Description
Object description
British civilian member of Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth and Young Communist League in GB, 1934-1937; volunteer served with Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937-6/1937
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1934: family; education; employment; attending Socialist Sunday School in East End of London; attending anti-Nazi meeting at Kingsway Hall, London, 1933; membership of League of Nations Association. Recollections of period as member of Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth and Young Communist League in London and Bristol, GB, 1934-1937: background to joining Young Communist League after leaving Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth; changing attitude towards Soviet Union; comparison between Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth and Young Communist League.
REEL 2 Continues: story of Malcolm Muggeridge's disillusionment with Soviet Union; activities with Barking Branch of Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth in Barking; description of anti-Blackshirt activity; background to joining Young Communist League in Bristol; story of heckling Oswald Mosley and William Joyce at rally in Bristol, 1935; members of Young Communist League in Bristol; degree of indoctrination in Young Communist League; degree of knowledge of situation in Spain, 1936. Aspects to volunteering for Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937: background to volunteering.
REEL 3 Continues: interview at Independent Labour Party headquarters in St Brides Street, London; other volunteers. Aspects of journey from GB to Spain via France, 1/1937: arrangements for journey; accommodation in Paris, France; watching anti-Hitler vaudeville in Perpignan, France; arrival in Figueras, Spain. Recollections of period as rifleman with Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937-6/1937: reception at Workers Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) headquarters on Ramblas in Barcelona, 1/1937; training at Lenin Barracks in Barcelona; mother's reaction to his volunteering for service in Spain; arrival of consignment of chocolate from home; conditions for civilians in villages; composition of contingent.
REEL 4 Continues: political disagreement between Communists and Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM); move into positions outside Huesca; conditions, accommodation and rations outside Huesca; composition of and nationalities in unit; memories of commander Georges Kopp; militia status and informality of discipline; accidents with weapons; handling weapons; impressions of George Orwell; George Orwell's wounding; George Orwell's method of handling people.
REEL 5 Continues: George Orwell's reaction to Spanish treatment of horses at front; George Orwell's appearance and writing habits; political discussions with George Orwell; story of recalling 'Eton Boating Song' with George Orwell; George Orwell's attitude towards journalism; his decision to stay with Independent Labour Party; George Orwell's attitude towards condition of weapons; opinion of George Orwell's writing; his and George Orwell's wish to join International Bdes. Recollections of period with Independent Labour Party Contingent during uprising in Barcelona, Spain, 3/5/1937-6/5/1937: background to uprising; role in charge of phosphorous bombs at Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) Headquarters; reaction of International Bdes to uprising including role of Wally Tapsell.
REEL 6 Continues: volunteering to defend Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) Headquarters; story of unit member stockpiling beer in hotel room during disturbances; impressions of fighting near Telefonica; casualties during uprising; encounter with Willy Brandt; question of Soviet influence during uprising; opinion of assassination Andres Nin; impressions of Andres Nin; opinion of Communist Party allegations against Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM); need for travel passes provided by political groups; acquiring travel passes.
REEL 7 Continues: leaving Spain with John McNair and George Orwell, 6/1937; circumstances under which Independent Labour Party members left Spain. Aspects of period as rifleman with Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937-5/1937: nature of fighting on Aragon front; firing rifle; reasons for refraining from firing on Nationalists; relations between Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) and Anarchists; Anarchist attitude towards property; pay. Joining Independent Labour Party, 1939. Story of expulsion from Young Communist League because of articles written about Spain, 1937.