Quinn, Sydney (Oral history)

British rifleman served with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, 14th International Bde and British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-10/1937

REEL 1 Background in Lisburn, Northern Ireland and Glasgow, GB, 1909-1936: father’s move to Scotland; family deaths; participation in hunger march to London; period as gunner with Royal Artillery, 1935-1936. Aspects of journey from GB to Spain to join International Brigades, 11/1936: decision to go to Spain; opinion of George Nathan; processing of volunteers in Paris; journey to Perpignan. Recollections of period as rifleman with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, 14th International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-2/1937: conditions at Figueras and Albecete; training at Madrigueras; recruitment to unit; memories of John Cornford; strafing by Nationalist aircraft; advance at Corunna Road; role of George Nathan in stopping Nationalist breakthrough; retrieving volunteers from unofficial leave from Lopera; move of unit to defend Las Rozas; Spanish female soldiers; rations and issue of uniforms; company runner; lice. Recollections of period as rifleman with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 2/1937-10/1937: reception on arrival at Madrigueras; unit casualties; duties as town policeman and suicide of volunteer; move to Jarama front; promotion of Jock Cunningham. REEL 2 Continues: lice and conditions at Jarama; trench warfare; hearing of effectiveness of small arms fire from Nationalist deserters; background to transfer to British Bn; effect of speech by Harry Pollitt; story illustrating discipline used by Fred Copeman; opinions of Fred Copeman; return to front line at Jarama, 2/1937; getting drunk at Jarama; reaction to visitors to front; move to Brunete, 7/1937; witnessing Republican aircraft being shot down at Brunete; attempts to breach Nationalist fortifications; water supplies; death of volunteer; firing on civilian shields and sparing of Nationalist officer at Morata de Tajuna; deaths from booby traps; question of use of civilian shields; opinion of campaign at Brunete; view of dead civilians; sight of bulls during attack on Mosquito Ridge, 7/1937; death of Charlie Goodfellow; use of artillery; memories of Clifford Watters; rations and water supplies; opinion of Frank Pitcairn and decision to hold political meeting during action on Mosquito Ridge; Fred Copeman’s style of command; encounter with Russian tank crew; conditions at Mosquito Ridge.