Britons in Spain - The History of The British Battalion of the XVth International Brigade

William Rust

Signed by 18 members in ink and pencil across the half-title and facing page.  According to a well researched web history of the brigade at Weebly, "Upon returning to the UK many of the surviving members of the Battalion embarked ona  speaking tour to raise awareness and funds for the Spanish people.  It lasted 32 days from 9/1/1939 until 8/2/1939, and took in the length and breadth of the UK."  The signatures here represent folks who participated in that tour.  Left page:  Nurses Mary E. Slater (S.R.N.) - Nursed on the Aragon front and Margaret Finlay; Fred Copeman – organiser of the Invergordon Mutiny, commanded the British Battalion during 1937.  Right Page:  John Henlon - along with inscription "XV Brigade Salud y Victoria",  —-  Miller, Clive Branson- later killed on the Arakan Front, Burma 25/02/1944, J L—---, W. J. Harrington, M. White, Ben Sturgess, Henry G—-ly, Charles H.G. Cooley, Alan Gilchrist - Wounded in the chest at the Ebro on 31/7/1938, Bob Cooney - British Battalion Political Commissar, G. R. Peck (most likely Gustav Robert Daubenspeck), Cyril A. Sexton -Chief Clerk of XV Brigade Base, and Arthur Nicoll.  The book itself is only fair, lacking dustjacket.  A first edition in red boards heavily worn with tearing at the paper of the joints and a chip out of the spine head.  Interior is much better, but paper is browned and the rear hinge is fragile at the appendices.  Previous owner's name to the front free-endpaper and a number at the top of the rear one.  212 pp., some black and white photos near the rear of the book.  A rough copy - unique in it's history and collection of autographs.