Cooney, Robert Hunt (Oral history)

British civilian member of Communist Party of Great Britain in Aberdeen, GB, 1928-1937; NCO served as training commissar and adjutant with 15th International Bde in Spain, 10/1937-1/1938; rifleman served with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 1/1938-3/1938; officer served as political commissar with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 3/1938-10/1938

REEL 1 Aspects of political activities in Aberdeen, GB, 1923-1928: membership of ‘No More War’ movement, 1925; loss of employment as clerk, 1927; attending meetings of political groups on Sunday; recruitment to Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth, 1926; activities during parliamentary by-election in 1927. Recollections of period as organiser with Communist Party of Great Britain in Aberdeen, GB, 1928-1936: comparison between Independent Labour Party and Communist Party; prior recollection of activities during General Strike, 1926; appointment as organiser, 1928; mother’s working life and reaction to his joining Communist Party; anti-Fascist activities in Aberdeen area, 1935-1936. REEL 2 Continues: chalking propaganda on streets; arrest for opposing British Union of Fascists meeting in Aberdeen, 1937; communication with fellow inmate before trial; treatment by prison governor; trial and sentence; public support during trial; further details of sentencing and imprisonment. Aspects of period as student with Lenin School in Leningrad, Soviet Union, 10/1931-10/1932: background to attending school; opinion of Ralph Fox; visits to Ukraine. REEL 3 Continues: memories of other students at Lenin School. Aspects of period as organiser with Communist Party of Great Britain in Aberdeen, GB, 1928-1936: return to GB, 1932; attitude towards religion and literacy influences; political activities; effects of outbreak of Spanish Civil War on opposition to Fascism in Aberdeen, 1936; death of Felicia Browne in Spain. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes in Spain, 1937: background of other volunteers; Communist Party’s attitude towards his going to Spain; opinion of Peter Kerrigan; initial rejection on his volunteering for International Bdes; interview with Harry Pollitt in London, 9/1937. Aspects of period as political commissar and adjutant with 15th International Bde in Spain, 10/1937-1/1938: appointment as training commissar at Tarazona de La Mancha. REEL 4 Continues: appointment as adjutant to brigade commissar at Ambite; duties as adjutant; visits by Clement Attlee and Sir Richard Acland, 12/1937; reasons for demotion to rifleman; memories of Jock Cunningham. Recollections of period as rifleman and NCO with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-9/1938: background to promotion to sergeant during Teruel offensive; role of Bill Alexander during Teruel offensive; prior recollections of illustrating treatment of deserters whist adjutant with brigade; treatment of captured Nationalist airman. REEL 5 Continues: reactions to dealing with demoralised volunteers; memories of Leo Markowitz on his arrival in Spain. Recollections of period as political commissar with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 3/1938-10/1938: appointment of as political commissar, 3/1938; giving lectures on Irish Republicanism; off duty activities and relations with Spanish troops; calling company meeting with No 5 Coy prior to action at Belchite; nature of action at Belchite; escaping encirclement by Nationalist forces at Belchite; advancing using scouts at Caleceite, 31/3/1938; taking to high ground on encountering Italian tanks; sight of battalion personnel being taken prisoner; escaping capture near River Ebro. REEL 6 Continues: arrival of unit reinforcements after Caleceite; moving through outskirts of Nationalist occupied Gandesa, 2/4/1938; scattering of unit after Caleceite, 4/1938; battalion morale prior to attack on Hill 481; attack on Hill 481; return of Sam Wild to battalion; retreat across River Ebro; crossing of River Ebro, 24/7/1938; formation of activist movement; further details of attacks on Hill 481; reaction to news of withdrawal of International Brigades. Aspects of repatriation and return to GB, 10/1938-12/1938: period waiting for repatriation, 10/1938-12/1938; dealing with friction between British and Cuban volunteers; activities with Spanish civilians in Ripoll. REEL 7 Continues: persuading British Consul to provide transport for volunteers to return to GB; leaving Ripoll; crossing into France; refusal of food from Salvation Army in Versailles, France; sings ditty he wrote about British Consul provision of food.