A memorial honouring Tonypandy-born miner Harry Dobson has been unveiled in Catalonia, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has said, as part of its international Spanish Civil War heritage collaboration.
Council representatives travelled to Catalonia for the unveiling at the landscape where Dobson was fatally wounded while serving with the International Brigades during the Battle of the Ebro in 1938.
The memorial forms part of the council’s partnership with Porta de la Història Cultural Association and Solidarity Park Association, linking Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Ebro and Malgrat de Mar through shared remembrance and education.
Dobson, a miner from Tonypandy, travelled to Spain to defend the democratically elected Spanish Republic. He was fatally wounded near Hill 481 and died from his injuries in August 1938.
The Catalonia memorial follows creative workshops with pupils from Porth Community School, whose artwork shaped the design. A public exhibition of the pupils’ designs was held at Rhondda Heritage Park in June, where the winning design was announced as a combination of two entries.
A connected porthole-style memorial is also being developed in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with further plans with partners in Malgrat de Mar.
During the visit, council representatives also paid their respects at Hill 666, where Aberdare miner Tom Howell Jones was killed, on behalf of the council, the local community and Tom’s family after recent engagement with relatives.
Councillor Scott Emanuel, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Leisure, said: “Standing in Catalonia to unveil a memorial to Harry Dobson was a deeply moving moment, and a powerful reminder of how heritage can connect people across borders, generations and communities.
“Harry was a miner from Tonypandy, rooted in working-class valleys shaped by hardship, trade unionism and solidarity. He travelled to Spain because he believed that democracy and freedom were worth defending, and his story continues to speak to courage, solidarity and standing up for others.
“This memorial is a powerful symbol of friendship between Wales and Catalonia. It honours Harry’s life, but it also recognises the wider contribution of the ordinary men and women who stood up against injustice during one of Europe’s darkest periods.
“I am proud that pupils from Porth Community School and the local community have such an important role in shaping how this history will be remembered locally, helping to pass Harry’s legacy on to a new generation.
“I would like to thank our partners at Porta de la Història and Solidarity Park for their continued commitment to this collaboration, and for helping to ensure that the contribution of Welsh volunteers is remembered with such care and respect.”
Councillor Maureen Webber BEM, Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, said: “The unveiling of this memorial in Spain is a significant milestone in our international heritage collaboration and a powerful tribute to Harry Dobson, the Tonypandy-born miner whose courage continues to resonate almost ninety years later.
“Harry’s story reminds us that ordinary people from our communities played an extraordinary role in the fight against fascism and injustice. He left the Rhondda not for glory, but because he believed that democracy and freedom were worth defending wherever they were under threat.
“This project has helped connect young people, families, local historians and international partners through shared remembrance. It ensures that Harry Dobson’s name, and the values he stood for, will continue to be remembered in both Wales and Catalonia.
“I am also pleased that respects were paid at Hill 666 in memory of Aberdare miner Tom Howell Jones. His story, alongside Harry’s and those of other Welsh volunteers, forms part of a proud and important legacy of solidarity that we must continue to preserve.”
