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The Malcolm Dunbar papers

Shortly after Unlikely Warriors was published in 2012, my publishers, Aurum Press, passed me a letter they had received from a reader wishing to contact me. He claimed to have some interesting information – and papers – relating to one of the British volunteers mentioned in my book. When I heard about the nature of the documents and the identity of the volunteer, my interest was piqued, to put it mildly.

Malcolm Dunbar
Major Malcolm Dunbar of the 15th International Brigade. Image © International Brigade Memorial Trust

The name of the volunteer was Ronald Malcolm Lorraine Dunbar. As anyone who has read my book (or, in fact, any book on the British volunteers in the Spanish Civil War) will know, Malcolm Dunbar was the senior British ranking infantry officer in Spain. A middle-class, Cambridge-educated, homosexual aesthete, he could hardly have been a less typical volunteer. Yet, like a number of other intellectuals, in Spain he discovered a hitherto undiscovered talent for military life. Ranking only soldado (private) at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, he rose quickly through the ranks, becoming Chief of Staff of the entire 15th International Brigade at the Battle of the Ebro in July 1938. Unfortunately, the shy, taciturn Dunbar never gave any interviews on his time in Spain and information on him has always been fairly scarce, despite his high rank and illustrious record.

Dunbar testimonial
Testimonial of Dunbar’s distinguished record in Spain. Image © International Brigade Memorial Trust

Not much is known about his life after Spain, either. During the Second World War Dunbar served in the British Army, but never rose above the rank of Sergeant, adding fuel to claims that veterans of the Spanish war were being discriminated against. He later worked in the Labour Research Department until, in July 1963, having apparently removed all identification from his clothing, he walked into the sea at Milford-on-Sea, near Bournemouth. A clear case of suicide on the face of it, yet intriguingly, as Vincent Brome pointed out in Legions of Babel, his (now out of print) history of the International Brigades, the coroner declared an open verdict at the inquest, rather than declaring his death to have been suicide. This, and Dunbar’s alleged relationship with the Cambridge spy, Kim Philby, have led to persistent rumours of official cover-ups and Secret Service skulduggery.

Following his death, Malcolm Dunbar’s papers, including a number of photographs, were saved by a close friend, the ballet dancer, Thérèse Langfield, whose partner contacted me. In June 2016, I finally fulfilled his wishes, when I handed over the mass of material to the Bishopsgate Institute in London, where they will be available to all. It’s a fantastic collection and I recommend it to anyone interested in the British in Spain.

Malcolm Dunbar is the subject of one of a number of biographies I am writing for a forthcoming book. Watch this space for updates.

Comments

Rebecca Phillipson
Reply

Hi! I hope this gets to you, I am doing some. Family research. If I am Correct, my father John Cole had a father named Howard dunbar who had a father names malcolm Dunbar who I know was chief of staff. I have a picture of him as a older man I believe. But I am Unsure… Could I. Be right?

rbaxell
Reply

As far as I am aware, Malcolm Dunbar never had any children (he was homosexual). But it’s not impossible, of course. Do you have a digital version of the photo? Best wishes, Richard Baxell

LS
Reply

Was he not the son of Lord Loraine Dunbar? I believe there were 7 children – 6 boys and 1 girl, but after a bit the genealogy records are only showing 5 boys and a girl. Any thoughts on family omitting him and fallout after his death?

rbaxell
Reply

He was indeed. I suspect that his sexuality and politics made him a bit of a black sheep in his families eyes. What’s your interest in Major Dunbar?
Best wishes,
Richard Baxell

LS
Reply

Thanks for the prompt response. Actually like the other commenter, it is family research. Was a bit surprised to have a potential connection to Lord Dunbar so it was very interesting learn of such important figures. Good luck on the book!

rbaxell
Reply

Thanks very much.
There’s a copy of Malcolm’s death certificate in the Bishopsgate files, if it’s of any use.

rbaxell
Reply

By the way, I forgot to ask: what relation are you to Malcolm?
Best wishes,
Richard

R B
Reply

Malcolm had three brothers, all went to Repton and Cambridge.
His father was Sir not Lord Loraine Dunbar.

andrew wood
Reply

I would like to upload Malcolm’s IB photo to his Wikipedia page. Would you have any objections? Alternatively, do you know who owns the copyright please?

Smithers
Reply

My middle name is Dunbar and my father told me it came from the name of a man who had fought in the International Brigade and who he had known when Mr Dunbar was working as a journalist, presumably in Harrogate, where my father was living. My father was born 1911 so they were similar age but not sexual persuasion. It was all mysterious until I read your biography.

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