On 25th November Richard Harris posted a picture on the International Brigades Remembered Facebook page .

Richard added –

I just came across this picture of my father after he was wounded at the Battle of Jarama on Feb. 26, 1937. If I’m not mistaken, it looks like Robert Merriman to my father’s left side.

Robert Hale Merriman, the Chief of Staff of the XV International Brigade, disappeared behind enemy lines in a desperate attempt to escape encirclement during the great Retreats in the early spring of 1938. His body was never recovered, which has led to an an air of mystery as to what happened to him in his last campaign. A consensus has emerged that suggests that Merriman was killed outright or was captured and executed later.

I think you will agree with Richard that it is indeed Bob Merriman; who’s arm was in a cast at the time, seated next to his father Aaron Harris .

The wonderful thing about the International Brigades Remembered Facebook page  is that people add to and enrich the posts, this was the case here. Ray Hoff in America discussed the image with Mercedes Nicolás in Spain  with a view to finding the location and date.

Mercedes Nicolás explained:

I have asked the compañeras and compañeros of the Murcia Historical Memory Association and we believe that the photo was taken in front of the Pasionaria Hospital, almost at the door. In that area, in the Parque de Ruiz Hidalgo, the fair was installed in Murcia since 1929. The building that is seen behind must be what we know here as “el Martillo”, it is part of the Episcopal Palace of Murcia.[Tranlated from the Spanish]

The building on the left of the picture is the one that can be seen behind the ferris wheel.  With the location established the next question was – why a ferris wheel. Again Mercedes Nicolás and

Ray Hoff  provided the answer.

Ray said :

While this says 19/20 March, those were the dates in Merriman’s diary but he wrote across many pages after February 27 and did not catch up his story until March 29, so the dates are jumbled. The statement on March 20 says that he met Overton on the 15th or before. For several days, Merriman and Bob Thompson were touring Murcia waiting for Marion Merriman to arrive (she’d been sent for on March 4). If this photo was taken after Marion arrived, it could be any time up to the 30th. Santa Semana was the week of March 21-28 and there may have been a fair or festival in Murcia that week. A newspaper from Murcia might determine whether a ferris wheel was in town that week. Milly Bennett was also in Murcia and as a newspaperwoman, it is possible she might have taken this photo. Also Kate Mangan was there.

Richard Harris provided an extract from his father’s diary to give us a much more accurate date of 28th February.

We know that Bert Overton was wounded on 12th February but refused to leave the lines, that Tom Wintringham  handed over command of the British Battalion to Bert Overton on the evening of the 13th February after Wintringham was unable to command due to the self-inflicted wound. Overton was wounded again leading the rescue of the Machine gun company but did not relinquish command until the following morning when Jock Cunningham took command on the morning of the 14th February. The Battalion Commissar George Aitken reported that Overton organised the defences in the morning, after first having had his wounded hand treated overnight. The Report ends by telling us that Overton was wounded once again:

‘In the retreats which took place on the 3rd day.’

This is why Bert Overton was in Benicassim hospital. We already have an image of Bert Overton in Hospital, provided by Mike Wild 

This new image of him in Spain is a wonderful discovery, not only is it much clearer but we have a certain date.  It also provides greater depth to the story of Overton’s cap.  Previously Ray Hoff

had said that:

At that time, Merriman was really interested only in getting Overton’s officer’s cap.

Talked with Lamotte about Overton because I wanted his hat.

Got hat off Overton this morning, who was arrested last night.

Rose at 600, went to B. I. club and came out to camp in Political Commissar car. Arrived in camp with new uniform
and just in time to hear plans for the day. [30th May]

It is this new uniform, with the addition of Overton’s cap that we can see in the photograph of Bob Merriman.

The mystery surrounding Overton continues, a month later he gets a rather cryptic reference in Merriman’s diary.

13 Junio                    S. Antonio de Padua
Rose and had sessions with boys. Battalion voted to help
popular front and went out into fields. Discussed work with
Bob & Joe. Tried several comrades and talked with Hyde.
Left after lunch for Pozo Rubio. Got to Tarazona and went
for Schrenzel and Matilda invited us to stay and have wine
and cakes. She had pictures of Overton & others. She is to
be thrown out of house after 14 yrs. Wrote note for her.
Left with seven in car for Pozo Rubio and planned problem
for tomorrow. Played horse shoes.

It is understandable that Merriman would try to help Matilda who had been evicted, especially after she had provided him with wine and cake, but why did he feel the need to mention she ‘had pictures of Overton & others.’?  Could the picture that Richard Harris has presented be one of the pictures that Matilda showed to Bob Merriman in June? If so it would certainly raise questions which Merriman would not like.

But this is speculation, what we do have is a fantastic record, an image of Bert Overton Arron Harris and Bob Merriman in front of the Pasionaria hospital in Murcia. What we do have is an image which enriches the story of Bert Overton and Bob Merriman, thanks must go to Richard for sharing this invaluable image.