Laying a life to rest

Jamie Borthwick Jamie Borthwick - 1620 • Published 15 Apr 2009 09:25

Son’s mission of pride for a dad he never knew

A PENSIONER whose dad was killed in the Spanish Civil War is backing a plan to have a memorial erected to him and countless other Scots who fell in the 1930s conflict.

Allan Craig, 74, was a toddler when his father - also Allan - went off to Spain in 1937, and does not remember him.

Allan snr was tragically killed fighting for the republican communists who were defeated by Franco"s rebel nationalist army - backed by fascists Hitler and Mussolini.

Allan"s recently managed to obtain a picture of his dad, which he admits was a humbling experience.

He said: 'It is quite a feeling to see your dad for the first time, even all these years on.'

For years Allan jnr has searched for clues as to the whereabouts of his dad"s remains and believes they lie in a village called Jarama, a few miles east of Madrid.

And now, with the backing of his MSP, plans are afoot to put up a permanent memorial by the battlefield where he fell.

Drumchapel man Allan told the Post: 'I never saw my father.

'He went to Spain with his younger brother Charles who was a passionate communist.

'My father was no communist but he hated fascism and he went along to make sure nothing happened to Charles.

'He was injured in battle and taken to a field hospital before dying soon after and being buried in the local cemetery.

'When the war finished the fascists moved in and discarded all the graves and tipped my father and the others in a refuse tip.

'It was even left to the local peasants to come and cover the remains.

'I only learned that recently and I was quite angry - it"s disgusting they were treated like dirt.'

A chat with MSP Bill Butler resulted in the Drumchapel politician taking the fight for a memorial to Holyrood and he is now set to lobby the Spanish Government.

April 1 marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the war and Mr Butler took the day to make a motion in Parliament remembering the Scots who died.

He said: 'The legacy of the Scots who fought in the International Brigades cannot be overstated - we should be proud of the role Scots played in this struggle.

'We need to ensure that in years to come people will recall their sacrifice and will understand why these men and women went to Spain - to defend the Spanish Republic, and the democratic ideal.

'I am also hopeful that the Spanish Consulate will agree to meet with Allan Craig and me to discuss ways in which we can commemorate in a fitting fashion the lives of those who never returned to Scotland.'

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 15 Apr 09

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