Description
Object description
British civilian member of the Young Communist League of the Communist Party of Great Britain in Denbeath, GB, 1926-1929; member of Communist Party of Great Britain in GB, 1929-1937; served as runner and observer with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 5/1937-4/1938
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Methil and Denbeath, GB, 1912-1926: family; education; father's political attitudes; drawing political cartoons for miners' newspapers. Aspects of period as member of the Young Communist League of the Communist Party of Great Britain in Denbeath, GB, 1926-1929: joining Young Communist League, 1926; activities; sings songs 'Whirlwinds of Danger' and start of 'Joe Hill'; inter-union rivalry in coal mining fields of Fife. Aspects of period as member of Communist Party of Great Britain in GB, 1929-1937: honorary membership of Communist cell; work of National Union of Scottish Mineworkers.
REEL 2 Continues: effects of Depression on family situation and loss of employment as miner; move to Dundee; concern about rise of Fascism in Europe and situation in Spain. Aspects of recruitment to International Bdes in GB and journey to Spain via France, 2/1937-5/1937: early volunteers from Fife, GB; opposition to his volunteering; arrest in Calais, France and return to GB during first attempt to join International Bdes, 2/1937; aid from Charlotte Haldane in Paris, France; watching May Day celebrations in Paris, France, 1/5/1937; train journey from Paris to Lyon, France under police observation; avoiding police in Lyon, France.
REEL 3 Continues: political discussions with Cuban volunteer during journey through France; reaction to news of Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) activities in Barcelona, Spain, 5/1937; opinion of George Orwell's experiences in Spain; accommodation in Perpignan, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains. Recollections of period as runner and observer with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 5/1937-4/1938: training at Figueras; journey to and impressions of Madrigueras, 5/1937; elementary training at Madrigueras; arrival of Soviet 45mm M1937 Anti-Tank Gun; organisation of battery.
REEL 4 Continues: strategic importance of Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; terrain and positioning of guns; his role as battery commander's runner; reactions to electrical storms; character of Malcolm Dunbar; collecting drill reports from gun crews after thunderstorms; in reserve at Ambite; memories of Miles Tomalin and his publishing of 'Assault and Battery News'; reaction to lecture on gas attack precautions at Ambite; move to Brunete, 7/1937; sings part of song 'No Pasaran'; sight of British Bn under Nationalist air attack at Villanueva de la Cañada.
REEL 5 Continues: death of George Brown at Villanueva de la Cañada, 7/7/1937; move to Mosquito Ridge; first casualties in battery during Battle of Brunete, 7/1937; sight of mule corpses and dead volunteer on Mosquito Ridge; Nationalist resistance on Mosquito Ridge at Brunete; how battery personnel put out fire amongst ammunition; how he was knocked unconscious by shelling and death of Sergeant Jack Black, 11/7/1937; memories of Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham; death of George Nathan, 16/7/1937; comparison between Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham and George Nathan.
REEL 6 Continues: Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham's attitude towards Communist Party of Great Britain sending volunteers to Spain; opinion of Fred Copeman including his behaviour on Mosquito Ridge; story of attitude of Spaniard towards Roman Catholic Church; move to Aragon front, 8/1937; in positions at Hijar; discovery of defences in cemetery and fountain pen on dead German at Quinto; nature of terrain at Quinto and unit deployment; reasons for Nationalist surrender at Purburrel Hill; background to execution of Nationalist prisoners by American volunteers.
REEL 7 Continues: witnessing execution of Nationalist prisoners; attitude towards execution of prisoners at Quinto; move to Belchite, 8/1937; observing Nationalist movements at Belchite; escorting Nationalist prisoner to rear; wounding of Steve Nelson; appeal to Nationalists to surrender before attack on Belchite, 5/9/1937; burial of dead in Belchite; reports of looting by newly arrived Spanish troops at Belchite; reprimand of XV International Bde commander Vladimir Copic; sight of Republican tank attack at Fuentes de Ebro, 10/1937.
REEL 8 Continues: failure of Republican tank attack at Fuentes de Ebro, 10/1937; reaction to order for three anti-tank guns to advance over open ground after failure of tank attack; Bill Alexander's advance at Fuentes de Ebro and Sloan's attempt to find him; sight of disabled tank and casualties on battlefield at Fuentes de Ebro; reporting incident to Will Paynter; disposition of forces at Teruel; Nationalist air attacks using hand grenades; sight of bombs being released during Nationalist air attack; problems with water supply at Teruel; sight of casualties in shell hole on road to Teruel; sheltering from Nationalist bombardment on return to front; death of comrade Joe Stevenson from typhoid, 2/1938; conditions during retreat from Teruel, 31/12/1937.
REEL 9 Continues: New Year celebrations at Teruel, 1/1/1938; encounter with Ernest Hemingway on visit to unit positions; opinion of Ernest Hemingway; memories of Jimmy Arthur.