Papers of and relating to Bob Smillie, a volunteer with the Independent Labour Party Contingent in the Spanish Civil War, 1937-1938.

Consists of two letters and a photographic print. The first letter is of Bob Smillie to his mother, written whilst serving with the Partido Obrero de Unificacion Marxista in Spain alongside Eric Blair (George Orwell). In it he describes the night raid on the Aragon front, in which he recounts Orwell`s role in the action. The second letter, dated 29 April 1938, is of Eileen Blair (Mrs George Orwell) to Bob Smillie`s mother expressing sorrow at Bob`s death, and informing her of the impending publication of her husband`s book on the Spanish civil war.

Bob Smillie died in a Republican prison in Valencia of reported appendicitis, in June 1937.