Doyle, Robert Andrew (Oral history)

Irish machine gunner served with No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 8/1937-3/1938; prisoner of war in San Pedro de Cardeña Prison, Burgos and Ondarreta Prison, San Sebastian Prison in Spain, 4/1938-2/1939

REEL 1 Background in Dublin, Ireland, 1916-1939: unemployment in Ireland; attempt to obtain work in Liverpool, 1932; recruitment to 1st Bn, Irish Republican Army (IRA), 1932; loss of job as butler, 1932; opinion of aims of Irish Republican Army; recruitment to Communist Party of Ireland (CPI), 1934; recruitment to and activities with Republican Congress, 1934; burning of Connolly House; relations between Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Communist Party of Ireland (CPI); nature of Fascist movement in Ireland, 1932-1936. Aspects of attempt to volunteer for International Bdes in Ireland and journey to Spain, 1936-1937: opinion of Irish newspaper coverage of Nationalist Uprising in Spain, 7/1936; question of support for Spanish Republic; decision to volunteer for International Bdes; initial rejection for service in Dublin; decision to make own way to Spain; work in London and Channel Islands to earn fare; stay in Marseilles, France; arrest as stowaway and interrogation by British consul in Valencia, Spain; employment aboard merchant ship serving Nationalist ports in Spain, 1/1937-8/1937. REEL 2 Continues: delivering mail to British Bn in Spain. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes in London, GB and journey to Spain, 8/1937: background to recruitment to Communist Party of Great Britain; recruitment to International Brigades at Headquarters, Communist Party of Great Britain, King Street, London, GB; story of getting past officials in France; reception from French Communist Party (PCF) in Paris, France; journey to Spain. Recollections of period as machine gunner with No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 8/1937-3/1938: degree of prior military training with Irish Republican Army (IRA); allocation to XV Brigade Officers' Training School at Tarazona de la Mancha; disobeying orders to join unit on Aragon front; first action at Belchite; retreat from first position and casualties at Belchite; behaviour of Moorish troops of Nationalist Army of Africa; opinion of Spanish Republican Army weapons; reactions to air attacks; withdrawal from Belchite, 2/1938; entering Hijar on T-26 Tank; refusing order from Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) officer. REEL 3 Continues: circumstances of his capture by Italian Corps of Volunteer Troops at Calaceite, 31/5/1938; living conditions in battalion including rations, uniform, lice and alcohol consumption; role of political commissar; degree of contact with civilians; question of behaviour on capture of Spanish Nationalist Army prisoners of war; importance of cigarettes. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in San Pedro de Cardeña Prison, Burgos and Ondarreta Prison, San Sebastian in Spain, 4/1938-2/1939: treatment by Italian captors; expectation of execution; treatment of Frank Ryan; incarceration in church in Alcañtz; sight of prisoners at Zaragoza; interrogation and question of giving Fascist salute; visit by international press and death of Jimmy Rutherford, 24/5/1938; impressions of San Pedro de Cardeña Prison; treatment by guards; interrogation by Germans; treatment of German volunteers; death among prisoners due to illness. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of British Government's policy of non-intervention; prisoner exchange rate; view of execution wall at Ondarreta Prison; contact with prisoners awaiting execution at Ondarreta Prison; opinion of treatment of Basque civilians.