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It has been estimated that at least 25,000 children were evacuated from the Bilbao region due to the constant bombing and the Nationist blockade of the north coast. Most went to France, others to Belgium, Mexico, the Soviet Union, Switzerland. 4,000 went to Great Britain. |
| The main entrance to North Stoneham Camp at Eastleigh, Southampton. |
| Colonies in Britain Stoneham Camp SS Habana Leah Manning Repatriation |
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| Children standing in front of the mess mess tent at Stoneham Camp where Horlicks provided them with their milky drink. |
| This above pass to the Stoneham Camp belongs to Sol Frankel. In 1937, Sol was a member of the Labour Party League of Youth and was a volunteer at the camp, along with other British helpers, including nurses. Sol also fought in Spain with the International Brigade and was wounded in the arm during the Ebro offensive. (Sol with his daughter Louella and sister Jean at the IBMT ceremony on 19 July 2002) |
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| The numbers of the children who came to Great Britain vary in the different accounts, but according to the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, some 3,840 children came, together with 80 teachers, 120 auxillaries and 15 catholic priests. The ship SS Habana left the port of Santurce on the night of 22 May 1937on its journey to Southampton. The Habana was escorted by two Royal Navy warships. A storm broke out in the Bay of Biscay and caused much sea-sickness amongst the children. |
| A bunch of Basque children doing the washing up at Stoneham Camp. |
| A map of Spain depicting the progress of the Spanish Civil War. The fascist military uprising in mainland Spain began on 17-20 July 1936. During April 1937, Franco's forces, including the German and Italian aircorps, began the northern offensive. The German and Italian aircorps began bombing Basque towns, which culminated in the saturation bombing by the Lufwaffe of the non-military Basque town of Guernica on 26 April 1937. Wave after wave of bombers and fighters were sent in from their airbases at Vitoria and Burgos The bombing lasted all day with squadrons flying in every twenty minutes and incendiary bombs were to cause fires to re-ignite days after the event. |
| This photo is of Amparo Moreno Oyerbide. Amparo came to England with two of her sisters, Carmen and Salome. Sadly, Amparo, died of TB in her twenties in London, and Salome died in March 2002. They are both sorely missed. |
| A mother with her two children running away from the war front. |
FOOD rushed at once to Spain can save many thousands of lives. We urge you to make an immediate contribution because of the extreme urgency of the position. All moneys subscribed to the Midlands Foodship is being used to purchase food-stuffs which are sent to Spain on the first available boat. Money is most useful to us because of the favourable terms on which we can buy, but we will readily accept gifts of Condensed Milk (fitfor babies) Tinned meats, soups, baked beans Sugar and golden syrup Dried cereals and flour Woollen blankets, woollen clothing (which should be clean) Cod liver oil Medical supplies Boots and shoes (which must be in good codition) Soap The above extract was printed on the inside of the above Appeal pamphlet and supported by many Bishops in the Midlands. |
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| e-mail us on: juanito@spanishrefugees-basquechildren.org |
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| The two men in the picture are brothers and were British journalists and helpers at Stoneham Camp. They both dedicated their spare time to putting together a scrap book whilst at the camp. This scrap book was eventually given to Joaquin Sanchez, a Basque nino, who now lives with his wife Josefa, in Spain. We are grateful to them both for allowing us to make copies of the scrap book. |
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| The Spanish Ambassador visiting Stoneham Camp in 1937 soon after the children arrived from Bilbao. On the right of the Ambassador is Helvecia Hidalgo, who now lives in London. |
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| The Lord Mayor of Birmingham's Appeal for food for Spain. |
| "When we arrived there...I'd never seen a tent in my life, only in the films with the Indians and cowboys" (Alvaro in "Only For Three Months" by Adrian Bell). |
| Aston children's colony receives blue plaque. Unveiling by Cora Portillo |
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