Bath Chronicle, January 31, 2008, page 76

Anti-fascist Arthur - help sought - [Archie Doran]

Does anyone know anything about Arthur (or Archibald) Doran?

He is the only person from Somerset known to have been killed fighting against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.

Local trade unionists will be commemorating his sacrifice at an event in Taunton on February 15. It would be helpful if we could trace members of his family, or anyone who knew him or has any information about him.

Born in 1913, he was also known as Archibald Lester Doran. Arriving in Spain in January 1937, he gave his address as Weston-super-Mare. He worked as a machinist- surveyor and was a member of the Shop Assistants' Union and of Glastonbury branch of the Labour Party. He had previously been a Flight-Lieutenant in the RAF, but was discharged due to defective eyesight.

He was killed on the second day of the Battle of Jarama, February 13, 1937, defending Madrid. He would have been 23 or perhaps just 24. He was in the volunteer British Battalion of the 15th International Brigade, fighting against Hitler at a time when the British Government was still trying to appease him. The coup by General Franco against the elected government of Spain could not have even started without Hitler's military support.

Would anyone with any information please contact me?

KEN KEABLE

[Address removed, CC].