John Vistuer sent through some photos of his grandfather, Augusto Perez Miranda, a Spaniard who fought for the allies during World War II. He started his military career in the Spanish Guardia Civil in North Africa. Then he fought for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. Being on the losing side, he found himself in the French Foreign Legion at the start of the World War II, but ended up in the No. 1 (Spanish) Company of the Pioneer Corps of the British Army. All words are John’s.
Grand Father’s UK Army Service Record in Spanish Company
My grandad:
- Full name was : Augusto Perez Miranda
- Born: 28 Apr 1907 La Concha, Santander, Spain
- Died: 07 Jun 1983 St Georges Hospital, Tooting, London
- Married: Carmen Duro Salamero
- Brothers (2): Juan Perez Miranda; Alberto Perez Miranda
The photos are of my Grandad. He’s marked by an X in many. You’ll see a couple from the French Foreign Legion and also from Guardia Civil.
My Grandfather served in the Guardia Civil in North Africa, Melilla. Franco started in North Africa and the Civil War kicked off. Subsequently Franco used his forces in Spain.
My Grandfather moved his family to Barcelona and deserted the Guardia Civil and fought against Franco. My mother/his daughter recalls visiting him on the front line with her mother with food. Whilst they were talking my mum was playing with a pineapple looking thing, grandad looked over and shouted to my mum…she was playing with a grenade. There are other stories of the poverty and ferocity of people steeling food from a Red Cross food store fighting for food.
They stayed in Barcelona for a few years whilst a bulk of the fight went on and only near the end flying to UK with help from relation. I have generations of family in Barcelona and Mallorca, and it was my mother’s uncle in Mallorca that paid to fly his family to the UK. The UK was shipping new Spanish arrivals to South America but stopped by the time his family arrived. Appalling times hence my mother’s uncle did not know but when he did he paid for tickets to fly them to UK.
My Grandfather stayed on in Barcelona to fight. Later he crossed the Pyrenees and as is well documented ended up in the French Foreign Legion (two photos are of Tunisia) and getting posted to Norway. However they were cut off and the British rescued them and brought them back to UK.
That was the beginning of his time in the Pioneer Corp [No. 1 (Spanish) Company of the Pioneer Corps], and of course back with his family – hopefully you can pick him out from the photos – his portrait is dated 1946.
I’ve attached my Grandfather Service Record from the UK Army.
I hope you can track more records and correlate him to his Company and other photos records of him in the UK.
Nanny
The lady is my nan, “Nanny”. Wonderful woman, made of steel. She was a formidable woman in desperate times. Another story when she came to England with her Children they were looked after by the Spanish Committee I think it was called and were helped to rent a large house in Alleyn Park Road in Dulwich from a Jewish gentleman. My Grandad worked as a Door Porter for a Hotel in London in the 70s and retired shortly after. My Nan was very under nourished and was I recall suffering from malnutrition following the years in Spain in Barcelona.
Great stuff ! Thanks to John, Augusto’s story along with many others in the book I am finishing off on Spaniards Continuing the Fight against Fascism in the British Army during the SecondWorldWar. Nearly there! More to follow! ¡Gracias a todos! Séan Scullion
Wonderful story and shows just how varied a life people can lead.
Another amazing story. Thank you John for posting.
A lot of ex republican spaniards served well in our Foreign Legion in 1939 1940.
Foreign Legion is my favorite unit in the FR army ( I was born in Algeria before independance).
Thanks for sharing.
Muchas gracias, John Vistuer, magníficas fotografias que te agradezco que nos las enseñes. El nombre de tu abuelo consta en mi libro Españoles en guerra ajena. En todos los frentes. Bajo todas las enseñas.
What a man Augusto was who lived a full and happy life, my own father Rafael Parra Cortes served in 361 (A) Coy Pioneer Corp from 29th April 1943 till 15th October 1946. I could never get him to talk about his military service fighting for the Spanish Republic against the Fascists or his service with the British army in North Africa, France and Belgium. I have my late fathers pay book his Soldiers Release Book, and a photo of him wearing the North Africa Star ribbon. But I know nothing of this climatic period of my fathers life.
Rosalind Cortes
Rosalind. I would be interested in talking to you about Rafael. My book is out this summer and will feature 361 Company a great deal. Let me know if this is of interest. My email is sfscullion12@gmail.com Gracias de antemano. Séan
Extremely interesting! Thanks for sharing.
My great uncle was a Pole who served in the International Brigades. After the war was lost, he escaped to the Soviet Union were he ended up serving in the Red Army (where, and doing what exactly, I do not know). He survived the war but passed away before I was born.
My dad collected some info on him, including photographs, but my dad is a private person and doesn’t want me sharing this online.
One of life’s greatest tragedies is that the Spanish Civil War was lost. I recently read the memoirs of fighter ace Francisco Tarazona, “Yo Fui Un Piloto de Caza Rojo” (“I was a fighter pilot for the Reds”) and it all felt so hopeless. And like he admitted, fighter pilots had it easy — the ground troops did most of the suffering. It’s also infuriating how badly they were treated by France: when all was lost and they escaped Spain, crossing into France, they were interned — understandably — but French gendarmes treated them really badly, mocking and rifle butts to the face and all. No wonder a huge chunk of France later turned to Nazi collaborationism…