27 Facts About Fred Copeman

Frederick Bayes Copeman OBE was an English volunteer in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, commanding the British Battalion.

Fred Copeman is notable for contributing to London's air raid defences during the Second World War.

Fred Copeman was born in the Wangford Union Workhouse near Beccles in East Suffolk, England, in 1907.

Shortly, afterwards, George was sent to Canada to make a fresh start by the children's charity, Barnardo's, and Fred Copeman "never saw nor heard of him [again]".

The focus of care at the time was to make boys swiftly self-sufficient and so, aged 12, Fred Copeman was sent to Watts Naval School at North Elmham, Norfolk, to prepare for a life at sea.

From HMS Ganges, Fred Copeman was sent to the Mediterranean Fleet, which was based in Malta.

Fred Copeman narrowly missed the chance to become an officer, spending three weeks in Malta's Corradina prison for "a practical joke" that went wrong.

In Crusade in Spain, Jason Gurney notes that Fred Copeman was not charged, suggesting that his role must have been far more minor than the leader he presented himself to have been.

Alan Ereira says that Fred Copeman was one of the eight ringleaders "hustled outside the dockyard gates with 13 s[hillings] and a railway warrant".

Shortly after being discharged from the Royal Navy, Fred Copeman became a member of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement.

Fred Copeman organised pickets and demonstrations at Employment Exchanges and elsewhere.

Fred Copeman repeated the offence on being re-released, for which he was sentenced to a further three months, in Brixton Prison.

Fred Copeman left for Spain on 26 November 1936, where he joined the British Battalion of the International Brigades.

At the Battle of Jarama, in February 1937, Fred Copeman was wounded in the arm and head:.

Fred Copeman was completely without physical fear and seemed almost entirely indifferent to physical injury.

Fred Copeman made what appeared to be a complete recovery and, on his return to the battalion, became commander.

The first thing Fred Copeman did on return was to marry.

However, in common with many returned volunteers, Fred Copeman was disenchanted by what he had seen in Spain.

Fred Copeman was disillusioned by what he saw and, following a fist-fight, left the Communist Party shortly afterwards.

Fred Copeman later wrote a book which is a farrago of nonsense and self-aggrandisement.

Fred Copeman was closely monitored by the British Security Service MI5 for years.

The officer draws special attention to the fact that Fred Copeman was once heard "singing the Red Flag in the streets of Devonport".

In June 1940, shortly after the government had affirmed that it would not make evacuation compulsory, Fred Copeman spoke at a meeting of the National Baby Welfare Council.

Fred Copeman referenced his experiences in Spain to argue that the state should make evacuation compulsory:.

Fred Copeman remained active in politics, though over the years he mellowed.

Fred Copeman became a "popular Trades Union organiser" and a Labour Party councillor on Lewisham Borough Council.

Fred Copeman stood unsuccessfully for Lewisham North at the 1949 London County Council election, and the equivalent parliamentary constituency at the 1950 UK general election.