Description
Object description
British rifleman served with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, XIV International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-1/1937; served as runner with Headquarters Coy and No 2 (Machine Gun) Coys, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-2/1937
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Edinburgh, GB, 1916-1936: family; employment as telegraphist with General Post Office; membership of Royal Naval Reserve; recruitment to Communist Party of Great Britain, 1933; question of degree of knowledge of situation in Spain, 1936; decision to go to Spain and family's reaction, 10/1936; speaking at Young Communist League rallies in GB during leave from Spain; early British volunteers in Spain, 1936; employment with General Post Office on return from Spain.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of journey to join International Bdes in Spain via France, 11/1936: reception at Place du Combat in Paris, France; send off from railway station in Paris and train journey through France; background to decision to go to Spain; crossing into Spain; question of knowledge of languages; reception at Figueras Castle; march through Barcelona; impressions of atmosphere in Barcelona.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as rifleman with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, XIV International Bde No 1 Coy, 14th International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-1/1937: joining unit a Madrigueras, 11/1936; impressions of Sarro Barracks in Barcelona; training; issue of uniforms; degree of military experience of volunteers; story of wounding of Dick White during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; further details of military experience of volunteers; ages of volunteers; story of dancing with Spanish woman at Café Bar Pinchon in Madrigueras.
REEL 4 Continues: friendship with Spanish family at Madrigueras; question of pay; question of status of women in pre-Republican Spain; story of visiting brothel whilst convalescing in La Pasionaria Hospital in Murcia; opinion of Spanish women; move to Cordoba front, 24/12/1936; behaviour of early volunteers to International Bdes; attitude towards Moors fighting with Nationalist Army of Africa.
REEL 5 Continues: wounding in shoulder during Hogmanay celebrations at Lopera, 31/12/1936; hospitalisation for wounds; character of No 1 Coy. Recollections of period as runner with Headquarters and No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-2/1937: appointment as battalion runner, 1/1937; duties; opinion of Republican forces 'heroes'; opinion of political commissars; story of armourer shooting himself in foot; attitude towards Communist Party organisation of International Bdes; political discussion in battalion.
REEL 6 Continues: behaviour of political commissar at battalion headquarters; degree of political consciousness amongst American volunteers; role of Communist Party; opinion of political commissars; treatment of deserters; issue of rifles; opinion of carbines; Wilfred Macartney's attitude towards uniform; uniform worn on return from hospital; political badges; transfer from Headquarters Company to No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy; move to Jarama front, 2/1937; Nationalist positions at Jarama; role of battalion holding Madrid-Valencia road; view of Jarama Valley.
REEL 7 Continues: sight of advancing Moorish troops of Nationalist Army of Africa; nature of fighting; actions of No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy against advancing Moorish troops; deployment of battalion; casualties amongst battalion officers; opinion of George Nathan; opinion of stories of capture of No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy; minor wounding in leg, 13/2/1937; leaving front and visit to Morata de Tajuna, 16/2/1937; opinion of role of Fred Copeland during Battle of Jarama; death of Clem Beckett, 12/2/1937.
REEL 8 Continues: character of reinforcements; nature of action at Suicide Hill, 27/2/1937; taking cover behind stone wall; advancing with tanks; battalion casualties, 27/2/1937; wounding in foot and wait for stretcher bearers. Aspects of period of hospitalisation in Spain, 3/1937-5/1937: medical evacuation and treatment; memories of American journalist Murray Dauber in El Romeral Hospital; story of visit by Willie Gallagher; conditions during hospitalisation.
REEL 9 Continues: story of being reprimanded by nurse for smoking marijuana; return journey from Spain to GB via France. Reads diary entry of his reactions to democratic referendum in Spain and part of letter from Spanish friend, 1976.
REEL 10 Continues: Question of gradual loss of contact with International Bde veterans. Aspects of period as rifleman with No 1 Coy, XIV International Bde and as runner with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-2/1937: arrival in Figueras, 11/1937; how he had his passport and Communist Party of Great Britain identity card removed; period in Madrigueras; question of not being able to remember eating in Spain; story of meeting girl at dance in Madrigueras; wounding in arm; multiple wounding of comrade, 2/1937; story his wounding in foot, 2/1937; nature of wound and medical treatment; hospitalisation for wounds.
REEL 11 Continues: hospitalisation after removal to Paris, France, 9/1937; hospitalisation and medical treatment in GB, 1938; employment after leaving hospital. Story of contact with ex-International Brigaders during service with Royal Air Force in French Algeria in Second World War.