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Problem names of men listed
as being Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.
For over a decade Jim Carmody and Ciaran Crossey have been pulling together lists of names of Irish volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. There is an initial list of these men elsewhere on this site, but we hope to publish our full lists and notes later this year.
As well as the extensive list of men who we are confident who were Irish (or 2nd generation Irish - born on the island or with one Irish parent), there have been other indications, mentions in memoirs, archives, etc. that this list of over 100 men MAY have been Irish and in Spain.
The problem is that there is either NO strong evidence that they were Irish, or good evidence that they were not actually in Spain.
If anyone can look over these names and can suggest any reason WHY they
should be included in the list of Irish volunteers FOR the Republic, please
let me know asap.
It is our intention NOT TO INCLUDE anyone appearing here on the final list of Irish volunteers this summer unless good evidence is QUICKLY presented to the contrary.
The table lists their likely place of birth, date of birth and death when known.
Ciaran Crossey
irelandscw@yahoo.co.uk
July 14th 2006
Updated: August 11th 2006 - with the note on Morris
The first group of names will list men who appear in Mick O Riordan's book, the Connolly Column.
Armstrong Robert Milngavfvie, Dunbartonshire. 1917? 1970's
Bob Armstrong is listed in Mick O’Riordan’s book, but he was a Scottish CPGB member, served, wounded in Spain, but then joined the Trotskyists and was a leading member of the Dublin and Belfast based Revolutionary Socialist Party from 1939-49.
Barry Paddy Mayo 1905?
The only detail about this man is that O'Riordan lists him as a survivor from Co. Mayo. Served in the British Battalion. He is confused with Patrick BURKE, Achill, Mayo, for whom we do have some details.
A man listed as Christopher (Chris) Barry, from London, arrived in Spain 9th August 1937 and served with the antitank unit of the British Batt. He was hospitalised with bronchitis to Benicasim and deserted from there to Albacete on November 22nd. Sent back to hospital and then imprisoned. He was "fearful of the front, unreliable". Repatriated August 1938. It is fairly certain that both these men are really one and the same.
Blaser Michael Ireland - New York 27th February 1937
There are a couple of discrepancies in the various accounts of this volunteer. He is widely called Mick Browne, alternatively the Volunteer for Liberty, Vol. 1 No. 23, 15.11.37, notes that he is named as Michael Blaser, "better known in New York as Mickey BROWN. He left America on the SS Normandie on Boxing Day 1936.
O'Riordan says he was killed at Pingarron, Jarama 27th Feb. 1937, when he was "burned to death by incendiary bullets being fired at him as he crawled across no-man's land". MacEoin cites a report of 29th Nov. 1937 which says he died at Aragon.
He does not feature on the Roll of Honour of the Americans, the Canadians or the British. Brooks, an American specialist, raised the option that he could be of a French background as there was such a volunteer, Blaser who had joined the CP in 1935.
Another option is that he was Swedish and served for 1 year in the US military.
Bork
This volunteer was of a Liverpool family, from 32 Barlow Lane, Liverpool 14, and as such he is listed in a Merseyside Roll of Honour.
Baxwell lists him as being from the Isle of Man.
While in Spain he served with the Lincolns at the battle of Jarama as a stretcher bearer before he was repatriated later in 1937.
His name is sometimes misspelt as BOURKE or BURKE. His photograph appears in O'Riordan's book. Despite the appearance of this photograph it appears that there was a mistake over his nationality. Evidence in the IBA files suggests he was Dutch and that it was a combination of an Irish sounding name and living in Liverpool that resulted in his being miscounted in the Irish contingent. The Moscow Archives say he was 34. A salesmen who was in the CPGB.
Dolan John Irish 1897? 27th? Feb. 1937
Michael O'Riordan lists Dolan as Irish, but there are indications in the Alexander's book and in the IBA archives in London that he may be from 267 Appin Road, Glasgow. Wherever he's from, he arrived in Spain in December 1936 and he died at the battle of Jarama, possibly on February 27th 1937. Served with the British Batt. in No. 3 Company.
Fox William H Dublin? 1901? – 15th April 1937
Haydock
This Irish-American was a member of the Organising Committee, Irish Section, Lincoln Batt. who ran the May 1937 Connolly Commemoration at Jarama. He was also 1 of 7 signatories to a letter, New York Times, 30.5.38, defending Frank Ryan against allegations of shooting prisoners.
Brooks says that he was called PC Haddock who lived at Long Island. He had sailed on Feb. 6th 1937, arriving 10 days later. This salesman had joined the CPUSA in July 1936. He gave an address as Richmond Hill, Long Island.
A part of the confusion over this man results from the fact that he was called Haddock, but that from 1936 he adopted the name Haydock, legally changing this on March 11th 1945. Despite the various assertions that he was Irish-American, both his parents were born in America, so he doesn't agree with our definition of Irish, i.e. at least one parent who was Irish.
Levy David Irish Feb. 1937
Morris Thomas Boston 27th Feb. 1937
Anthony Richards, a Welsh member of the IBMT, has written an article on this man which definitely nails the alleged 'Irish' connction. Read it here.
McElroy
Listed in O'Riordan's Roll of Honour as dying at Jarama, Feb. 1937 but NOD have emerged from all the other works to date. The IBA files do record an Andrew McElroy arriving in Spain on May 16th 1937, but again it is unclear if this refers to the Irish volunteer. As there is only one source, he must be regarded as a conditional name.
Alexander lists a James McElroy of Wishaw, Scotland, as dying at Jarama, April 1937, but this is a Scottish volunteer. Peter O'Connor lists him as dying at Jarama, but could be lifting this from the Connolly Column, so it's not new information. Carmody card also lists him as a CP member, of 19A Lullington Rd, Annerley.
Other names which we've got problems with
Albert Leslie Belfast 1897
This man travelled from Canada to France, but was sent back from there over drinking problems, so he never got to Spain.
Barrett David J Irish 1914?
No evidence of Irish links. Arrived on Feb. 7th 1938 and he was caught by the fascists on March 31st, repatriated in October 1938. Member of Tredegar branch of the CPGB, in the GMW union, served with British Batt. A POW at San Pedro de Cardeña.
Black William Belfast
This man did arrive in Spain but was sent home before engaging in any action.
Blarney James Malachy Belfast 1st April 1904
James M Blarney does not appear in any International Brigade files or in the memoirs of any activists, but his name is listed here because the IBA received an appeal from his family for information as they thought he had gone out.
Bonnen Jacob Lawrence Waterford 19th June 1917
Mistakenly appears in several Moscow Archives as being from Waterford. On investigation he was a Londoner, worked as a waterman. No Irish links.
Burrows Harold "Jock" Kilburn, London 3rd April 1916
Cady George
Cassidy Peter Dublin c1896
Coleman John Belfast 1910?
Collins William Belfast 17th Jan. 1911
Connolly Charles Ireland
Listed as arriving in October 1936 and serving with the No. 1 Company in December 36 - January 1937. Also listed as Connelly. 'I think he was English born with possible Irish ancestors.'
Connors Daniel
This man arrived in Spain during 1937 from New York, served with the Irish Section of the Lincoln Batt and is also listed as being in the British Batt. No Further Information
Cook Gerald American
Costello Charlie Aberdare, Wales
Born in Wales of Irish origin. A member of the CPGB and a retired miner. He vanished on the Pyrennes en route to Spain. Jim Carmody has found a ref. indicating that he was repatriated, so he never served.
Cronin P H
Crowley Lawrence Liverpool 1914?
Cullen Hugh O'Brien Bathgate 1915?
Cunningham Jock Scots-Irish 1903
Cushing Thomas (Red) Carrick on Suir 1909 – 1982
Thomas (Red) Cushing, originally from Tipperary and later from New York, served twice in Spain with the Lincoln Washington Battalion. His autobiography needs to be checked, Soldier for Hire, published by John Calder, London 1962, although it is listed as a mix of fact and fiction. It is unlikely he was in Spain. No other evidence for him has been found in the IBA or Moscow files.
Dalton Paul (Thomas J)
Deegan George Irish 1916 Jan, 1938
Deegan Vincent Leo Brighton 20/5/5 March 1938
Delaney Thomas Ireland 1917?
Dinnen W Glasgow c1897
Doherty Pat Belfast
Someone emailed in a query about this name, apparently from West Belfast – but NO evidence has emerged.
Donnelly Thomas Liverpool 1898?
Fagan Thomas Liverpool 1901
Fairley Robert Clarke Dromore 10th March 1903 1982-83
Listed in the book, Belfast in the Thirties by Bill Rolston, as being in Spain. After discussion with a nephew he was removed from the list. RC Fairley did chair a meeting on Spain in Dromore, County Down, Town Hall, autumn 1936.
Ferrogiuro Jerome Ethan America 1914
Chris Brooks, an American researcher, lists this Italian-Irish volunteer, and that his 'mother was Irish or of Irish descent.' In the IBA archives there is a short article about a Jerome Ferroggiaro. He was in the American army and left for Spain. He was a combat scout in the Lincoln Brigade. "I fought in every encounter along the Ebro River." He was wounded in both arms and the head and was demobbed at the end of 1938. In WW2 he served in the Air Corps. That biographical article makes no mention of any Irish connection.
Fitzpatrick Bernard London?
Flaherty James John Liverpool 1891
The Merseyside Roll of Honour, produced by Jack Coward in 1938, in "Back from the dead", which lists a J Flaherty as having been in the IB and it is annotated to say that he was Irish.
Address was given as c/o Davis, Lewis Hotel, Great George Place, Liverpool. Member of No. 1 Company, 14th IB. In January 1937 he was hospitalised with pneumonia. Repatriated in March 1937, having served from 10th December '36.
Flomm ?
Flomm ?
Flomm Jochim
In the Irish Post, ????, JF wrote to say he’d been in Spain, with 2 brothers. After contacting German specialists in SCW veterans, they’ve no record of such men.
Flynn Thomas F (Tommy) Glasgow c1910 - 7th April 1937
This Glasgow draughtsman, in the arms trade, arrived in Spain on November 8th 1936, serving with the No. 1 Company he was wounded that December 27th. After hospital he was transferred to the 13th International, Tchapiev, Batt., a multinational force. Flynn and W Ellmore were the only English speaking soldiers and Ellmore says that Flynn was Irish. Flynn died at Chimorra, Cordoba, 7.4.37. He had been a member of the Young Communist League in Britain for 8 years. There is really nothing to distinguish him as Irish except the memories of Ellmore. Listed in Challenge, YCL paper, 10/2/38, as being on the Roll of Honour.
Freeman Thomas Manchester
Furlong Peter Liverpool 1905
Gilbert Tony Irish
Golding James Patrick 1904?
Green George Stockport Sept. 1938
Mistakenly listed as Irish by Stradling, this volunteer was English, the husband of Nan Green. He died 23rd September 1938 at Sierra Cabals, Ebro.
Haydock Philip Carroll New York 19 Nov. 1914 - Aug 1984
Jefford Charles Edmund Ashford, Kent 1914?
Johnson Michael Liverpool 1911
Keegan P Liverpool
Kelly James Manchester
Kelly John Southampton 1911
Kelly Henry Manchester 10th July 1887 18th January 1960
Kennedy David Fleming Ballycastle/Greenock 30 Mar. 1915
Kenny W.R. (Pat) Manchester
Kent Allan Ireland
Kumpaleyner Elsa Icelandic?
Law Jack Duluth, Minn, USA.
Listowel Earl (Billy) 28th Sept. 1906 12th March 1997
Lloyd Tommy (Thomas Leroy) Irish-American 4th Oct. 1908
Magee George S Liverpool 1913
Maguire Thomas Irish -Greenock, Scotland?
Maheer J.J. Irish
Mahoney Jeremiah Balldehob, Cork 19th Oct. 1906
Mallaliow Fred Ireland?
Maroney Patrick J London Irish 1906?
Martinson Charles R Liverpool – Dublin 1906?
McCabe A Liverpool 1915 August 1937
McCabe Kevin J Dundalk
McCarthy William Bandon, Co. Cork
McCormick B Liverpool
McCrotty James Ireland
A misspelling for McGrotty.
McCullen James Randalstown 7th June 1914
Got as far as Paris but rejected on medical grounds.
McElroy Bert (Albert) Irish February 1937
McGomish Stephen Liverpool 1904
McGovern Bernard Glenfarne, (Co. Leinster?) 1914?
McKay Jack Waterford
McKenna Bernard Manchester-Irish 1915
McLaughlin Michael USA
Mooney Dennis Peter Liverpool 1909
Morton Paddy Belfast 1920
Murphy James
Murphy John P Liverpool-Irish? 1905?
Murray G Irish-American? 14th October 1937
Myer John Anthony London [1905]
North Francis C Lincoln 1915
In the Moscow Archives there is a reference to a Francis North, who gave his address as Ballykinler Camp, Northern Ireland. This is a British Army base and it is certain that this man only passed through Northern Ireland, and was in fact an English member of the Young Communist League. He served with the British Battalion and was a POW at San Pedro de Cardeña, repatriate in Oct. 1938.
Address also given as I B's Dependents Aid Committee, Litchfield St, WC2
AIS, 5/1/37. With British Batt from Feb 12th to July 25th when he was sent to hospital. MA 545/6/179/20-22.
O'Byrne Edward London 1916
O'Callaghan Brian Irish
O'Connor James (Paddy) Dublin March-April 1938
O'Leary Roderick Earl Prague, Ontario, Canada 9th June 1909
O'Neill George Newcastle upon Tyne 1919
Quinn Joe Downpatrick c1902 c1977
His grandson contacted me, but agreed that it was a family legend, no evidence that he’d gone.
Redmond John (Sean) Liverpool 1913? March 1938
Regan John Vancouver March-April 1938
Shortall Edward Halifax
Smith Sydney Dublin
Smith W J Ireland
Springgate Alfred Curragh Edge, Co. Kildare
Stokes Edward Galway 1906-7?
Sullivan G
Susman William London?
Templeton Sam Belfast 28th Jan. 1901 26 July 1942
This man was born Belfast and his family later moved to Australia. He was serving with the 39th Australian Infantry Batt. when he went MIA during battle in the Pacific with the Japanese. Had been thought to be in Spain but no evidence has emerged.
Trent Thomas Irish-American 1906? 27th Feb. 1937
Updale Edward Worthing 29 July 1913
Walsh Christy Irish
Walsh James (?) Liverpool 1894 Feb. 1937
Ciaran Crossey - irelandscw@yahoo.co.uk
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