James Reid and Herbert Riding among Teesside heroes of Spanish Civil War to be honoured at special event

HEROES: Herbert Riding and James Reid
-Credit: (Image: UGC)


An annual event to remember Teesside volunteers who fought against fascism in the 1930s Spanish Civil War will be held in Hartlepool for the first time.

The event, to be held at the town's Heugh Battery Museum, is part of ongoing projects across the region to uncover stories of men, women and communities linked to the war and its legacy. Organised by the North East Volunteers for Liberty group and taking place on Sunday, October 27, the event will remember the 30 Teesside volunteers who served in the International Brigade in Spain including nine who lost their lives.

The Spanish Civil War arose when right-wing General Francisco Franco led a rebel military coup against Spain's democratically elected government. Franco's forces were backed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini's fascist Italy. Because of the international context and issues, the civil war is often seen as the 'first battle' of the Second World War, which followed.

The North East Volunteers for Liberty group has held commemorations for the past five years at locations including Middlesbrough, Stockton and Newcastle. It is involved with other activities including historic research with volunteers' relatives, communities, museums and archives and school education.

Tony Fox, from Stockton, is helping to organise the Hartlepool event. He said: “We will remember all the Teesside volunteers and also speak about the five Hartlepool men who volunteered with the International Brigade.

"They were Thomas Carter, who lost his life in Spain at the battle of Jarama in February 1937. William Smith, a mechanic; and Thomas Richardson, a widower with three children. They both served for 18 months in Spain before returning home.

"Also James Reid, a seaman who broke through Franco’s naval blockade around Spain to deliver food donated by people in North East England. He joined the International Brigade when his ship was sunk by German aircraft whilst unloading in Alicante harbour. And Herbert Riding, born in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, who was a chef in charge of catering for the XV International Brigade in Spain. Before returning home to England in 1938, Herbert received special recognition in Spain for his contribution during the civil war.."

James Reid was a seaman who broke through Franco’s naval blockade around Spain to deliver food donated by people in North East England.
James Reid was a seaman who broke through Franco’s naval blockade around Spain to deliver food donated by people in North East England.
Herbert Riding, born in Stokesley, was a chef in charge of catering for the XV International Brigade in Spain. He received special recognition in Spain for his contribution during the civil war.
Herbert Riding, born in Stokesley, was a chef in charge of catering for the XV International Brigade in Spain. He received special recognition in Spain for his contribution during the civil war.

Tony added: "What makes these commemorations very special is that we are joined by relatives of some of the volunteers and some of the Basque refugee children who were evacuated to the Teesside area following the bombing of Guernica in 1937. Some refugees stayed at Hutton Hall near Guisborough and today some descendants live in Stockton and North Yorkshire."

At the event, which begins at 10am and is free to attend, speakers will include the Mayor of Hartlepool, Cllr Carole Thompson, and representatives of the International Brigade Memorial Trust and the Association of UK Basque Children. Others will include Bob Beagrie, a Teesside University creative writing lecturer and poet whose books include one inspired by the International Brigade, called Romanceros.

Also involved is Robbie MacDonald of the Solidarity Park project at Malgrat de Mar near Barcelona, a memorial, arts and education scheme linked to the sinking of a ship called Ciudad de Barcelona during the civil war with hundreds of International Brigade volunteers onboard.

Songs, writing, poetry, art, posters and film arose during the Spanish Civil War. And its people, themes and events continue to inspire new work today. Hartlepool's commemoration will include the Project Lono group, which mixes musical instruments, sound recordings and poetry; flamenco guitarist Marc Boden, musician-songwriter Sara Dennis and a documentary film by AV Zounds.

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