Description
Object description
British political commissar and runner served with No 3 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-2/1937; clerk with La Pasionaria Hospital and Post Office in Murcia, Spain, 2/1937-1/1938
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Shoreditch, London, GB, 1902-1936: Jewish family origins; reactions to brother's death in First World War; dismissal from Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) for being underage, 1917; enlistment in Royal Garrison Artillery, 1918-1921; employment as commercial traveller, 1921-1936; joining Communist Party of Great Britain, 1935. Aspects of joining International Bdes and journey to Spain, 12/1936: meeting other volunteers in Paris, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains; background to decision to join International Bdes; knowledge of languages; journey to France; organisation. Recollections of period as political commissar and runner with No 3 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-2/1937: opinion of training at Headquarters, Interntaional Brigades at Albacete; appointment as political commissar; opinion of military and political organisation of battalion; political affiliations of volunteers.
REEL 2 Continues: comparison between International Bdes and British Army; organisation of company and duties as political commissar; composition of company; address by Professor J B S Haldane; opinion of Irish volunteer Terry Flanagan; relations between British and Irish volunteers; training and wish to form cavalry unit; move towards Jarama front, 2/1937; appointment as runner; role acting as interpreter for Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham; wounding at Battle of Jarama, 22/2/1937; treatment for wounds. Recollections of period as clerk with La Pasionaria Hospital and Post Office in Murcia, Spain, 2/1937-1/1938: duties in hospital; producing hospital newspaper; obtaining work with post office.
REEL 3 Continues: attempts to ban Daily Mail newspaper; duties in post office; story of Society of Friends (Quakers) group supplying aid to refugees from Almeria; story of relationship with member of British Intelligence posing as nurse; question of Fascist infiltrators; story of volunteer shot on suspicion of spying; opinion of Tom Wintringham and Joseph 'Jock' Cunningham; opinion of role of International Bdes in Spain; British volunteers serving with Republican Navy; national composition of International Bdes; prior recollection of receiving gift of cigarettes whilst serving with British Bn.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Peter Kerrigan; question of Peter Kerrigan's shooting of Wilfred Macartney in the arm; contrast between service in front line and work in post office; counter-espionage duties in post office; question of evidence of German and Italian intervention in Spain; opinion of Republican atrocities; question of effect of non-intervention policy leading to Nationalist victory; food availability in Spain.
REEL 5 Continues: visiting British Consul in Barcelona and return to GB, 1/1938. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1938-1939: reaction to sight of member of British Union of Fascists in London on return from Spain; employment; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Reflections on service with International Bdes in Spain, 1937-1938: duties as political commissar including organising burial of volunteers; impressions of Spain and Spanish; character of deserters; opinion of role of International Bdes and Spanish Medical Aid Committee volunteers in Spain, 1936-1939.
