This was the first piece Phill produced in this series of reflections on the Spanish Civil War. It sets the scene for the work that followed as he traced the participation of the nurses, doctors and fighters who traveled to Spain to support the Republicans during the Civil war (1936 -39).

Una Wilson, an Australian, joined the Republican cause in October 1936. She served in hospitals on the Madrid and Aragon fronts. In letters home she recounts both the horrors of war, as well as the determination of the Spanish people that she witnessed to resist Franco and fascism.

The only organized contingent from New Zealand to the Spanish Civil War was of three nurses recruited by the New Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee (SMAC).

Dr Doug Jolly was a New Zealand doctor, originally from Central Otago, who joined the Republican Army Medical Service in Madrid in 1936.

Griff Maclaurin traveled from New Zealand in the 8th November 1936 to join a 3000 strong column of the International Brigade.

This piece depicts three of the 60,000 anti-fascist volunteers from all over the world who joined the International Brigades formed to fight for the Republican cause.

"Broken Nose" was Ron Hurd’s nickname, joined the International Brigade as a volunteer. he was wounded twice fighting with the 15 International Brigade.

Born into a Italian socialist family, Brigadier Ernesto Baratto fought for 2 years with the International Brigade. He returned to Australia, eventually traveling to New Zealand where he worked in Runanga coal mine.

Isidora Dolores Ibárruri Gómez (1895 - 1989), also known as la Pasionaria was a Spanish Republican politician of the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 known for her slogan "They shall not pass!" issued during the Battle for Madrid in November 1936.

This work was developed from a photograph celebrating the withdrawal of Australian and New Zealand volunteers from Spain during the disbandment of the International Brigades in October 1938.