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| Aerial bombing of Barcelona in 1938 by the Italian air-force Image in the Public Domain |
It was early January, 1938. Jack left Sheila and his kids to go to Spain.
It was a difficult parting. Sheila simply could not understand what was driving him to go on such a dangerous mission.
"When I left Stuart for you, you said that we'd always be together," she told him. "Nothing could ever separate us."
"We won't be apart," Jack argued. "Not really! It's not as though I'm leaving you permanently. I'm not deserting you."
"Well, what are you doing then?"
"I'm going to do a job that someone has to do. The government won't do it, so it's up to volunteers."
"Why you? You're a family man with responsibilities."
"I've told you, you won't go short of anything. Every month there'll be twenty pounds in the bank for you. I've arranged for the rent on this place to be paid as well."
"I suppose the money's coming from the same source as for your precious charities. We're to be your new charity, are we?"
"You're not being fair. I'm trying to do my best for you and for what I believe in. They need men. Commitment's what's wanted. Try and understand! It's to do with justice. After all I've said at school, at meetings, to my friends, I have to do it. It won't lessen my commitment to you. I don't expect to be away for ever."
She had never been able to understand why he had been wasting all that money by giving it to The Cause. It seemed incredible to her what he was doing. Going and risking his life for strangers! She knew he was idealistic and impulsive but it was too ridiculous for words. He was always going on about keeping rules. His main rule should be to look after her and the children.
"You've changed your beliefs before now," she said, starting to cry, "when you gave up the church and took me on. What's so special about these Republicans?"
She knew she was wasting her time. His mind was made up. She'd have to make the best of things. At least the money he was allowing her would be sufficient. It was twice what a lot received to keep bigger families than hers.
Like Gordon, she questioned him about his very recent plans to move house and workplace. "How about the new job at Skerton School? What about the Corporation House on Ryelands?
"That's all taken care of. Until I get back!"
"If you get back!"
"Everybody seems to think I'm going to be killed. I'll be back! And starting at Skerton after the summer holidays. They're keeping a house for us as well."
"With a little help from your political friends I suppose! There's a lot of people wanting those houses. You and your rules! You make them to please yourself! You twist and turn like a snake."
She went off to bed, leaving him to write more letters. His correspondents had suggested he make his way to the south of France and cross into Spain from there.
Sheila did not go to the station with him to see him catch his train to London. She did not leave the dining-room when he departed. He gave the children hugs and told them to behave themselves. He picked up his packed suitcases from the hall and called back, "I'm off then. I'll write to you." She did not reply. He slammed the front door behind him and went to the waiting taxi.
When he arrived in Perpignan, he travelled on to Cerbere. A little train took him through a mountain tunnel to Port Bou in Spain. He was interrogated by Communist officials there, but despite not being a card-carrying member of their Party, he talked them into letting him proceed to Barcelona.
A month earlier, there had been terrible battles for Teruel. The Republicans had taken Franco's forces by surprise and won a famous battle. Over Christmas they were playing their guitars and dancing in the streets during what was to be their brief occupation of the place.
On the eighth of January, Franco launched a fearful counter-attack. It was one of the worst winters in Spanish memory. Soldiers in the field were frost-bitten and many arms and legs had to be amputated. Atrocities, committed by both sides, were absolutely barbaric. By the twenty-second of February, Franco had won. The Republicans had ten thousand dead and nearly fifteen thousand captured.
During the months when the Communists took sole charge, and before the final onslaught by Franco and his Fascists on Barcelona, Jack craftily persuaded the suspicious temporary rulers of the City to accept him as one of them. He'd discovered that it was true, the Communists were in sole charge. The old idealism and the hope for Socialist reforms were on the back-burner. All Stalin wanted was a victory against Fascism and a feather in his cap. He cared nothing for the Spanish peasants and their hopes for land reform. His vision was narrow, laser-like, always fired by self-interest.
Jack became a cook for a group of twenty wary Communists. He'd hardly boiled an egg in his life before. He wasn't given a rifle -- only dedicated members of the Party were given those.
He did have the advantage of being able to speak quite good Spanish and the Party made occasional use of his ability to translate for them so he soon gained some friends amongst the loyal Spaniards. He survived along with a few trusted English friends, right under the eyes of the suspicious Comrades.
These friends were members of the British Independent Labour Party who had been refused repatriation at the time of the Communist take-over. They had lived with the knowledge of the execution and imprisonment of some of their former friends. As with Jack, it was a case of making an accommodation with a lesser evil against a greater one. But they all had increasing doubts and were beginning to waver in their allegiance with the Communists.
Amongst most on the side of the Republicans in Barcelona morale was still high. There was a confidence that the struggle would eventually go their way. Jack worked in a large requisitioned house near the centre of the city. The troops had the best of what was available but some of the civilians were already suffering hardships and going hungry.
At the beginning of April, there was very bad news. People began to doubt if the war was winnable. Franco had captured Levida and reached the coast at Vinaroz. His triumphant soldiers plunged into the sea and swam rejoicing and exulting in their triumph. The Republic had been cut in two. The previous year the Basques had been subdued, their dreams of their own homeland gone!
Things were going from bad to worse. Many despaired.
Bombing raids by German planes intensified. Along with many others Jack often sought shelter on a platform of the Underground railway. Numerous buildings were shattered by bombs. The number of casualties mounted. He cursed the British Government for not having intervened. Its attitude was encouraging Hitler's hope that Britain would never try to prevent anything he did.
In May, France relented for a short while and opened her border. Arms flooded in to help the Republican cause. Three hundred Russian aeroplanes were transported into Spain to support the Republic. La Pasionara of the inspiring 'They shall not pass!' slogan denounced an effort to negotiate a peace with Franco. Still no help from Britain!
One afternoon, Jack was slow seeking shelter. A bomb exploded near him and he was left unconscious for many hours under rubble. When found he was taken to a hospital where his mangled right arm had to be amputated.
When he had recovered sufficiently, his friends were able to arrange for him to go back the way he'd come, through the mountains and back into France.
Jack's war was over. In July, he was at home with his family, in Lancaster. In three weeks time, he would be a father again.
At least he knew where he stood now politically. He detested the Communists. He'd seen at first hand their cruelties inflicted on many who should have been their natural allies. What a cock-up! What a mockery of unity being strength!
After much discussion, Jack and Gordon both joined their friends in the ILP. The decision of Fenner Brockway to renounce his pacifism that had led to his imprisonment during the First World War was instrumental in their decision. The two friends agreed that it was best to work for peace but there was such a thing as a just war. During a just war you had to fight for the good cause. They both felt that pacifism was not the answer if Hitler was ever to be thwarted. Jack became politically active in Lancaster again. He resumed his domination of many a meeting of those on the left and frequently made impassioned statements denouncing the Communists.
Nationally, the main problem remained unsolved. What was to be done about Hitler? Many, like the Prime Minister, thought that there were limits to his ambition. Only a few, like Churchill, strongly advocated more and more rearming. The trouble was Churchill had such a poor track record of failure and of being wrong on so many other issues. He stayed in a minority and his warnings went unheeded.
The Spanish Civil War had not been a minor affair, which its neglect by historians might suggest. One account states that there were well over half a million casualties.
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