nish Battalions hammered their way through the fortifications of Bel- chite, while the British Battalion fought off a Fascist relieving column at Mediana. The Brigade — as its Commander subsequently pointed out—- “shoxwted in even greater measure those combative qualities that at Ja- rama and Brunete placed it in the first rank among the units of the Republican army”.

Strveet—fighting was a new egrperience for men who — with the excep- tion of one day at Villanueva de la Canada --- had no previous expe- rience of or training in the earhausting and nerve-wracking house-to- house fighting which they nevertheless successfully undertook at Quin- to and Belchite.

Members of the Brigade Staff initiated several combat groups in the art of street—fighting, and casualties among the Staff were accordingly heavy. At Quinto, Comrade Cede of the Operations staff was killed and Staff—Captain Wintringham and Adjutant—Commissar Andre’ Kobal ser- iously wounded .while storming the Church which was the main Fascist stronghold.

At Belchite, Commissar Nelson was wounded, necessitating not only his with~d1'a=wal from action but from the active service list. Shosteck was killed while participating with the Chief of Staff, whose Se- cretary he was, in a grenade attack. Staff—Captain Wattis was seriously injured during mopping-up operations. ‘

Each Battalion of the Brigade distinguished itself in action: the Spa- nish Battalion on the occasion of an attempted sortie from Belchite by a band of Fascist officers ; the Dimitrovs - who were, in fact, the spear- head of most attacks —- behaved with their customary valour; the Lin- coln—Washington Battalion throughout the gruelling days of street-fight- ing at Belchite, an(l the British Battalion at the storming of Purburell Hill.

After the capture of Belchite, the Mackenzie—Papineau Battalion came from the Base to join the Brigade, and—in furtherance of the policy of language grouping in Brigades -- the Dimitrovs, to the general regret of all comrades, were transferred to another Brigade. Their proud re- cord in the Jarama, Brunete and Aragon campaigns will be an abiding memory with their English-speaking and Spanish comrades who now constitute the XV Brigade. A

In October, the Brigade was moved up to Fuentes de Ebro where, on the 13th, it took part in an attack on fortifications near the town. Here, the Canadian Mackenzie—Papineau Battalion received their baptism of fire, and although deprived of the guidance of their Commissar Joe Dallet — killed in the first moments of the attack — distinguished them- selves in action, advancing a kilometre and gaining and holding Fas- cist trenches of strategic importance.

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