> London workers:<br />
MAJOR ATLEE PRESENT WHEN COMPANY HONORS HIS NAME<br />
…<br />
English Battalion Gets Banner<br />
<strong>The</strong> ties of solidarity between <strong>the</strong> democratic people<br />
of Brita<strong>in</strong> and <strong>the</strong> members of <strong>the</strong> British Battalion <strong>in</strong><br />
Spa<strong>in</strong> were fur<strong>the</strong>r streng<strong>the</strong>ned by <strong>the</strong> presentation of<br />
colours to <strong>the</strong> 57th (English) Battalion as <strong>the</strong> gift of <strong>the</strong><br />
London workers.<br />
An impressive Battalion parade was reviewed by<br />
Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Copi, Brigade Commissar<br />
Dave Doran, Chief-on Staff Major Merriman and<br />
Bill Rush, British work<strong>in</strong>g class leader, who brought and<br />
presented <strong>the</strong> banner.<br />
…<br />
About this flag <strong>the</strong>re are a lot of pictures but, nobody<br />
says if <strong>the</strong> letters are white or gold on a, probably, red<br />
field (Fig. 43).<br />
Clement Richard Attlee (London 1883 – 1967):British<br />
politician. Labour deputy as from 1922. Was a part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> MacDonald government (1929-1931). Entered<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> coallition government of Churchill 1940-1945.<br />
Head of <strong>the</strong> Labour Party, became Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister after<br />
w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> elections of 1945. Ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed himself<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> job until 1951 when he was defeated by <strong>the</strong><br />
Conservatives of W<strong>in</strong>ston Churchill. Was <strong>the</strong> head of<br />
<strong>the</strong> opposition till 1955 when he retired from active<br />
politics. In 1956 <strong>the</strong> Queen made him an Earl.<br />
Fig. 43<br />
PROCEEDINGS<br />
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