Letters from Brigadiers in Spain

Frank Keery

19 3 [19]38

Dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am alright and in the pink. I have been in the Base for five weeks where we had a good time. Please mother the letters we receive out here and then we send so you are all open so you have no need to worry. I have had no word from you so when you receive this letter please start to write to me.

I have come across one or two boys from Gateshead. One was Dick Hearn and he is in the jail. The boy I came out with is suppose to be missing, will let you know about him later.

The weather at the moment is great we are laid out in the fields sun bathing. Please mother when you start to write please place one or tow packets of fags in the envelope because they are not plentiful out here.

Do you receive you allowance alright if not please let me know.

Your Loving Son

Frank [Keery – written in by someone else]

Notes - updated Dec. 15th 2008:

Keery's family were from East Belfast before his family moved to Gateshead where he was born c1917 (not Belfast as previously listed here!) He only arrived in Spain during Feb. 1938 and unfortunately went missing during the Retreats of March 1938, effectively he is assumed to have died during these battles.

The requests for cigarettes was a common feature of letters home.

There were several men from Gateshead in Spain, including the above mentioned Dick Hearn, a 28 year old when he arrived in Spain in January 1937, staying until Dec. 1938. Another man from the area there at the time this letter was written was Charles Walton who was taken POW around this time, eventually being repatriated in October 1938.