Entering Spain on foot, travelling in secret through the Pyrenees to Figueras, they met with Republican soldiers and locals who were suffering from hunger. The group went on by rail to Tarazona for basic training, although Rutherford was sent for officer training and was made a lieutenant. The Scottish volunteers marched through towns like Belchite, and saw how much had been destroyed already. Rutherford was again to be led by his friend Harry Fry, who had also returned and been promoted to Commander but was killed at Ebro. Rutherford and the others suffered a tank attack, got lost for three days, and too close to fascist troops, were captured by the Italians, at Calaceite on 31 March 1938, with John Goldstein from their battalion, also a Spanish speaker.