Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction - Humanitarian Relief in Spain

• The Royal Navy and the Spanish Civil War

• HMS London in Barcelona 1936

• HMS Devonshire – Peace Ship, 1939

HMS Devonshire – Peace Ship, 1939

Count de San Luis on the quarter deck of HMS Devonshire with ship's Captain Muiread Gould, February 1939. (RNM)

In February 1939 the Royal Navy played an important role in restoring peace to Minorca. During the War the island sided with the Republicans. As a result, Italian Air Force subjected the island to an aerial bombing campaign.

But General Franco, leader of the Nationalist Party, wished to possess Minorca with as little bloodshed as possible. HMS Devonshire acted as 'peace ship' during the negotiations for the surrender of the Isle of Minorca. It provided neutral ground for the Nationalist representative Count de San Luis and the Governor of Minorca to negotiate the terms.

After the Governor signed the treaty HMS Devonshire evacuated 470 political refugees from the island.

Arrival of the Governor of Minorca 'Ubeita' aboard HMS Devonshire, February 1939. (RNM)

Refugees waiting to be disembarked at Marseilles, February 1939. (RNM)