Description
Object description
Three British volunteers served with British Bn and British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 1937-1938
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as volunteers with XV International Bde in Spain, 1936-1938: introduction by Professor B G Kiernan. [Dunlop]: background to decision to go to Spain, 5/1937. [Renton]: reasons for going to Spain, 11/1936; volunteers who left for Spain from Edinburgh, 11/1936. [Watters]: background to volunteering to going to Spain, 11/1936 including opposition to British Union of Fascists in Edinburgh; journey to Spain. [Dunlop]: duration of service with brigade; character of journey through France.
REEL 2 Continues: story of avoiding non-intervention patrols and crossing Spanish border; reception on arrival in Spain; journey to Figueras; mounting guard on disarmed Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) volunteers in Figueras; move to Barcelona. [Watters]: conditions for volunteers; equipment issued to volunteers; degree of training received; move to front line near Madrid; nature of fighting; impressions of quality of Republican forces; opinion of example set by International Bdes.
REEL 3 Continues: [Dunlop]: holding suspect French volunteer; reception on arrival at Madrigueras; story of fate of town priest in Madrigueras at start of war; contact with German volunteers; formation of anti-tank batteries; opinion of Soviet 45mm Anti-Tank Gun M1937; move to front line on Madrid front; joining British Bn; occasion when he was left behind during battery move; wounding during shelling and evacuation to Madrid; joining machine gun company on return to British Bn; losses sustained by British Bn in his absence; move to northern Spain, 12/1937.
REEL 4 Continues: crossing of River Ebro; in action during Ebro Offensive; move into reserve; re-equipping with Czech ZB-26 Light Machine Gun and shooting down of Nationalist aircraft; problems with Russian/Soviet weapons; narrow escape from capture by Nationalist forces on Ebro; individuals who showed bravery in action; hospitalisation for sore legs; reception in London and Glasgow on return to GB; attachment of anarchists to battalion and their attitude to discipline; visit by Jawaharlal Nehru and Clement Attlee. [Renton]: crossing Spanish frontier, 11/1936; opinion of role of non-intervention patrols.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of militia women encountered in Figueras; reception in Barcelona; move to Albacete and equipping; reasons for taking precautions in Albacete; memories of Tom Wintringham; casualties amongst first group of British volunteer; first encounter with Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham; attitude to receiving Mosin-Nagant Rifle; question of tensions caused by mixing of British and Irish volunteers; confusion caused by both Nationalists and Republicans wearing same clothing; reasons for failings of Republican forces at Jarama; significance of actions at Jarama; casualties during march through valley; capture and execution of Ted Dickinson at Jarama, 12/2/1937; treatment by Moorish guards of Nationalist Army of Africa; imprisonment in concentration camp.
REEL 6 Continues: solidarity of prisoners of war; sentencing of prisoners of war and problems of proceedings being in Spanish; making contact with Daily Telegraph columnist; transfer to prison at Salamanca; volunteer executed by Nationalists. [Dunlop]: question of commitment of volunteers; background to shooting of Cuban commander; effects of lack of trained officers; loss of footwear during shell fire; question of lack of support for Franco amongst Nationalist troops; supply of rations. [Renton]: method of getting around alcohol ban.