Joseph McQuade
Joseph McQuade was born on 12th February 1909 to Patrick and Margaret McQuade of 5 Johnson Street. Patrick was a riveter at Short Brothers Ltd.
In 1932 Joe jr was in the news:
Dramatic rescues were made on Hendon beach at Sunderland last night, when five youths got into serious difficulties while bathing in the sea. Three succeeded in reaching the shore safely without assistance and two others were rescued by Joseph McQuade (24), of 77 Tees Street, who ran into the sea, fully clothed, and brought out the other two. Shields Daily News 16th August 1932
In 1936 Joe joined the Communist Party and was a member of the Seamen’s Minority Movement, he was in the news a year later when he and 10 others of the, mostly South Shields based crew of the SS Knitsley were charged with impeding the ship; they refused to sail to Spain unless they received their war bonus first. As the crew acted contrary to the advice given by their Trade Union leaders the eleven men were fined £2, discharged and were blacklisted.
Joe was enlisted into the British Battalion on 9th July 1937, his trade is noted as labourer and he gives his mother’s address as 19 Carter Street, Sunderland. Joe does not make a good impression, just weeks after arrival his is arrested for drunkenness. After a few weeks in a labour battalion Joe returns to the Battalion. He is wounded in August 1937 at Purburrel Hill, but is back with the battalion for Teruel in the coldest winter for thirty years.
The Nationalist attack in the Aragon shattered the Republican Army and by the end of February the nationalists had reached the outskirts of Gandesa. Sam Wild effectively commanding the XV International Brigade dug in to hold the town of Gandesa in an effort to slow down the Nationalist assault. Despite the bravery of the British troops Gandesa fell on 3rd April 1938 with 140 British and Americans captured, Joe McQuade was one of the captured.
Joe was held as a Prisoner of war at San Pedro de Cardeña, he was not exchanged for Italian prisoners in October, therefore it was not until 6th February 1938 that Joe was released. In September 1939 the National Registration finds Joe living with his younger brother Patrick at 33 Balmoral Road, Birmingham.
Compiled by Tony Fox
Solidarity Park 