Ferguson, Alexander Miller (Oral history)

British machine gunner served with No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy, British Bn and gunner with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 5/1937-4/1938

REEL 1 Background in Banton, Glasgow and Rochdale, GB, 1906-1936: family; father's political views; recruitment to Young Communist League and Communist Party of Great Britain in Glasgow, 1923; distributing Daily Herald for Independent Labour Party, 1919; support of colleagues after losing job as miner, 1926; move to Rochdale, 1934. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes in GB and journey to Spain, 4/1937: background to volunteering; reaction of wife; journey to Spain with Bill Alexander, 5/1937; question of reporting of war. Aspects of training with XV International Bde in Spain, 5/1937-6/1937: training at Madrigueras; political education; speaking Spanish language; pay and question of financial support for wife; opinion of training. Aspects of period as machine gunner with No 2 (Machine Gun) Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 6/1937-7/1937: reception on arrival; leave; sustaining back wound at Brunete, 7/1937; medical treatment for wounds. REEL 2 Continues: period of convalescence in Murcia, 7/1937-10/1937. Aspects of period as gunner with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 7/1937-4/1938: background to joining battery; reactions to sight of refugees; story of execution of volunteers for criminal behaviour; discipline; motives of volunteers; behaviour of troops on leave; attitude towards term civil war; lack of contact with Nationalists; sight of Spanish female troops; opinion of military competence of Spanish Republican Army; expectations of duration of war; story of last stand of Basque officer in 1938; leaving Spain, 10/1938; question of attitudes towards International Bde veterans in GB, 1939; impressions of Spain during visit in 1959; political attitudes, 1976.