Video of IBMT commemoration online
The annual IB commemoration in London, July 6, 2013. Photo Guy Smallman
A 25-minute video by Marshall Mateer of the IBMT Annual Commemoration at the International Brigade memorial in Jubilee Gardens, London, on 6 July is now on the IBMTnews channel on YouTube. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Ebro, which was fought mainly in Catalonia, and a strong Catalan theme runs through the film, with songs from the Catalans UK choir, which was assembled for the first time for this event.
Orations for recently departed International Brigaders Lou Kenton by his son John and for David Lomon by his son Irving and for IBMT stalwarts Annette O’Riordan, Dolly West-Shaer and Mick Jones preceded the wreath-laying and the singing of “Jarama Valley.” Speeches by Jordi Palou-Loverdos, Director of Catalonia’s Memorial Democratic, and Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF, underlined the continuing need to remember the volunteers and the example they gave. Almudena Cros of AABI spoke about the threat to the International Brigades monument in Madrid. Songs from Grace Petrie included her own compositions “Tell me a Story” and the rousing “They Shall Not Pass!” See the video here.
