Twm Sbaen
Twm Sbaen fought in the Spanish Civil War.
- Place of Birth:
- Rhosllanerchrugog
- Famous For:
- Fighting in the Spanish Civil War
- Biography:
-
Tom Jones, or Twm Sbaen as he was known in his native Rhos, fought against Franco's men as a volunteer with the International Brigade in the '30s.
His grandson, Andrew, who now lives in Valencia and remembers a man who was always laughing and joking. "He was very kind, especially with his family. That's amazing when you consider what he had been through in Spain."
The Gresford Colliery disaster, near Wrexham, in 1934, left a big impression on Tom, and his family believe that seeing the bodies carried up to the coal face formed his political opinion and made him passionately in favour of democracy.
Two years later, Tom joined the International Brigade, along with dozens of other Welshmen and even though he was arrested and imprisoned in France he succeeded in reaching the front line in the war against Franco.
Following a long period of fierce fighting, he was captured at the bloody Ebro battle in 1938, the only soldier in his battalion to survive and he was imprisoned in Zaragoza and then in Burgos, Franco's HQ. But in Market Street, Rhos, a letter had arrived to inform his parents - incorrectly - of their son's death on Spanish soil and when he returned to the village, in 1940, they had already passed away.
your comments
Hugh Hopkins, Aberdare, south Wales
I have never come across Tom Jones in any books I have read on the SPW. He is a another kind, compassionate and brave man. It's about time these heroes had the recognition they deserve and people realised what they did in the fight against fascism.
Wed Jan 30 16:10:16 2008
Dylan in Wrexham
I had never heard of this gentleman but he deserves to be known in the Wrexham area, as he must have been a compassionate & caring man to have fought with the International Brigade. Would be interesting to know which brigade the Rhos volunteers fought with, or if indeed they served with George Orwell in the POUM.
Mon Oct 23 08:33:45 2006
This comments form is now closed
|
|
|
