On the day: Irvine Comrade John Smith died during Spanish Civil War

On this day in 1938, John Smith, the only Irvine man to join the International Brigade, died in action in Spain on the Ebro front.

The International Brigades were republican military units made up of anti-fascist volunteers who travelled to Spain to fight for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War.

Between 1936 and 1939 over 35,000 men and women from over 50 countries volunteered for the Republican forces, more than 2,300 of them coming from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Around 80 per cent were believed to have been members of the Communist Party, and most came from working-class backgrounds.

One such volunteer was John Smith.

Born in 1906, John McDougall Smith resided at 43 Clark Drive, Irvine, with their parents Mr and Mrs Peter Smith. He was part of a family of ten siblings: five brothers and five sisters. 

Married in January 1933 to Elizabeth Bell, John, a miner, was tragically widowed nine months later when Elizabeth died giving birth to a stillborn baby.

The International Bridge is often associated with Glasgow and the Red Clyde and has been memorialised by The Pasionaria; the unusual, poignant statue of a woman with outstretched arms, a rare symbol against fascism, on the banks of the River Clyde. 

It embodies Dolores Ibarruri (1895 – 1989), also known as “The Pasionaria” (“the passion flower”).

She was a leading female heroine in the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) who committed and fought with the Communist movements against the fascist forces of Franco’s regime.

She is famous for her “No pasaran” (they shall not pass”) speech in 1936.

John was unique as he was the only Irvine man to join the International Brigade.

And on 1st January 1937, he was sent to Spain and was fighting there a fortnight later.

Prior to enlisting, he took part in organising support for Spain in Irvine.

In March 1937, John wrote the following letter to his mother from the hospital in Valencia:

“I have had tough luck, got a bullet wound in the leg and so I am in the hospital, but there is no need to worry as I am getting along alright.

"We had a terrible time for two days and there were a lot of my comrades killed.

"If this does not make the Labour Party do something, nothing will. We were held because the German Moorish fascists had the stuff to fight with: rifles alone will not do against good machine guns.

"Nurses and doctors are the best here so it will not be long until I am back at the front doing my stuff again. Hope dad and all at home are OK.”

In July 1938, John’s parents received a report from the International Brigade in Spain that their son, who had by this time been with the Brigade for eighteen months, had been posted as missing.

Their fears were soon to be allayed by the receipt of a letter from John who said he was alive and well.

Tragically, three months later, The Irvine Herald reported the news that John had been killed in action in Spain on 8th September on the Ebro front.

In September 1988, on the anniversary of his death, John Smith was honoured by Cunninghame District Council who erected a plaque in his name at Irvine Library, on the instigation of Irvine Trades Council.

A memorial service was also held at Knadgerhill Cemetery where a family stone records John’s death. This year it is on Sunday, September 19 at 2 pm.

With thanks to North Ayrshire Cultural Services.

Image of headstone and flag courtesy of Louise McDaid.