Statement regarding three imprisoned British members of the International Brigade
1938-08 034-0141-006 For a very long period W.J Thomas of 5, Blackwells, Aberavon, Glam. has been endeavouring to obtain permission to return to this country from Spain. His efforts have been duplicated by his father's innumerable appeals through various channels of approach; but all attemp...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
August 1938
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/7C08913C-2FA3-4E09-9136-3BCF27F9EABE http://hdl.handle.net/10796/5899CA72-8BB0-417B-93D6-DE83A0ADC97B |
| Summary: | 1938-08
034-0141-006
For a very long period W.J Thomas of 5, Blackwells, Aberavon, Glam. has been endeavouring to obtain permission to return to this country from Spain. His efforts have been duplicated by his father's innumerable appeals through various channels of approach; but all attempts have proved unavailing. The recital of the facts set forth herein justifies the hope that your co-operation and influence can be solicited to bring about the lad's liberation. The lad joined the International Brigade in the early days of December, 1936. He has been in action in several battles; notably at Jarama in the defence of Madrid in February and March of 1937, and then in the Brunette offensive in June and July of the same year. During the battle of Jarama he was wounded. In his letters home he speaks of his face and body being covered with sores, as the result of septic poisoning. Towards the end of April, 1937, he was discharged from hospital, and after the series of engagements in the Brunette offensive, he was found suffering fron shattered nerves. This was about the end of August, 1937. News then reached his father that arrangements were being made for him to return hone, but it was subsequently discovered that he had been transferred to Valencia. From the end of August, 1937, until the end of November news of his well-being was very sparse, and on the eve of Christmas, 1937, his father received a letter reporting that fron the beginning of Septenber the boy had been through a very serious illness. Serious complications set in, including bladder and kidney trouble. This was followed by an attack of inflammation of the liver. it was then reported that he underwent an operation to remove an accumulation of pus on the liver. This was in February, 1938, when he was being treated at Hospital Provincial De Valencia, Valencia. In the early days of March of this year efforts were made through certain influential avenues to appeal to the Spanish Ambassador to bring about the lad's liberation. In reply to this appeal the Spanish Ambassador in a letter dated March 4th, 1938, wrote:- "I have today telegraphed to the Barcelona Authorities regarding this case and will let you know as soon as I have a reply." The British Consul in Valencia was also written to and in a letter dated May 27th, 1938, he replied:-
292/946/34/144(ii) |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |