In late 1936 the Independent Labour Party (ILP- a group which had split from the Labour party in the early 1930's over basic social issues) was actively recruiting volunteers to go to Spain. It was also active in collecting financial aid. Hugh Thomas says at least 40 British citizens went to Spain through the ILP, although he believes some fell into the ILP channels by accident - some being adventurers or others meant to end up in Alabacete.

The ILP offices were at 35 St Bride Street, London, EC4. The leader of the Volunteers in Spain was Bob Edwards, and one of his most famous volunteers was Eric Blair aka George Orwell. Other known volunteers were Frank Frankford (from Hackney), Stafford Cottman (see an earlier Abanderado article ), John McNair, C. Justesen, Urias Jones, Buck Parker, Hugh McNeill, Reginald Hiddlestone, Philip Hunter, Bob Smillie (who died from illness in a Barcelona hospital), Paddy Donovan, Albert Gross (from Hammersmith), Charles Doran from Glasgow, Bill Chambers (the only ILP member known to have been killed in Spain) , Harry Thomas (Doran, Chambers and Thomas were 1914/18 veteran's ), others had the surnames Moyle, Thompson, O'Hara, and Coles. There unit seems to have been multinational - one Captain being a Frenchman -- Jorge Benjamin. They saw action on the Aragon front notably in the vicinity of Huesca and Alcubirre, as part of the 3rd Regiment, Lenin Division POUM , led by George Kopp (a Belgian ex army officer).

In March 1937 their numbers had reduced to about 20, and Wally Tapsell was sent from Albacete to get them to join the International brigades. However, the group had arrived in Barcelona on leave , and were caught up in the May fighting some of the British were part of an armed guard at the POUM headquarters. Another 4 of the group a Welsh miner, a docker, a driver and a labourer (names unknown ) left to join a Spanish Republican battalion. Tapsells efforts failed, and McNair who was the main political leader of the ILP in Spain, snubbed Tapsell - failing to turn up at arranged meetings. Soon after the army reforms in May the rest of the ILP went back to Britain.

It would appear that bitterness from the International brigaders to the ILP volunteers never went away, you get this feeling from Bill Alexander's comments in his book 'British Volunteers For Liberty' and again from George Wheeler's recent interview in the Gaurdian newspaper. Moreover, none of the ILP members enjoys official recognition - their names do not appear on any of the brigade memorials or epitaphs.

Further research needs to be done on this subject, the ILP is no longer in existence, (not to be confused with the original ILP which led to formation of the current Labour party). However, their archives are held at Independent Labour Publications (49 Top Moor Side, Leeds, LS11 9LW), and at the London School of Economics (archives here can be viewed by appointment).