A commemorative plaque was unveiled yesterday in recognition of Almondbury’s contribution to housing child victims of the Spanish Civil War 75 years ago.
A reluctant British Government was persuaded to accept more than 3,500 children aged five years and upwards as a bitter war was waged in their homeland in the 1930s.
The Basque government was anxious that children should not be adopted and stay in groups so as not to lose their national identity.
The Yorkshire branch of the Spanish Relief Committee was among the first to offer help.
In the end 450 children came to Yorkshire, including 20 to Almondbury.
The then Mayor of Huddersfield, Clr Joseph Barlow, was a key player in organising the local Spanish Relief Committee, finding a site for the colony at the Old Clergy House and helping to run it.
Colonies such as Almondbury are still affectionately remembered by those remaining Basque children now in their 80s and 90s.
The plaque in its honour has been sponsored by the Basque Children of 37 Association and Huddersfield Local History Society.
Yesterday the efforts of those kind-hearted men and women who made the children’s stay so enjoyable was remembered.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman was also keen to trace the parallels between today’s crisis in Syria and Spain.
Cyril Pearce, chairman of Huddersfield Local History Society, said: “Seventy-five-years ago there was a group of people from across the county who held out the hand of friendship to the Basque community.”
Carmen Kilner, treasurer of the Basque Children of 37 Association UK, said as well as almost 4,000 children, 95 teachers, 120 helpers and 15 priests had made the trip to this country.
She said: “Can you imagine what it was like for a seven-year-old to be separated from his family and sent to an alien family who did not understand the language and customs?
“And the desperation of parents to send them abroad like this.
“Yorkshire was among the first counties that put its hand up and offered to help.”
Sadly, Giordano Diaz, 90, who was a member of the original colony and who now lives in south London was unable to be the guest of honour at the unveiling but his family representatives attended instead.
