I HOPE you won't mind if I correct the wholly misleading impression created by L Spiteri and D E Margrett in their recent comments about the International Brigades and The Spanish Civil War.

A legitimate Popular Front government was elected in Spain in February, 1936, roundly defeating the incumbent fascists.

In August, 1938, the fascist Falange, aided by the Roman Catholic Church and parts of the army under Franco proclaimed a revolution.

The fascist governments of Italy and Germany helped the fascists with arms, men and money.

The governments of Great Britain, France and the USA declined to help the legitimate Spanish government.

The International Brigades were formed to assist the people of Spain in their fight against fascism. They numbered 60,000 of whom the bulk were French with the US contributing 2,800 and Britain 2,300.

They were organised into military units and wore uniform. When captured they were, largely but not always, treated as prisoners of war.

I stress they were fighting for the democratically-elected government of Spain against rebels.

Inevitably, there were those British men who fought for the fascists. A well-documented story is that of two unrelated individuals, both named Thomas and from Pontypridd. One was in the Spanish Foreign Legion (fascists), the other was in the British IB. They certainly fought in the same campaigns.

The Irish also fought on both sides. The Blueshirts, lead by General O'Duffy, were recruited and funded by the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. They fought with the fascists.

A smaller number of individuals fought with the British Battalion of the IB. Since both contained men from Northern Ireland, British certainly fought against British, some of whom were fighting for the elected government.

BARRIE DOBSON, Worcester.

Member, The International Brigades Memorial Trust and relative of Walter Dobson who was killed in action on The Ebro in August, 1938. He gave his life in the first fight against fascism.