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Tommy Bloomfield |
Tommy Bloomfield was Born on April 4th 1914. Tommy was one of those Veterans who, after being repatriated as a POW, returned to Spain for a second time. After being recaptured Tommy was repatriated for a second time in December 1938.
Tommy began his working life at 11, left school at 14 and laboured until he joined the Black Watch (under-aged) in 1931. His mother took him out of the army because he was only 17 and he was her only means of support. Tommy returned to general labouring and around this time began to get a political education from his mother he also started taking part in demonstrations against means tests and Mosleys 'Black Shirts'. This didn't endear him to the state which usually crushed such dissent with the aid of police baton charges.
In 1936 Tommy was persuaded by his mother to attend a meeting in Thornton, Fife where Willie Gallagher MP was speaking about Spain. After listening to the speeches Tommy volunteered to go.
More information on Tommy can be gained by purchasing the booklet produced by Meg Heggie, see the publications page for more details. Many thanks to Tommys family for allowing me to use some of their memorabilia on this site.
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Tommy Bloomfield |
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Card from Dolores Imbarruri |
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Photo of Dolores Imbarruri with dedication to Tommy |
1981 Madrid March Tommy at extreme right |
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| POWs Jarama - Tommy is 5th from left with moustache |
From the International Brigade Memorial Booklet 'In Defence of Liberty' Shows same POW group, Tommy rear row 3rd from right? |
Note on rear of Madrid Photo |
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The text of a statement by Tommy, used in Fife Memorial booklets, can be downloaded HERE - you will need a PDF reader to view it. |
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Tommy Bloomfield Fife Free Press obituary May 22nd 1987
Manuscript ‘No Other Way’ by Tommy Bloomfield
Manuscript - International Brigade Reunion 15th Feb 1975 – Sam Wild A Biography in Part 1908 – 1938 by Edmund & Ruth Frow
Letter From Iain MacDougall asking Tommy for an interview
Letter from Scottish Labour History Society, (Iain MacDougall), with manuscript of T Bloomfield interview.
Letter from M Levine
Scotsman article by Ian Wood June 30th 1979
Scotsman Article –-Voices From Spain – July 12th 1986
Guardian Article - A Volunteer In Spain – July 18th 1981
Poster - Democracy & The Spanish Civil War 1936-39 memorial lecture by Ian Wood
Book - The Road To Spain
Book - The International Brigades
Booklet - Manchester Memorial To Members Of The International Brigade (1982)
Booklet - In Defence Of Liberty International Brigade Memorial
Booklet - Songs Of The Spanish Civil War – The Oldham Men Who Fought In Spain (1986)
Booklet - Fife 1986 Memorial Event Booklet (With Poster) Two Copies
Booklet - Fife 1986 Event in Lochgelly Centre June 27th 1987 (2 Copies)
Booklet - Greater Manchester Men who fought in Spain
Booklet - Memoirs & Poems of the Spanish Civil War – John Manson 2003
Booklet - International Brigaders and other poems – Jimmy Jump
Leaflet - A Memorial Lecture Ian S Wood Democracy & The Spanish Civil War (25th Sept 1987)
Leaflet - Fife 1992 Memorial Event
Leaflet - Programme of Oldham event 15th Feb 1986
Leaflet - SCW conference Edinburgh 25th Oct 1986 – Scottish Labour History Society
Photo - Paul Robeson with the Battalion
Photo - Tommy & two others
Photo - Blow up Tommy & Two Others
Photo - Blow Up of Tommy from Tommy and two others photo
Photo - Anne Murray (Knight) with 4 Spanish Nurses
Photo - Tommy around 1986 (Colour)
Photo - POWs On Lorry
Photo - Fighters Holding British Battalion Banner
Photo - With dedication to Tommy from Dolores Ibarruri
Photo - Gun Crew
Photo - Battalion Meeting in bushes
Photo - Madrid 1981 March
Photo - Banner Presentation featuring Mick McGaghey
Photo - Bill Alexander and Sam Wild
Invite to Event The Oldham Men In Spain 1986 (2 off)
Invite to Manchester event – 12th Feb 1983
Invite to Manchester event – 15th Feb 1986
Card from Dolores Ibarruri
