Perthshire woman is honoured for role in fight against fascism

Exhibition looks at Scots who featured in Spanish Civil War

A Perthshire woman who fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War has been honoured at a new exhibition.

Annie Murray’s story is being retold for a new generation at the Stop, Read, Think, Act display at Stirling University.

Organisers wanted to highlight some of the 500 Scots who volunteered as part of the International Brigade and travelled to Spain to do battle with the Republican government.

Maria Babero Sanchez, a teaching assistant in Spanish and Latin American Studies, curated the exhibition alongside lecturer Dr Peter Baker.

They were inspired by the social and political climate around Brexit.

During her research, Maria pored over letters, pamphlets and newspaper cuttings in an effort to understand why Scots volunteered their services.

She said she was particularly taken with the story of Annie, who was born in Aberdeenshire but raised in Perthshire.

Annie, who died in 1996, was one of the first volunteers to travel to Spain at the beginning of the war, alongside her brothers Tom and George.

Apart from a couple of short trips home, she stayed in Spain throughout the conflict.

“Annie was motivated to join up as she did not believe in fascism,” said Maria.

“She worked in hospitals, often under terrifying and dreadful conditions, like an improvised train wagon hospital, under a bridge, as shelter from the bombings.

“She cared for patients from different ideologies and nationalities getting to know the locals and learning Spanish in order to communicate better.

“Her brothers were fighting on the front line so when the ambulances and stretchers arrived at the hospital with wounded soldiers, I can imagine there would have been fear as there was always the chance her brothers would be wounded or dead.”

Maria continued: “Annie returned to Scotland and continued her work as a nurse during the Second World War and said the Spanish Civil War had an immense impact on her life.

“Annie is a great example of resilience and determination.

“It has been captivating to learn about the way Scottish women got organised in committees to raise funds and awareness to aid Spain during the war, especially considering that the 1930s in Scotland were times of poverty and unemployment.”

The free exhibition is supported by the Stirling Fund and there will be a roundtable discussion about the Spanish war from 11am on Saturday.

“She worked in hospitals, often under terrifying and dreadful conditions, like an improvised train wagon hospital, under a bridge, as shelter from the bombings. MARIA BABERO SANCHEZ

Annie Murray, centre, with fellow nurses in Spain during the civil war.