It happened, first, in January, 2018. I was at a dinner party in San Miguel de Allende. The host had steered the conversation towards my plans to publish my father’s 1930s memoir.
I was telling the other guests a bit about him, when a fellow Canadian asked, “What was your father’s name?” I said, “Jim Higgins”. He replied, “I’m pretty sure I just heard about him on the news.” I said, “Impossible!”, and promptly forgot about it.
The next day, I was on my CBC news app and saw a story by Margaret Evans. It was about the excavation of mass graves from the time of the Spanish Civil War. Since my father fought in that war, I clicked on the article.
Halfway through, I was stunned to see my father’s name. It was only a brief mention, but the dinner guest had been right! Here’s the CBC article.
Fast forward a few months later, to August, 2018. I learned of another article about the Spanish Civil War in an online Spanish newspaper, El Independiente, which has two million visitors a day.
Not only did it feature my father, but it added more to the story. It concerns a photo of an injured boy in a field hospital, which had been set up in a cave, near Corbera, Spain, during the Spanish Civil War.
The photo was taken in August, 1938, by Alec Wainman, a member of the British Medical Unit, during the Spanish Civil War. Wainman’s photos went missing for a few decades until his son, Serge Alternes, tracked them down. (They were in a suitcase in a basement in London, England.)
Serge compiled the long lost photos into a book, Live Souls, Citizens and Volunteers of Civil War Spain. It was published in 2015.
It was only after the book was published, that Serge learned the identity of the boy; that it was, in fact, Manuel Alvarez, the boy whose life was saved by the The Tall Soldier, Jim Higgins.
Manuel had found Jim in 1978. It made the international news. Manuel wrote a book about his search in 1980. More international news. Now in 2018, the two continue to be remembered in a feature article in El Independiente, an online news source in Spain with two million visitors a day.
Serge is good at tracking things down. He found my sister, Susan, through her website (she’s a glass artist). She told him about my plans to publish my father’s memoir, and gave him my phone number. He called to tell me about the photograph.
Of course, I immediately ran over to my neighbourhood Book City (yea, independent bookstores), bought the book, and checked for the photo. It gave me goosebumps–I could see in the boy’s face, the Manuel I had met as an adult.
Though he took many photos of children in war-torn Spain, this is the only photo Alec Wainman took of an injured child. It just happened to be of a child that went on to become identified only after he became famous for that injury.
© Janette Higgins
NOW PUBLISHED: Fighting for Democracy: The True Story of Jim Higgins (1907-1982), A Canadian Activist in Spain’s Civil War (2020) is available worldwide from Independent Bookstores, Chapters-Indigo, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Kindle version on Amazon. Orders of three or more: Friesen Press.
I encourage you to obtain it from your local Indie bookseller or library. And if you can leave a review or “star” it somewhere, like Amazon or Goodreads, that would be much appreciated!
Fighting for Democracy by Jim Higgins is the latest book about the Mac-Paps, Canadians in the Mackenzie Papineau Battalion, which was part of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. Other books about Canadians in the Spanish Civil War include Not For King or Country by Tyler Wentzell , Mac-Pap by Ronald Liversedge with David Yorke and Renegades by Michael Petrou.
Looks like it will be an interesting part of history and a chance to reconnect cousin.
Thanks, Kath! Yes, a part of history that a lot more people are becoming interested in judging by the number of books that have been published about the Spanish Civil War in the past few years. I may see you in Peterborough, soon.
Hey, even I learned something new reading this entry. I hadn’t heard of Margaret Evans’ story! It is fascinating and wondrous to learn about the tendrils of connection that my father is still part of. Thank you Janette, for sifting through the material he left behind and bringing it to light for the world to see. A huge job, an engaging story. Well done.
Thanks, Susan. Your support has met a lot, including all that great feedback you gave me on the draft manuscript. I know that took a lot of your time. A big hug from your big sis!
I’m intrigued! Please let me know when the book is released. I’ll be sure to pick it up.
So glad I have you intrigued, Shelley! For sure, you’ll know when the book is available. Timing will depend on on fast the publishing process works.
Janette, I am intrigued and excited to hear that you are writing the memoirs of your father, Jim Higgins. Our Limberlost Book Club recently read Manuel Alvarez’s book “The Tall Soldier: My 40-year Search for the Man who Saved my Life” and I remember hearing the CBC interview about the reunion long ago. Our group enjoyed the book and the discussion, but we all felt that we wanted to know more about Jim, the tall soldier.
The excerpt of Jim’s memoir gave me insight into Jim’s personality and I hope to read your book. What a interesting man to inspire an artist in New York to approach him, invite him for coffee and ask for daily calls in an effort to get to know him better. I want to read about the life and secrets of Jim Higgins.
Karen, you’re so right. My father’s encounter with the artist is quietly revealing as, you, the reader will come to know even better by the end of the memoir. I look forward to an invite to your book club when the memoir is published and you’ve all had a chance to read it!
What a great project to undertake! You’re honouring not only your father’s fight for democracy but that of many other Canadians of his generation, Kudos!
Molly, you’ve hit the nail on the head-of course my primary reason is to honour my father, but in so doing, I see his story as uniquely representative of many in his generation. My father never thought of himself as a hero (he was, several times over, as you’ll find out when you read the book) . When told he was a hero, he made it clear in interviews, (after Manuel Alvarez tracked him down, and wrote his book) that, if he was a hero, then every single Canadian who volunteered in Spain was a hero. Sadly, those volunteers who survived the Spanish Civil War, were barely even acknowledged to have done the right thing in supporting democracy against fascism. Most died with little thanks. I am SO grateful that Manuel Alvarez tracked my father down to thank him. Manuel thought he went beyond their personal story as well; that he represented the grateful Spanish republic.
PS Thanks for your help in getting these comments to show.
Hello Janette,
As a friend of your sister Susan, I was privileged to be loaned her copy of “The Tall Soldier”. After devouring that book, I told Susan that there most definitely needed to be a book written about your father’s life. I am so glad that you have undertaken this task of organizing and publishing his memoir.
Manuel Alvarez spent much of his life searching for the Canadian soldier who saved him, but your excerpt gives us a glimpse of Jim Higgins’ many other fascinating stories. Can’t wait to read it.
The Limberlost Book Club looks forward to welcoming you!
Hi Joan,
Thanks so much for your comment. I REALLY look forward to the time when we can all be together at Susan’s place. It should be a great discussion. Your encouragement is appreciated.
Hey Jeanette.
My name is Karen . My parents are David and Phyllis Hamilton of Birch Cliff cottages.
This is exciting. Please keep me posted on the memoirs. Mom and I would love to read them.
Great memories of your dad at the lake.
Give mom a call. She would love to hear from you and hear all about this adventure you are undertaking and how all the family is doing.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for getting in touch. I remember when your Dad was single! I’ll try and contact them through Birch Cliff Cottages.
Janette
This story goes on and on. Wonderful connections, stories, and images turning up. You started a monster (in a good way).
Thanks, Bev. Monster best seller, I hope!