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Topic: Welsh BRIGADIERS - Spanish Civil War Help (Read 1023 times)
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Hodgkiss
RootsChat Member
Posts: 186
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Scrimnet thanks alot for the information and links. Ill get looking at them now.
I have never know where to start in the research of him. I luckily know what he looks like as i have a picture of him with my grandad.
But obviousely id like to know more about him and what he went through.
So this is all great.
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scrimnet
RootsChat Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 4710
No plan ever survives first contact...
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An account of the action in which he was killed....
Jarama – February 1937
On 6th February the Nationalists launched an offensive which aimed to cut Madrid off from the new Republican capital of Valencia. The thrust moved into the Jarama valley near San Mart́n De La Vega. The British Battalion was hurried by train [to Albacete] and hastened by truck to Chinchón. Several rebel units had already crossed the Jarama by the morning on 12th. The newly formed 15th Brigade was deposited between San Mart́n De La Vega and Morata De Tajuña at 5.30 a.m.
The battalion made its way up towards the plateau overlooking the Jarama, leaving the cookhouse section behind in a farmhouse. Descending into the valley, the companies, spread out in line, crossed a sunken road and came under fire from the rebels, whose presence came as a bit of a surprise. Pulling back to the top of the broken ridge – nicknamed ‘Suicide Hill’ – the battalion prepared to receive the attack. Tom Wintringham, the battalion commander, planned to put 3 and 4 company forward, keeping no.1Coy in reserve and the machine gun company placed a little back to give supporting fire. The pressure of the advance by the Nationalists, who turned out to be Moors from the Army of Africa, the best part of the Spanish military, forced no.1 company to advance into the line.
The Battalion received artillery fire, concentrated on no. 3 & 4 companies. With mounting casualties, the battalion was forced to retire up Suicide Hill and back on to the plateau. Throughout the day the machine gun company, whose guns had received the wrong ammunition and spent a frustrating day changing the rounds in their belts, could not cover the front. When the swap was done, the Moroccan troops were caught in the open as they pursued the retiring battalion and took heavy causalities. The Nationalist withdrew and the battle fizzled out.
At the end of its first day in action 125 out of 400 riflemen were fit for service. The remnant gathered in the sunken road or back, behind the lines by the cookhouse. Battalion Commissar George Aitkin rallied and cajoled stragglers back into the line. The following morning revealed another advance by the rebels. This was driven back by machine gun fire but as the day went on the battalion found itself assailed on three sides as the Dimitrov and Franco-Belege battalions were forced back. Under pressure, No.4 Company retired, leaving the Machine Guns isolated. They were surrounded and many of the volunteers were captured. One story has it that the Machine Gunners were tricked by Nationalists singing ‘The Internationale’ and thought they were being relieved. Bert Overton, commander of No.4 Company tried to retake the position held by the Machine gunners, but his charge was shot to pieces.
On the third day of battle, with Jock Cunningham replacing the injured Tom Winteringham, the Nationalists, supported by tanks, assaulted the British lines again. Thrown back by the weight of the offensive, the surviving 140 volunteers were rallied by Lieutenant-Colonel Gal, CO of the 15th Brigade. Led by Jock Cunningham and singing ‘La Internationale’, the British Battalion plus various stragglers, returned to battle. The rebels retired to their position of the night of 14th/15th February. More Republican units were rushed into the gap and both sides began to dig in.
Apart from two brief periods of leave, the Battalion would remain in the newly formed Jarama trenches till 17th June 1937. Even when the battalion was withdrawn it returned to the same position. An assault on the Fascist lines was made on 27th February. It lacked the promised air cover and artillery and the dozen British volunteers who were persuaded to go over the top were slain.
From the La Columna site....
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One more charge and then be dumb,
When the forts of Folly fall,
May the victors when they come
Find my body near the wall.
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Hodgkiss
RootsChat Member
Posts: 186
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Wow thankyou for all this. I am very grateful for your time 
My Great uncle appears in that booklet she has made. Its the picture i have seen before, but a little bigger. I will have to contact the lady.
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