Drawing by child during Spanish CivilWar

Many people in Wales were moved, by both socialist ideals and humanitarian principles to give aid to the Republic during the Spanish Civil War. John Williams Hughes, a writer and journalist from Marianglas, Anglesey was one of them. He combines the intellectualism, the non-conformity of North Wales and the liberal politics that characterises the involvement of people in North Wales in the War. With the Welsh Ambulance Unit, he raised money to buy two ambulances, one of which he drove to Spain, where he worked as a British Medical Volunteer in places like Madrid and Valencia. He brought the band and sling back with him, as well as photographs and drawings by children which show the devastation caused in Guernica. On his return, he travelled across the UK and US talking of the horrors of the Civil War and the atrocities which occurred under Franco's regime. He also helped raise funds for the home in Old Colwyn for Basque Refugees.