About
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was waged between Republicans and General Franco’s Nationalists. Thousands of volunteers from around the globe joined the fight, mostly on the Republican side. These excerpts from a 1976 documentary on the 20 or so Kiwi veterans of the conflict feature Joan Conway, who reflects on the death of her brother Griff Maclaurin fighting the fascists; Tom Spiller, another International Brigade soldier; socialist George Jackson, who discusses official apathy from the NZ Government, and Geoffrey Cox, who wrote a book about the war.
NZ History section on New Zealand involvement in the Spanish Civil War
NZ History profile of writer Geoffrey Cox
NZ History profile of International Brigade volunteer Tom Spiller
Profile & images of International Brigade volunteer Griff Maclaurin, supplied by Joan Conway
NZ History profile of Griff Maclaurin
NZ Herald article on Griff MacLaurin, December 2006
Photograph of George Jackson from his time in the NZ Communist Party, NZ History website














