This plaque is located near the southwest corner of the Council Building of Winnipeg City Hall (William Avenue side) and is a tribute to the 1,447 Canadians who fought with the Battalion in Spain from 1936 to 1939. There were 106 Manitobans among the soldiers, of whom 21 died and are buried in Spain. Their names and information are given below. The plaque was unveiled on 13 October 1989.
MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion Plaque (November 2010)
Source: City of Winnipeg
MacKenzie-Papineau Battalion Plaque (March 2021)
Source: Darryl ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89930, W97.14000
denoted by symbol on the map above
Name
Occupation
Born
Died
Geoffrey Allstop
Jockey
26 February 1904
17 March 1938
Elias Aviezora
Chauffeur, teacher
15 April 1894
22 February 1937
Michael “Mick” Benter
Factory / Railway worker
4 September 1899
10 August 1938
Alcide Bigras
Laborer
1914
24 August 1937
Bolis Butrimas
?
5 January 1912
3 April 1938
Nazar Demianchuck
Lumber worker
3 February 1906
1937
Ernest William Dentry
Railroad worker
1907
12 April 1938
Karl Francis [Karol Fronczysty]
Farm worker
1903
30 May 1937
Roderick “Rod” Joseph Gillis
Miner
12 November 1900
13 October 1937
Frank Gregore
Miner
1902
1938
Hans Hansen
Machinist
1 December 1908
28 March 1939
Theodore Kardash
Farmer
11 December 1897
8 April 1938
Jack Mackenzie
?
26 October 1919
26 July 1938
Anton Martinuk
Foundry worker, Miner
1906
1938
Fred Clarence Mowbray
Secretary of the Unemployed Single Men's Association of Winnipeg
11 May 1912
30 March 1938
Andrii Murawsky
Labourer
15 March 1895
28 July 1938
John Norum
Labourer
1902
1937
Charles (Henry Edward) Roberts
Tractor driver
18 February 1910
1937
Samuil Shumik
?
1904
16 March 1938
John Wandzilak
Lumber worker
12 February 1902
27 July 1938
Frank Maximilian Welsby
Labourer
16 December 1913
1938
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Commemorative Plaques of the Winnipeg City Hall (510 Main Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg General Strike Plaque (William Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Titanic Plaque (Main Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Old City Hall Plaque (Princess Street, Winnipeg)
“Two Winnipeggers reported killed fighting in Spain,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 May 1937, page 3.
“2 Winnipeg men among Aragon’s war casualties,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 September 1937, page 24.
“Rod Gills, 22, Winnipeg resident killed in Spain,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 January 1938, page 20.
“Loyalist Spain puts up ‘no help wanted’ sign,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 March 1938, page 1.
“Winnipeg man wounded in Spain,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 March 1938, page 18.
“Spanish war vet dies of wounds,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 March 1939, page 5.
“Winnipeger is killed In Spain,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 April 1938, page 1.
“2 Winnipeggers among Spanish war dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 May 1938, page 1.
Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War by Michael Petrou, UBC Press, 2008.
Canada and the Spanish Civil War
Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.
This page was prepared by Darryl Toews and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 31 May 2026
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
