Description
Object description
British seaman served aboard HMS Norfolk during Invergordon mutiny, 1931. Served as commander with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 1936-1938 [poor audibility]
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as able seaman aboard HMS Norfolk during Invergordon mutiny, 1931: Baltic cruise, 1931; lower deck resentment of communists; impossibility of being communist aboard ship; story of affair with British ambassador's daughter; memories of Wincott; attending football match at Invergordon, c13/9/1931; illustration of disputes over rum issue and shaving; lower deck reactions to newspaper news of possible pay cuts and officers' promise of support; events of 13/9/1931 including football match, large crowd, meeting at Invergordon canteen and shore patrol incident; adjournment to football ground; circumstances and content of Copeman's speech; chaos on libertymen's return to ships; meeting in HMS Norfolk recreation room; mass attendance at meeting at Invergordon canteen, 14/9/1931; officers' compliance; decision not to turn to; election of HMS Norfolk committee; work of committee during mutiny, 15/9/1931-16/9/1931 including maintaining essential services; preventing officers' efforts to isolate individuals.
REEL 2 Continues: role of first lieutenant and his contacts with committee, 15/9/1931; Prickett's ineffectual speech; account of beginning of mutiny; story of crew throwing potatoes at Astley-Rushton's launch; drafting of manifesto by committee; reads manifesto; acceptance at mass meeting; distribution around fleet by signallers; view of Admiralty's role in mutiny; question of press presence in Invergordon; distribution of manifesto; loosely organised role of committee; ships involved in mutiny; treatment of senior officers and ringleaders following mutiny; role and nature of meetings c13/9/1931.
REEL 3 Continues: Events following dismissal from Royal Navy: losing job due to communist connections; collection for Wincott; story of speaking at meeting with Wincott and Politt; nature of Wincott's connections with Communist Party; Copeman's occupations and lifestyle following dismissal. Events following return of HMS Norfolk to Devonport: leave; recall of ringleaders to depot by telegram; dismissal; protests over victimisation on 'training' course; conditions; incident during 'training'; recollections of other ringleaders; reactions to home ports order (Devonport), 16/9/1931. Aspects of activities with British Bn in Spain, 1936-1937: individuals involved including Wild; joining Communist Party; problems with leadership of British Bn, International Brigade; work with machine gun section; casualties amongst officers.
REEL 4 Continues: Comments on photograph of mutineers aboard HMS Norfolk. Meeting royal family during Second World War. Opinion of Communist Party and Wincott's role in mutiny. Opinion of International Bde volunteers featured in television programmes about Spanish Civil War. Aspects of Invergordon mutiny: Wincott's contribution to planning; spontaneous simple nature; focsle meetings; feeling of support from officers. Recollections of experiences with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 1937-1938: physical condition, wounds sustained; experiences as commander with dying soldiers in hospitals; sustaining stomach wound; recruitment to Communist Party; relations with Communist Party in Spain; story of sending Wally Tapsell to Barcelona to discover source of ammunition shortages; opinion of 15th Bde staff including Tito; opinion of collaboration between Nazi and Soviet military leaders in Spain in 1937; story of demanding ammunition supplies with machine gun coy at 15th Bde headquarters in Barcelona; explosion of ammunition dump, 7/1937; question of his relations with CP; escorting group of volunteers to Spain, 9/1936; reaction to meeting British volunteers, officers Wintringham and Macartney in Madrigueras; forming Machine Gun Coy; training machine gunners on Maxims during move to Jarama front; casualties amongst officers on first day of battle of Jarama; taking command of Bn; wounds sustained by himself and Sam Wild.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of various people involved in Spanish Civil War; death of Tapsell and Wild's account of suspicious circumstances; evacuation to GB; informing Communist Party of suspicions regarding Tapsell's death; contrast in Wild and Copeman's methods with deserters; disputes over administration of International Brigade Aid Committee. Visit to Communist Russia and decision to leave Communist Party. Aspects of trade union career. Recollections of being in Spain during outbreak of Spanish Civil War and account of capture of Barcelona town hall. Provision on dismissal from navy. Recollections of Wincott. Story of boxing bout. Comments on sexual activities of Lord and Lady Mountbatten. Opinion of widespread hypocristy in world affairs.