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LSS: Simon Martinez - Guernica Children - refugees from the Spanish Civil War

Description: "The Guernica Children - refugees from the Spanish Civil War"

Talk by Simon Martinez of the Association of UK Basque Children

Following the bombing of Guernica the British People took in 4,000 child refugees from Spain, and some of them came to Leicester.

Simon Martinez's father was 12 when he came to Britain on the SS Habana. His father’s parents said goodbye to him and his two younger brothers. Their mother did not see her three sons for eleven years, their father said goodbye for ever.

Following the devastating bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War there was such outrage in Britain that the British Government reluctantly agreed to allow one boatload of refugee children – "ninos de la guerra" – and their accompanying adults to enter Britain. The SS Habana evacuated almost 4,000 children from Bilbao to Southampton on the 23 May 1937.

They came on condition that no public money was used for their care, and they were supported entirely by volunteers and voluntary funds.

A colony for the children at Evington, Leicester accommodated 70 children.

More information:
BCA'37: http://basquechildren.org
Article by Richard Graves: https://www.le.ac.uk/lahs/downloads/Misc/Basque%20child%20refugee%20article%20parts%201%20and%202%20-%20Graves.pdf
Mary Attenborough listed: http://nednewitt.com/whoswho/A.html

All welcome - admission free (we're grateful for donations towards expenses) - refreshments after the talk and Q+A.

Doors open at 6pm.
Location: Secular Hall, 75 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WB
Date: Sunday, 19 January 2020
Time: 18:30 GMT
Access: Public
Category: LSS - Secular Hall - Public event*
Created by: Public Access ( by LSS editor )
Updated: Sunday, 19 January 2020 10:55 GMT
Attachments: None

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