Solidarity Park

      Joseph Blair

      On 21st December 1905, in Seaham Harbour, Joseph was born to John and Agnes Blair. John was a sinker, a highly skilled job; sinkers were in high demand and these miners were often regarded as an elite workforce, they specialised in creating new vertical mine shafts, this meant the family frequently moved. In 1904 the Blair’s were living in Washington, in 1906 they were in Seaham Harbour and in 1911 they were in South Shields, this is where John and Agnes settled, they remained in South Shields until John’s death in 1949.

      Joe did not follow his father down the pit, he found work as a general labourer on Tyne Dock and in 1931 he joined the General and Municipal Workers Union (GMWU). In 1937 Joseph joined the Communist Party, he was living at 33 Kingsmead Street, Bath when he volunteered for Spain. Joe was enlisted into the British Battalion on 14th February 1938, he gives his parents’ home address of 3 Challoner Terrace, South Shields. Joseph joined the No.2 Company of the British Battalion on 17th March 1938, just a fortnight later he managed to escape after the ambush at Calaceite.

      After crossing the River Ebro during the night of the 25th July 1938 the British Battalion made rapid progress, capturing the town of Corbera later that evening, they then prepared to attack Gandesa the following day. However, as the rebels brought up reinforcements and intensified air attacks the Republican offensive was slowed. The British Battalion was tasked with capturing the strategically important and heavily fortified Hill 481. The assault on Hill 481 was costly for the British Battalion and also for Joe: on 27th July whilst attacking Hill 481 Joe was shot in the right foot. On 3rd August the attack was called off and the British battalion was moved into reserve positions, meanwhile Joseph was in the Vic hospital in Barcelona.

      Joe was one of the 304 volunteers from the British Battalion who on 6th December 1938 boarded the train at Ripoll’s train station for the journey home. Joe and the rest of the British Battalion arrived in Newhaven on 7th December 1938. Joe can be seen at Newcastle Central Station with Sam Langley in a newspaper picture taken a few days later, seven Tyneside and Wearside volunteers are talking to fellow international Brigade volunteer Frank Graham. In September 1939 Joe is recorded in the 1939 register as living at 33 Kingsmead Street, Bath, with his occupation shown as Govt. Work (Heavy worker).

      Compiled by Tony Fox