Welsh history
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Welsh miner Tom Jones survived a death sentence to be repatriated from Franco’s Spain after the UK government paid a massive ransom. Jones, from Rhosllanerchrugog, Denbighshire, travelled to Spain in 1937 to fight for the International Brigades. He was wounded during the fierce battle on the River Ebro, in July 1938, and captured by Franco’s troops.…
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John Cooper is one of the most notorious criminals in British history. He burgled, raped and murdered during a 15-year reign of terror, which included four executions by shotgun. And, far from keeping a low profile between crimes, he even took time to appear on the gameshow Bullseye. This year, he was jailed for life. ITV Wales…
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Seventy-five years ago this month a group of military officers led a coup in Spain. But when the cities of Madrid and Barcelona held firm, the failed coup d’etat became a bloody civil war which would last from 1936 until 1939. The far-right governments of Germany and Italy supported the right wing rebels of General…
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The “Hidden Killer” documentary about the levels of asbestos in schools is now available on the Asbestos In Schools website.The story relates not just to Wales but to the whole of the UK and includes interviews with Scottish asbestos expert Robin Howie and with the HSE.Just click the ITV Wales link at http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/npaper%20links/Documentaries.htm
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Here’s an update on Michael O’Brien’s appearance at the Hay Festival by Duncan Campbell of the Guardian and here’s a recent interview by David James of the South Wales Echo with one of Mr O’Brien’s co-accused Ellis Sherwood.
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I have a small number of copies of the Spanish Civil War book ‘A Bullet Saved My Life’ available for sale. The book, which was a Morning Star book of the week when it came out in 2006, tells the story of Welshman Bob Peters and his adventures in getting to and fighting in the…
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Rhondda-born Alun Menai Williams had two remarkable photographs in his collection.One was a sad reminder of a friend, Billy Davies, who served in the Spanish Civil War, and was killed a few days after the snap was taken.The other was a source of immense pride. It showed Alun marching to the front, the flag of…
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A Welshman, who helped rescue more than 2,600 refugees from Spain during the civil war, was this week honoured by the people of Alicante.Archibald Dickson, captain of the merchant steam ship Stanbrook, risked his life to enter the port as the civil war drew to a close.On Sunday, his son and daughter, Arnold Dickson and…
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A plaque was due to be unveiled today in memory of Jimmy Murphy, the coach who helped nurture Manchester United’s legendary Busby Babes and led Wales to their only World Cup finals.Murphy, born in the Rhondda of a Welsh mother and Irish father, was the man who stepped into Matt Busby’s shoes after the Munich…
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Psst, do you want to know a secret?It’s the story of a heroic Welshman, although it doesn’t start off very courageously.I mean, our heroes are rarely “mean-spirited” and “bony-faced”.They don’t normally have ill-shaped ears, or make a spectacle of themselves by only putting in their false teeth to eat.What manner of hero is this, I…
