Plaque Honors Robert Merriman
In recent years, investigators of the research group DIDPATRI (Didactics of Heritage) at the University of Barcelona have tried to locate the remains of Robert Hale Merriman, Commander of the Lincoln-Washington Battalion and Chief of Staff of the XV International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, as yet we have not been able to find the grave. As you know, Merriman was educated at the University of California, Berkeley and joined the International Brigades to defend the Spanish Republic. It is likely that Merriman was executed by the forces of General Franco on April 2, 1938 in Corbera d’Ebre (Tarragona). To pay homage to this fighter for freedom, and in acknowledgment of all the Americans who fought for freedom in the Spanish Civil War, the researchers from the University of Barcelona placed a commemorative plaque by the sculptor Mar H. Pongiluppi in the old village of Corbera d’Ebre, in the area where Merriman was probably killed. The ceremony took place on April 7, 2018. We are happy to make available the mold of the plaque to anyone who is interesting in making a copy.
Xavier Hernàndez teaches at the University of Barcelona.
I am, I think, a relative of Robert Merriman. I have never tracked this down but my mother’s family were Merrimans. I have read his widow Marion Merriman’s biography, and Robert sounded just like the Merrimans I know. My aunt, when I showed her a photo of Robert Merriman, said, “He looks just Dad!” That would have been my grandfather. So I think he and Robert were probably some sort of cousins. I want you to know how terribly moved I was to see a video about this plaque. I talked to members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade about Merriman when I was living in New York City in the 1990’s, and they remembered him well. I am so pleased that Spanish people remember him, too. (I’m sorry…. I don’t speak Spanish. Hope someone there knows English). Thanks again! Gary Sandman
Dear Gary,
The location of where 7 brigaders were buried, and of whom one might be Robert Merriman, have plans to excavate the mass grave with the Catalan Generalitat’s Memorial Democratic. If you think you are related to Robert Merriman, MD are hoping to obtain DNA to try and identify him.
Alan Warren.
pdlhistoria@gmail.com
Our dad Sam Wild was Commander of the British Battalion fighting their way back to the Ebro at that time. He came home in Dec 1938