Churchill's Spaniards : Continuing the Fight in the British Army 1939-46

Very little, if anything at all, has been told about the service of over one thousand Spanish Republicans who volunteered to join the British Army during the Second World War. Churchill’s Spaniards remedies this and tells their story, men who were ‘continuing the fight’ against fascism from 1939 to 1946.

Churchill’s Spaniards is not the story of the Spanish Civil War, nor the equally well-known one of the International Brigades. It is the story – against the backdrop of Churchill’s efforts to keep Spain out of the war – of the recruitment, training and deployment of often battle-hardened Spanish Republicans into the service of the United Kingdom. These fighting men served widely across British Armed Forces: as members of the elite SAS and Commandos, in the ranks of the Infantry and of the Pioneer Corps and as members of the Special Operations Executive. Further Spaniards fought in almost all of the battles and campaigns in the West from the Fall of France and the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, to the campaigns in North Africa and Italy, as well as those in North-West Europe.

Using a wide range of material from Britain, France and Spain as well as previously unpublished eyewitness and official accounts along with groundbreaking new research, Séan Scullion finally tells the story of these previously overlooked men.

"....Along with some excellent photographs, we meet and learn about some of these individuals and follow their stories....As many historians have already said, the story of these men has largely been unknown. Sean's many years of research has created a valuable and truly comprehensive account that has brought their stories to our attention and deservedly so." History Book Chat Blog

"THIS superbly researched debut book by serving officer Sean Scullion reveals the previously untold tale of the 1,200 Spanish republican volunteers who fought for the British in the Second World War. In meticulous detail, their deployment across the Army is brought to life, including acts of gallantry and service with the renowned SAS. I highly recommend the title - it is worth its weight in gold for anyone wanting to understand the political dimension of the day and why fighting was so important to these men." Soldier Magazine, Nov 2024

"...Bi-lingual Scullion, an officer in the Royal Engineers, who was brought up in Spain during the last days of Franco, recounts how his hardy Spaniards, operating under obligatory noms de guerre, served in theatres as far apart as Tobruk, Salerno, Normandy, Arnhem, the Ardennes, and Far East, and in every branch of the army, but especially the Commandos and SAS. Their stories comprise tales of extraordinary resilience, determination and courage and were completely unknown until crafted via interviews, memoirs and diaries into this splendid volume." The Critic, Dec 2024
 
“This is a very valuable read for anyone with an interest in the Spanish Civil War and anti-Franco resistance, as well as the role of fugitives from fascism in its defeat.” The NYMAS Review