WHILE the heroism of the men who fought against Franco in the International Brigades is rightly celebrated, the role of women who volunteered to help the Spanish republic remains overlooked. 

But a new documentary broadcast on Welsh-language channel S4C seeks to set the record straight by following in the footsteps of three women who served on the front line of the Spanish civil war. 

Journalist Dylan Iorwerth tells the story of two young communists who volunteered as nurses. Thora Silverthorne from Abertillery and Margaret Powell from Crickhowell treated hundreds of men wounded in battle with fascist forces equipped by Hitler and Mussolini.