Resumen de Buscant Robert H. Merriman

Francesc Xavier Hernández Cardona, David Íñiguez Gràcia, Ann Elizabeth Wilson Dally, Gemma Sebares Valle

• català

  El major Robert H. Merriman, va desaparèixer, els primers dies d’abril del 1938 en les rodalies de Corbera d’Ebre. La XV Brigada Internacional havia quedat encerclada per l’enemic, i grups de soldats intentaven arribar a les línies republicanes. En aquesta retirada potser va caure abatut en combat com també i ha la possibilitat que fos capturat i executat per les forces feixistes. Les especulacions sobre la mort de Merriman, i el lloc on van anar a raure les seves restes, han estat motiu de debat continuat. Fonts orals de Corbera d’Ebre manifestaven que oficials internacionals havien estat tancats en cases del Poble Vell abans de ser executats. Una de les fonts indicava l’emplaçament d’una fossa aïllada on havia estat enterrat un comandament que podia haver estat en Robert H. Meriman. Per tal de verificar la informació un grup d’estudiosos, arqueòlegs i antropòlegs va procedir a excavar el lloc la primavera del 2017, tanmateix no es van trobar indicis de cap enterrament.

• English

  Major Robert H. Merriman disappeared in the early days of April 1938 near Corbera d’Ebre, Catalonia. The 15th International Brigade had been surrounded by the enemy and groups of soldiers were trying to reach the Republican lines. In this retreat Merriman may have fallen down in combat as well and the possibility exists that he was cap tured and executed by fascist forces. Speculation about Merriman’s death and the location of his remains have been the subject of ongoing debate. Sources in Corbera d’Ebre stated that international officers were locked up in houses in the town’s center before execution. One source indicated the location of an isolated grave where a command that may have been Merriman’s had been buried. In order to verify the information, a group of scholars, archaeologists and anthropologists proceeded to excavate the site in the spring of 2017, however, no evidence of any human remains was found.