"The Sons of Spain" the story of a British volunteer who fought in the Spanish Civil War

This is a documentary about Joseph Kahn, one of the few surviving British volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War.

Joseph was 18 when he volunteered to lead a convoy of ambulances from Camden Town to Madrid.

He arrived and went on to Albacete, where he joined the newly formed British Battalion.

In February 1937, the battalion fought at the Battle of Jarama. In a single day's bloody fighting on 12 February against Moors from Franco's Army of Africa, the British Battalion suffered 275 casualties - leaving 125 rifleman fit for duty.

On the second day of fighting, the machine gun company was surrounded by Fascists and many of its members were captured.

The battalion remained in the trenches at Jarama until 17 June 1937.

The film was the final project of a two week film-making course run by the Documentary Film-makers Group (DFG).

Thank you to everyone at DFG, all the tutors and students. Obviously a huge thank you to Joseph and his wonderful family.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Spain
• Spanish Civil War
• fascism
• bnp

[freddo27]

Joe, you and your comrades will never be forgotten. You're an eternal inspiration to freedom loving people everywhere, giving service freely at the risk of your lives so that evil should not prevail.

One local hero: RIP Howard 'Andy' Andrews of Taunton, Somerset, died May 2008 aged 101. Served as a medic right in the thick of the fighting. Staunch antifascist and activist to the end.

[rcarass1]

A respectful anti-fascist salute to the brave volunteers.

[timminsmark]

thank god for men like him restores my faith in humanity

[BigJL79]

So glad to have had the pleasure to have known you. A fighter and an amazing man, right up until the end. RIP Jo.

[zthetha]

THE BEST QUOTE I'VE HEARD THIS YEAR: "It isn't possible to explain to fascists where they are wrong - so that you have to get rid of them. And if you don;t get rid of them, they will do - in another 50 years -precisely what they did in Germany in 1932/33."

[workingclassbum]

I'm writing my dissertation on Tom Wintringham, intresting chap.

[bagpipediscsdotcom]

Thank you for this. My great uncle, Clifford Lawther, was one of those killed at the opening of the Battle of Jarama. Like Joseph Kahn he had journeyed there via Albacete from where he wrote his last letter home.