Ten Oldham Men
TEN OLDHAM MEN by Gerry Kearns
Chorus
No pasaran
These words they ran
From the lips
Of each Oldham man
In Nineteen hundred and thirty six
Ten men from Oldham to Spain up’d sticks
To share a cause to keep Spain free,
And strike a blow for democracy.
Chorus
Mechanics, workers in the mills,
Repairing boots, riding bikes for thrills,
The young men left these Oldham trades,
To join the (famous) fifteenth brigade. ( international )
Chorus
Of these ten Oldhamers six were slain,
At Spanish places with strange sounding names,
Jarama,(River) Belchite (Town)and Terhuel (Town)
At Brunete (Town) near Gendesa (the Ebro River) as well
Chorus
It’s often said that the good side lost,
They fought the fight and paid the cost,
Lets not forget these ten Oldham men,
Who lost their lives or who came home again.
Chorus
Survivours:- Albert Charlesworth, Charles Armitage, Joseph Buckley and Charles Hanson.
Chorus
No pasaran
These words they ran
From the lips
Of each Oldham man
In Nineteen hundred and thirty six
Ten men from Oldham to Spain up’d sticks
To share a cause to keep Spain free,
And strike a blow for democracy.
Chorus
Mechanics, workers in the mills,
Repairing boots, riding bikes for thrills,
The young men left these Oldham trades,
To join the (famous) fifteenth brigade. ( international )
Chorus
Of these ten Oldhamers six were slain,
At Spanish places with strange sounding names,
Jarama,(River) Belchite (Town)and Terhuel (Town)
At Brunete (Town) near Gendesa (the Ebro River) as well
Chorus
It’s often said that the good side lost,
They fought the fight and paid the cost,
Lets not forget these ten Oldham men,
Who lost their lives or who came home again.
Chorus
Survivours:- Albert Charlesworth, Charles Armitage, Joseph Buckley and Charles Hanson.
The alternative title for this song is ‘No Pasaran’ which was the slogan of the Republican side in the Spanish civil war and would have been adopted by the Oldhamers who went to fight with others from towns and cities across Britain to join the International Brigade.
The most famous of the ten from Oldham was Clem Beckett who started work as a blacksmith but went on to be a motorcycle champion and dare devil rider. He died at Jarama.
The ten were:
Albert Charlesworth, Kenneth Bradbury, Clement Beckett, Clifford Wolstencroft, Charles Armitage, Joseph Buckley, Joseph Maynard Lees, Harry Rowland Heap, William Jackson and Charles Hanson.
The most famous of the ten from Oldham was Clem Beckett who started work as a blacksmith but went on to be a motorcycle champion and dare devil rider. He died at Jarama.
The ten were:
Albert Charlesworth, Kenneth Bradbury, Clement Beckett, Clifford Wolstencroft, Charles Armitage, Joseph Buckley, Joseph Maynard Lees, Harry Rowland Heap, William Jackson and Charles Hanson.
TEN OLDHAM MEN.
‘A LANCASHIRE GRACE’ LFCD031
THE OLDHAM TINKERS
Recorded by Dave Howard at his studio in Bury, Lancashire
Mixed and mastered by John Ellis and Will Falkiner at Limefield Studio, Middleton, Manchester
Vocals; verses 1 & 3 Gerry Kearns, 2 & 4 John Howarth.
Instruments:- John Howarth banjo, Gerry Kearns guitar, Dave Howard mandolin.
‘A LANCASHIRE GRACE’ LFCD031
THE OLDHAM TINKERS
Recorded by Dave Howard at his studio in Bury, Lancashire
Mixed and mastered by John Ellis and Will Falkiner at Limefield Studio, Middleton, Manchester
Vocals; verses 1 & 3 Gerry Kearns, 2 & 4 John Howarth.
Instruments:- John Howarth banjo, Gerry Kearns guitar, Dave Howard mandolin.