George Brown (communist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Brown
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| Born | 5 October 1906 Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland
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| Died | 7 July 1937 (aged 30) |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Political party | Communist Party of Great Britain |
| Spouse(s) | Evelyn Mary Taylor |
| Military Career | |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Republic |
| Service/ |
 International Brigades |
| Unit | British Battalion of the "Abraham Lincoln" XV International Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War |
George Brown (born November 5, 1906 – died July 7, 1937) was an activist from Ireland. He spent most of his life in Manchester, England. He was a strong supporter of workers' rights and a member of the Communist Party. George joined the International Brigades to fight in the Spanish Civil War. He sadly died in battle in 1937.
Contents
George Brown's Life Story
George Brown was born on November 5, 1906, in a small village called Inistioge in County Kilkenny, Ireland. His parents, Francis and Mary Brown, came back to Inistioge just for his birth. Soon after, they returned to Manchester, England, where George grew up.
George started working at a young age, possibly even before he was 14. He first worked as a weaver, making cloth, and later as a general labourer. The difficult working conditions in Britain at that time deeply affected him. This led him to join the trade union movement. Trade unions are groups that work to protect the rights and improve the conditions of workers.
Becoming an Activist
A major event that changed George's life was the 1926 British General Strike. This was a huge strike where many workers across Britain stopped work to protest their conditions. His experience during this strike led him to join the Communist Party of Great Britain. This party believed in a society where everyone is equal and resources are shared.
In 1931, George traveled to Soviet Russia (now Russia) to study for a year at the International Lenin School in Moscow. This school trained people in communist ideas. When he returned, he became more involved in politics. In 1934, he ran for local elections in Manchester, representing the Communist Party. His election manager, Evelyn Mary Taylor, later became his wife. George became a very active member of the Communist Party and was chosen to be part of its national leadership committee in 1935.
Fighting in the Spanish Civil War
In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began in Spain. This was a conflict between the elected government (the Spanish Republic) and a group of rebels who supported fascism. Fascism is a type of government that has a strong leader and controls people's lives very strictly, often without much freedom.
George Brown was one of many people from Britain and around the world who volunteered to fight against fascism. He joined the International Brigades. These were groups of volunteers from different countries who went to Spain to help the Spanish Republic. During his time fighting in Spain, George became a political commissar. This was a role where he helped keep up the soldiers' spirits and explained the reasons for their fight.
Sadly, George Brown was killed during a battle for control of Madrid on July 7, 1937. This happened during the Battle of Brunete.
Remembering George Brown
Since 2008, an annual memorial weekend has been held in George Brown's honor in his hometown of Inistioge, Ireland. This event remembers his life and his fight for what he believed in.
