In the Jarama Series, The Volunteer Blog will present a series of articles examining the experiences of volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion from its formation to the Brunete Offensive in July 1937. Articles will focus both on the battalion’s formation as well as on the individuals who served. These articles are intended to provide the reader with a better appreciation of the men and women who made up the first American combat formation in Spain.

Note: Jim Carmody kindly provided updates on the biographical information for the Irish volunteers listed in the article.  The text of the post was updated to reflect his comments on February 12, 2016.

Jarama Series: The James Connolly Column

In early January 1936 Irish volunteers in the British battalion of the XVth International Brigade became embroiled in a spiraling dispute with the Battalion leadership. On January 12^th the Irish in the battalion held a meeting and took a vote on requesting transfer to the American Abraham Lincoln Battalion. Of the approximately 35-40 Irish volunteers in the British Battalion a slim majority voted in favor of the transfer.  Peter O’Connor and others who had argued against the transfer followed the majority’s decision.  On January 20^th the first group of men received transfer orders and joined the Lincolns.[i]

These men formed the nucleus of an Irish Section and adopted the name James Connolly Column. The Irish were assigned to Company One, as the Second Section. Additional volunteers of Irish descent from the United States and Canada along with additional Irish who transferred in over the following weeks filled out the ranks of the section.

The Lincoln Battalion had two infantry companies and a Machinegun Company. The First Company was commanded by John Scott and had three sections. The first section was American, the second Irish, and the third Cuban. The Connolly Column had approximately forty-one men assigned before the unit deployed to the Front (See Figure 1. Roster).[ii]  Several volunteers including Mike Kelly, the Section Commander, did not deploy to with the unit.[iii]  As was common throughout the war, men were moved into different positions to fill requirements as they arose. Kelly eventually rejoined the unit at the front.

Figure 1, Roster Co. 1, Section 2, circa February 15, 1937
Sandor Voros Collection, Adelphi University

Kelly, Michael J. Section Leader.
Doyle.  (Possibly Laurence Doyle or John Doyle) Asst. Section Leader.

Group One (11)

Dooley, Hugh.
Haines, Joseph.
Jefford, Jack.
Jones, ___. (Likely Sheldon Starr Jones).
Loughran, J.
O’Brien, Thomas T.  Group Commissar.
O’Brien, Tom.
O’Flaherty, Charles.
O’Flaherty, Francis Patrick.
Waters, Michael.
Wilson, ___.

Group Two (12)

Bonner, Hugh.
Boyle, ___. (Likely Daniel Boyle).
Brennan, John Francis.
Burns, Paul Arthur.
Donovan, Michael.
Hayes, Thomas.
Hedley, Jack.
Henry, William.
Holden, Dennis.
McLarnon, Alan Frederick.
Moran, Maurice. (aka Patrick Morris Moran).
Morrison, William A. Group Commissar.

Group Three (12)

Blake, Patrick Kevin.
Coleman, John Charles.
Donnelly, Charlie. Group Commissar.
Hochberg, Emmanuel.
Hunt, John.
McElroy, Albert E.
Morris, Arthur Walter.
O’Conner, Peter.
Power, John.
Power, Patrick.
Regan, Jim. (aka O’Reagan).
Stanley, Patrick.

Bork, John E. Runner.
O’Flaherty, Edward Coleman. Runner.

Curtin, Edward. Scout.
Walsh, Thomas.  Scout.

During the abortive attacks on February 23rd and 27th, the battalion took heavy casualties. In the Connolly Column eight men are listed as having been killed and an additional twelve wounded. Several additional volunteers left the Section to take leadership positions in other formations within the Battalion.

In early March the Lincoln Battalion reorganized. Survivors from Company 1, Section 3, the Guiteras Centuria, merged with Irish. For a brief time the formation was known as the Connolly-Guiteras Company.[iv] To make up for their losses, the Irish actively sought recruits of Irish heritage. Some of the volunteers they found were of dubious lineage. For example it is questionable if Milty O’Goldstien was a true son of Ireland.

Recruiting was hampered by the policy of assigning new Irish volunteers arriving in Spain to the British Battalion. By the end of June only eleven Irish-born volunteers remained.[v] The Irish Section fought courageously in the Brunete Campaign throughout July 1937. However, at the end of the action there were too few Irish to continue to justify a section and the Connolly Column ceased to exist within the Lincoln Battalion.[vi]

Irish, American and Canadians Identifies as Having Served in the Irish Section

Blake, Patrick Kevin. b. May 5, 1916, North Dublin, Irish; Domicile Dublin; arrived in Spain January 3, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Survived.

Bonner, Hugh. b. October 2, 1907, County Donegal; Irish; Arrived in Spain January 7, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Promoted to group leader he was killed in action on April 5, 1937, Jarama.

Bork, John E. (Bourke); British of Dutch decent; Served with the XV BDE, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Runner; Later stretcher bearer. Photograph 1, Photograph 3, Photograph 4

Boyle. (Likely Daniel Boyle); b. 1906, Belfast; Irish; IRA; Domicile Belfast; Arrived in Spain December 22, 1936; Assigned to the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2.; Noted as likely having deserted between Villanueva and the Jarama Front; Survived (other sources indicate killed in February 1937).

or

(Possibly Boyle, George); Glasgow, deserted and left Spain on the USN Maine in 1937.

Brennan, John Francis. US, Domicile Long Island, New York; Arrived in Spain on January 5, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company  1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Survived.

Burns, Paul Arthur. b. March 14, 1906, Somerville, Massachusetts; US; Domicile Williamstown, Massachusetts; Arrived in Spain January 14, 1937;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, Connolly Column, Group 2; Later Commander of Company 1; and Battalion Adjutant; Wounded in action at Brunete; Survived. Photograph 3

Coleman, John Charles. b. 1906; Irish; IRA; Domicile Cork; Arrived in Spain December 22, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Survived. Photograph 3, Photograph 5

Cox, Patrick John Colum. (Colum); b. circa 1917, North Dublin; Irish; Arrived in Spain February 17, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; Irish Section; Wounded in action, Jarama; Survived.

Curtin, Edward. (Dineen); b. April 19, 1909, Tipperary; Irish; Arrived in Spain January 5, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Scout; WIA February 23, 1937; Survived.

Donnelly, Charlie. b. June 10, 1914, County Tyrone; Irish; Arrived in Spain December 25, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3, Group Commissar; Took command of the Section after the death of Bill Henry; Killed in action February 27, 1937, Jarama; His body was recovered on March 9, 1937 and he was buried behind the lines.

Donovan, Michael. (O’Donovan); b. 1914, Athole; Irish; Domicile Britain; Arrived in Spain December 22, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Wounded in action February 19, 1937, Jarama. Fate uncertain.

Dooley, Hugh. b. June 13, 1910, Belfast; Irish; Arrived in Spain on January 1, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Survived.

Doyle. (Possibly John Doyle) (real name Charles Mitchell); Served and deserted from English Army 2 ½ years under Charles Mitchell; Arrived from England Dec, 28, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Wounded in action February 27, 1937, Jarama; Went to Artillery school on recovery; Later to 35^th DIV Transport; Deserted November 1937 caught in Barcelona. Another document says Wounded in action February 17, 1937.

Duff, Patrick. Dublin, Irish; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion.

Fennelly, William. b. August 12, 1897, County Laois; Irish; IRA; ;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; Wounded in action February 27, 1937, Jarama; Survived.

Fitzgerald, Dan. b. July 12, 1919, Weymouth, Massachusetts; US; Arrived in Spain February 17, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; To the front as a replacement on February  26, 1937; Survived.  Photograph 1

Goldstein, Milton. (Milty O’Goldstein); b. November 3, 1915; New York City; US; Domicile Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York; Sailed February 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; Irish Section; Survived.

Haines, Joseph F. Irish; Domicile Dublin; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Wounded in action February 23, 1937, in hospital.  Photograph 5

Hayes, Thomas. b. 1893, Dublin; Irish; Arrived in Spain December 19, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Did not go to the front with the unit was retained at Villanueva as a guard; Later rejoined the unit at the front; Survived.  Photograph 1, Photograph 3

Hedley, Jack. Liverpool Irish; Domicile Liverpool; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2, Transferred to Battalion Headquarters as the Company’s Political Commissar; Wounded in action at Jarama. Photograph 5

Henry, William. b. 1896; Irish; Domicile Belfast; Arrived in Spain December 17, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Promoted to command the Irish Section; Killed in Action either February 23 or February 27, 1937, Jarama.

Hochberg, Emmanuel. b. October 7, 1908, New York; US; Domicile Long Island, New York; Arrived in Spain on January 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Jarama and Brunete; Survived.

Holden, Dennis. (Dinny); b. 1891, Carlow; Irish; Domicile Liverpool; Arrived in Spain on December 19, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Later in cookhouse; Survived.

Hunt, John. b. 1911, Waterford; Irish; Arrived in Spain December 21, 1936;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; WIA February 27, 1937, Jarama; Survived. Photograph 2

Jefford, Charles. (Jack); 25 years old; Liverpool/Irish; Seaman; Arrived in Spain December 23, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Sent to labor battalion and Camp Lukas; Repatriated to England September 1937; Returned to Spain November 1937 spent time in Castelldefels; Nominated for expulsion in March 1938 was still jailed in June.

Jones. (Likely Sheldon Starr Jones) b. June 2, 1909, Port Deposit, Maryland; US; Domicile Boothbay Harbor, Maines and Southport, Maryland; Arrived in Spain on February 14, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Survived.

Kelly, Michael J. b. Ballinasloe, County Galaway; Irish; IRA; To Spain from Britain; Arrived in Spain December 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Section Leader; He remained at Villanueva when the unit went to the front but later rejoined the unit; Wounded February 27, 1937, Jarama; Killed in action July 7, 1937, Brunete. Photograph 1, Photograph 3, Photograph 4;

Loughran, J. (“Pop”); Irish from Canada; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; WIA Brunete; Survived.

or

(Possibly Thomas Laughran) (“Pop”), b. December 10, 1875 or 1885, Belfast.

McElroy, Albert E. (Bert); b. September 8, 1911, South Dublin; Irish; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3.

McElroy, Patrick J. (McElvoy ); b. May 22, 1911, South Dublin; Irish; Domicile Dublin; Joined International Brigades January 7, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; Wounded in action February 27, 1937, Jarama; Survived. Photograph 2

McGrotty, Eamon. b. July 12, 1911, Derry, Irish; Arrived in Spain December 22, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, Adjutant; Killed in action February 27, 1937, Jarama.

McLarnon, Alan Frederick. b. December 16, 1907, County Armagh; Irish; Arrived in Spain December 23, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Wounded in action February 23, 1937, Jarama; Survived.

McLaughlin, Patrick Roe. b. December 17, 1902, County Donegal; Irish from the US; Domicile New York;  Arrived in Spain January 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1; Four months at the front then transferred to the Artillery; Survived, May have returned to England shortly before leaving for Spain.

Moran, Maurice. (Patrick Morris Moran); b. October 11, 1910, County Mayo; Irish from US; Arrived in Spain January 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Did not go to the front with the unit remained at Villanueva; Later rejoined the battalion; Jarama and Brunete; Survived.

Morris, Arthur Walter. Canadian; To Spain from the Lenin School in Soviet Union, Arrived in Spain on February 2, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3;  Killed in action February 27, 1937, Jarama.

Morrison, William A. b. February 10, 1910, Belfast; Irish; Domicile London; Arrived in Spain December 22, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 2; Group Commissar; Wounded in action February 23, 1937, Jarama; Survived.

O’Brien, Thomas T.  b. 1911, Dublin; Irish; Domicile Liverpool; Arrived in Spain December 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1, Group Commissar; Noted as having transferred to battalion transport, he may have rejoined the section; Killed in action February 27, 1937, Jarama. Photograph 4

O’Brien, Tom. b. 1909, Dublin; Irish; Domicile England; Arrived in Spain December 16, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Survived.

O’Conner, Peter. (Connors);  b. March 31, 1912, Waterford; Irish; IRA; Domicile London, England; Arrived in Spain December 21, 1936; Against the move to the Lincolns but went with the majority decision; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Later assistant Section Leader; Survived. Photograph 1, Photograph 2, Photograph 3, Photograph 4, Photograph 5

O’Donnell, Vincent Francis William. b. August 27, 1904, South Dublin; Irish; Domicile London, England; Arrived in Spain January 26, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion at Jarama; later POW; Survived.

Figure 2. Irish American brothers Charles, Edward and Frank O’Flaherty, from New England Fights for Democracy.

O’Flaherty, Charles. b. October 26, 1904, Norwood, Massachusetts; US; Domicile Boston; Sailed January 9, 1937;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column,  Group 1; Later attended Officer Training School and served as a Commissar; Wounded in action; Survived.

O’Flaherty, Edward Coleman. b. December 24, 1910, Norwood, Massachusetts; US; Domicile Boston; Sailed January 16, 1937;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Runner; Later transferred to Company 2 as Adjutant and took command of company 2; Survived. Photograph 1

O’Flaherty, Francis Patrick. (Frank); b. May 18, 1908, Norwood, Massachusetts; US; Domicile Boston; Sailed January 16, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Wounded in action at Jarama; Survived.

O’Neil, Stewart. b. December 28, 1900, Irish; Served 1917-25 in the British Army; Arrived in Spain March 30, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Rank Sargento.

Pickards, J. Canada; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2; Connolly Column. Photograph 4

John Powers in Spain, RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 445.

Power, John. (Johnny); b. April 9, 1908, Waterford; Irish; IRA; Domicile London, England; Arrived in Spain December 12, 1936; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Served at Jarama, Brunete wounded, Transferred to British Battalion served at Belchite and the Ebro Offensive; Rank Teniente; Survived. Photograph 2; Photograph 3, Photograph 4

Power, Patrick. (Paddy); b. 1912, Waterford; Irish; Arrived in Spain December 21, 1936;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Survived. Photograph 1, Photograph 4

Power, William. b. circa 1912, Waterford; Irish; Domicile England; Arrived in Spain February 4, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion at Jarama and Brunete; Survived.

Regan, James. (O’Reagan); b. May 1, 1911, Cork;  Irish;  Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 3; Served at Jarama, Brunete, Aragon, Belchite, Gandesa during Retreats and Ebro Offensive; Survived. Photograph 1, Photograph 3

Rehill, Joe. b. March 14, 1913, New Brunswick, New Jersey; US; Domicile New Brunswick; Arrived in Spain on February 15, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Section 2, Connolly Column; Survived. Photograph 3, Photograph 4, Photograph 5

Tamler, Bud. (Boris); 21 years old; US; Domicile NYC, and Denver, Colorado; Sailed January 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln BN; Was among group sent to the front on February 22, 1937 with minimal training; Became Political Commissar of Section 2, Irish; Later resigned; Broke down at Brunete and deserted; Served at Jarama and Brunete; Survived.

Troxil, Steve. b. August 21, 1911, Holdingford, Minnesota; US; Domicile Youngstown, Ohio; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion; Irish Section; Survived. Photograph 4

Tumilson, William James. (Liam); b. November 10, 1904, Belfast; IRA; Domicile Liverpool, England; Arrived in Spain January 21, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, MG Company, Adjutant later Commander; Killed by a sniper, March 1937, Jarama.

Walsh, Thomas. Dublin Irish; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Scout

Waters, Michael. b. circa 1913, Cork; Irish; Arrived in Spain January 6, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column,  Group 1; Wounded in action February 15, 1937, Jarama; Survived.

Wilson. Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln Battalion, Company 1, Section 2, James Connolly Column, Group 1; Did not go to the front with the unit was left at Villanueva.

[i] Emmet O’Conner. Mutiny or Sabotage? The Irish defection to the Abraham Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War. 2009.

[ii] Roster Co. 1, Section 2, undated, Sandor Voros Spanish Civil War Collection, Series 2, The XVth International Brigade Records, Box 3, Folder 31, Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections, Garden City, NY; This roster was likely completed on or around February 15, 1937; and Political Section Co. 1, undated, Sandor Voros Spanish Civil War Collection, Series 2, The XVth International Brigade Records, Box 3, Folder 31, Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections, Garden City, NY provides information on the political organization of the Section.

[iii] HQ Co. 1, undated, Sandor Voros Spanish Civil War Collection, Series 2, The XVth International Brigade Records, Box 3, Folder 31, Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections, Garden City, NY.

The document is a hand written note that provides updates to the roster for Company 1 from February 15, 1937.  While the document is undated it was likely written not later than February 24, 1937.  It contains the following updates about the Second Section:

Kelly – Left at Villanueva

Doyle – WIA hospital

Wilson at Villanueva

O’Brien T. sick, believed working in transport

Haines – casualty in hospital

Boyle – believed deserted between Albacete and Front

Hayes T. guard at Villanueva

Hedley – to BN HQ

Moran in Villanueva

Powers sick in Villanueva [uncertain which of the

[iv] Fernando Vera Jiménez, “Cubanos en la Guerra Civil Española. La presencia de voluntarios en las Brigadas Internacionales y el Ejército Popular de la República,” Revista Complutense de Historia de America, v. 25, 1999, pp. 295-321. PDF.

[v] Correspondence with Jim Carmody. Various lists of Irish in the Lincoln Battalion; and a transcription of and article in the Weekly Bulletin of Information, (Prensa Extranjera), Valencia, June 28, 1937  with a letter signed by the remaining Irish members in the Lincoln Battalion.

Michael Kelly            Irish Republican Congress

Johnny Power           IRA and Congress

Peter O’Connor         IRA     Waterford

Kevin Blake                IRA     Dublin

Paddy Power              IRA     Waterford

Billy Power                 IRA     Waterford

Jackie Hunt               IRA     Waterford

Allan McLannan      IRA     Waterford (correct name McLarnon)

Paddy Duff                 IRA     Belfast (actually from Dublin)

Jack Nalty                  IRA     Dublin

Joe Kelly                     IRA     Vancouver

[vi] Robert A. Stradling, The Irish and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, Mandolin (Manchester University Press), 1999, p. 172.

Sources

McLoughlin, Barry. Fighting for Republican Spain, 1936-38, Frank Ryan and the Volunteers from Limerick in the International Brigade, Ireland: Barry McLoughlin, 2014.

Stradling, Robert A. The Irish and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, Manchester: Mandolin (Manchester University Press), 1999

Emmet O’Conner, “Identity and Self-Representation in Irish Communism, The Connolly Column and the Spanish Civil War,” Socialist History, Volume 34 (2009), pp. 36-51. PDF

_____. Mutiny or Sabotage? The Irish defection to the Abraham Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War. 2009. Online

_____. “Behind the Legend: Waterfordmen in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War,” Decies: Journal of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 61 (2005), pages 267-85. PDF

Carmody, Jim.  Correspondence including Lists of Irish in the Lincoln Battalion and a copy of a transcription of the Weekly Bulletin of Information, (Prensa Extranjera), Valencia, June 28^th 1937

Barry McLoughlin, Fighting for Republican Spain, 1936-38, Frank Ryan and the Volunteers from Limerick in the International Brigade, Ireland:  Barry McLoughlin, 2014.

Sandor Voros Spanish Civil War Collection, Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections, Garden City, NY. With invaluable research assistance by Bianca M. LaVeglia.

Tags: Ireland, Irish American, Irish vets, James Connolly Column, Jarama Series