Bill Williamson’s Photographs

I believe many of the following photos were taken by Bill Williamson during his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War. They are all housed in the National Archives and Library of Canada in the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion Collection. You can find most of these photos online under the MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion Collection Arrangement Structure.

I have included the National Archives captions and then a few of my own captions in brackets.

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Flag-bearing man on gangplank.

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Juan Villa [Williamson] and Conchita. (Bill and a militia girl during the first days of war.)
Irun. July 1936. [Group of six posing with rifles].
Irun. July 1936. [Group of six posing with rifles]. (Dolores is on the bottom left)
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Columna Ochandiano. Julio 1936. [Group of women holding rifles].
"How we went to War" [group portrait].
“How we went to War” [group portrait].
July and into August 1936 in Irun [group portrait].
July and into August 1936 in Irun [group portrait]. (Dolores is in the second top row, second from the left.)
Augusto 1936, San Sebastian [two men standing on a street in San Sebastian, Spain].
Augusto 1936, San Sebastian [two men standing on a street in San Sebastian, Spain].
 

Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Three comrades - Batallion Perezagoa.
Three comrades – Batallion Perezagoa. (Bill and the Three P’s – Pepi, Pancho Villa and Paco.)
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Asaltos [Guardia Asalto] in our MG.6
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa. Sept. 1936 [young man standing in front of a building].
San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa. Sept. 1936 [young man standing in front of a building]. (Bill in San Sebastian.)
Dolores and Carmen - young communists - Dolores was killed two months later.
Dolores and Carmen – young communists – Dolores was killed two months later.

EWW [Juan Villa]. Fall 1936.
EWW [Juan Villa]. Fall 1936.
Williamson - 2nd from Left. Standing - BTN Perezagua. [the two men identified are posing with five other men; all have rifles in hand].
Williamson – 2nd from Left. Standing – BTN Perezagua. [the two men identified are posing with five other men; all have rifles in hand].

Czech comrade and myself.
Czech comrade and myself.

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Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish War.
Soldier of the Mackenzie - Papineau Batallion in a trench.
Soldier of the Mackenzie – Papineau Batallion in a trench.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish Civil War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish War.
Members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in the Spanish War.
Western Canada Mackenzie-Papineau before crossing Ebro.
Western Canada Mackenzie-Papineau before crossing Ebro.
First section of Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion crossing Ebro.
First section of Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion crossing Ebro.
Return to Pat [View of grave by tree].
Return to Pat [View of grave by tree].
Spanish Youth Group - June 1939.
Spanish Youth Group – June 1939.