You can read more about Charlie's life here.

Independent of, but supported by, the Oxford International Brigades Memorial Committee, there is now a campaign to erect a memorial in Oxford to Charlie Hutchinson.

You can read all about Charlie and the campaign for his memorial here

17th October 1938 & 17th October 2020

On the 17th October 1938 the democratic Republic of Spain agreed to disband the International Brigades in the hope that by so doing they might yet persuade the reactionary governments of Britain, France and the US to abandon their bogus policy of non-intervention.

OXFORD CELEBRATES -
82 YEARS LATER, ON SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2020,
THE OXFORD INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE AND THE OXFORD COMMUNIST PARTY LAID WREATHS AT THE OXFORD MEMORIAL AT ST CLEMENTS OXFORD.

The event, one of about a dozen held at various IBMT memorials across Britain, was organised by the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).  Originally, the event was to have been a public celebration but the COVID restrictions that limit public gatherings to no more than six people meant that numbers had to be limited to committee members only.  However, we do hope that you enjoy seeing the photographs and that next year we can all celebrate the Oxfordshire International Brigade volunteers together.

To send the heroic brigades on their way back home or to exile, the democratic Republican government laid on a Farewell Parade in the city of Barcelona where the great Communist orator Dolores Ibarruri, more generally known as La Pasionaria, gave an electrifying speech that was to become one of the most famous in all history.
Towards the end of her speech she said these words:-

"Comrades of the International Brigades: Political reasons, reasons of state, the welfare of that very cause for which you offered your blood with boundless generosity, are sending you back, some to your own countries and others to forced exile. You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic example of democracy’s solidarity and universality in the face of the vile and accommodating spirit of those who interpret democratic principles with their eyes on hoards of wealth or corporate shares which they want to safeguard from all risk."

There were 31 volunteers from Oxfordshire who volunteered as anti-fascists in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939.  They came from Oxford’s industrial car plant, from its agricultural hinterland, and from its University.  Six were killed in action and they are named on the memorial that was unveiled in 2017.

Oxfordshire volunteer Jim Brewer (pictured, second from the left, carrying the Spanish Republican flag in Catalonia) was originally from a mining family in Rhymney, South Wales.  While working at a local bakery he took evening classes and was offered a place on a Trades Union scholarship to Ruskin College, Oxford.  There, whilst helping at a summer camp for unemployed miners, he met fellow Oxfordshire radical Chris Thorneycroft and in 1936 they both joined the International Brigade and went to Spain.  Jim fought at Jarama and was later posted to the anti-tank regiment as a quartermaster.  He saw further action at Brunete, Gandesa and Belchite and carried the British Battalion banner at the Brigades farewell parade in Barcelona on 17th October 1938.  In 1939 he signed up as a commissioned officer with the Royal Artillery in WW2.  Jim spent much of his post-war life in Oxfordshire and died in 1993.

Above from top, clockwise:- The flags of the Communist Party celebrate the anniversary of 20 October 1938;  the socially distanced representatives pay their respects;  John Haywood, executive member of IBMT lays a tribute at the memorial;  the memorial with tributes from Oxford Communist Party, Oxford IBM Committee, and Colin Carritt, Chair of OxIBMComm

Jeremy Corbyn at the IBMT South Bank Memorial Commemoration - July 2020

Laying a wreath at the International Brigade memorial with his partner Laura Álvarez. (Photo: Andrew Wiard)

The socially distanced commemoration held on Saturday 4 July at London's International Brigade memorial saw Jeremy Corbyn lay a wreath on behalf of the IBMT. The Labour MP for Islington North also said a few words in support of preserving the memory of the volunteers who went to Spain and their relevance to today's campaigns. 

The IBMT has produced a short film of the event in Jubilee Gardens, which was held in lieu of our customary public gathering. This could not take place due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.  Check IBMT website for details

Comrades Come Rally

On 8th March the Oxford Committee held "A Celebration in words and music of the Oxfordshire volunteers who fought Franco in the Spanish Civil War 1936-39"

It raised over £400 for the International Brigade Memorial Trust

The event comprised a history of the British Battalion in the words of the volunteers themselves, through their letters home, their memoirs and sometimes through their poetry.  The words were spoken by professional actors and was interspersed with music

Read John Haywood's review of the event here......

The historic Holywell Music Room in Oxford

Clockwise from top left:  Alison Skilbeck: Jeff Robert: Brenda O'Riordan: Manus and brenda O'Riordan: Rob Garcia and Paul MacNamara of "Na-Mara": Marcos: Tim Hardy.

Sid Lowe, the Guardian's Spanish football correspondent and author of Catholicism, War and the Foundation of Francoism:  The Juventud de ccion Popular in Spain 1932 - 1037 and Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the World's Greatest Sports Rivalry

Daniel Gray, author, social historian and broadcaster and the author of the history of Scotland and the Spanish Civil War, Homage to Caledonia, and several books on football and working class culture including Saturday, 3pm.

Music was provided by Maddy Carty, Robb Johnson and Na Mara