Provost Kenneth Duffy joined representatives of the North Lanarkshire No Pasaran Memorial Committee to honour the brave local volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War, as 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the war. The council remembered the 11 North Lanarkshire volunteers who gave their lives in the fight against fascism.
Public Commemoration Planned
The memorial committee will host a public commemoration at 1pm on Sunday, July 26, at the memorial in Duchess of Hamilton Park. Around 500 Scots volunteered to take up arms in the conflict – proportionately more than any other country – despite the then British Government’s refusal to send troops to fight in Spain.
Historical Context and Sacrifice
The bloody three-year-long war ended in 1939 with the loss of half a million lives, including the 11 men from North Lanarkshire whose sacrifice has now been marked with the memorial in Duchess of Hamilton Park. According to the memorial committee, the volunteers were part of the International Brigades that fought against fascist forces led by General Franco.
