Stuart Walsh, a wonderful colleague and friend in  Lancashire notified me of this recent find, an article in the Daily Worker, for 9th December 1938 mentions Stockton.

These eighteen lines are packed with valuable information: Firstly that in 1938 Stockton’s office for the Daily Worker was at 92 Hartington Road. This is just a few metres away from Trinity Churchyard where George Short held his NUWM surgeries on Sunday evenings after the local magistrates had banned him from holding them at the Market Cross. The Daily Worker was the Communist Party Newspaper, the proceeds from sales of this were used to fund the activities of the local Party.

Up until this point I had not considered a secular ‘Christening’ happening in the 1930’s, today a naming ceremony followed by  a celebration is much more common, but to see it so officially Party Political is quite surprising, although I love the concept of the children being named ‘under the red flag.’

I need to research three of the four names, but one needs no introduction, the last child listed is George Short jr, who is referred to as George III as his father and Grandfather were both named George Short; George Short jr’s parents are George and Phyllis Short, he being the Teesside District organiser for the Communist Party (see https://foxburg.edublogs.org/2021/02/22/teesside-ib-memorial/)

The ‘songs by members of the International Brigade’ is also of great interest. The plural is used, which tells us there were more than one. Of the twenty one Teesside volunteers, seven were killed in Spain, hence we have a small number to choose from, although I suspect a number from Tyneside may have travelled down for this Party event.

We know of two brigaders in particular who were musical and also good singers. Otto Estensen had returned home just a few days earlier; arriving in Newhaven on 7th December 1938 with the rest of the repatriated British Battalion. We even have photographic proof of his musicality in Spain – the Iconic photograph of the XV Brigade anti-tank  battery. We also know that Otto was lodging with the Shorts in 1938, and did so until his marriage to Eleanor the following year.

We also know that his best friend, Tommy Chilvers, who had also served in the XV Brigade anti-tank  battery was musical; he played his guitar at the concerts put on by the Basque refugees from the colony at Hutton Hall. hence it is a virtual certainty that Otto and Tommy were providing the songs, and likely that they were a part of the ‘string band.’

What is even more pleasing is that George III is still with us, and I have been able to bring this small part of his personal story to his attention. It is a fascinating insight into the cultural outlook of these Communists on Teesside, a very personal event can tell us a lot about these wonderful people.

Sadly it is too late to add this interesting story to the book – I sing of my comrades: Remembering Stockton’s international Brigaders, however it reminds us that there is still much more to discover about these fascinating people.

The book has been produced to Support John Christie’s memorial campaign – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stocktonbrigaders 

It will be available soon, but if you wish to pre-order, please contact me through – https://www.facebook.com/stocktoninternationalbrigaders