Gilbert, David (Oral history)

British runner served with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 1937-1938; POW in Zaragoza Prison, Zaragoza, San Pedro de Cardena Prison, Burgos, Palencia Camp, Palencia and San Sebastian Prison, San Sebastian, Spain, 4/1938-1/1939

REEL 1 Background and political activities in London, GB, 1914-1936: family; anti-Semitism in London; story of being attacked by Blackshirts of British Union of Facists in Bethnal Green; areas of anti-Semitism in London; older Jewish community members avoidance of politics; contrast in attitudes of younger Jews; account of Cable Street disturbances, 10/1936. REEL 2 Continues: formation of National Unemployed Workers’ Movement; occupation by unemployed of offices in Shoreditch; confrontation with police during National Unemployed Workers’ Movement demonstration in West End of London; Jewish youth group Blue and White Club meetings. REEL 3 Continues: friendship with British Union of Facists sympathiser; reasons for joining Communist Party of Great Britain in Bethnal Green, 1936. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes in GB and journey to Spain via France, 3/1937: his condition on return from Spain, 1939; influence of Isabel Brown in his decision to join International Bdes; recruitment interview in London; family’s reaction to his volunteering. REEL 4 Continues: reception in Paris, France; accommodation in brothel in Nimes, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains; air raid on Figueras, Spain. Aspects of period as volunteer with International Bdes at Albacete and Tarazona de La Mancha in Spain, 3/1937: equipping and processing of new arrivals at Albacete; reasons for turning down offer of officer training; impressions of German contingent; train journey; initial impressions of Tarazona de La Mancha including machine gun post in church; training with Russian instructors and weapons. REEL 5 Continues: rifle training; political education; social background of volunteer. Aspects of period as runner with British Battalion, 15th International Bde in Spain, 4/1937-3/1938: memories of Christopher Caudwell, John Cornford and Clive Branson; question of attitude of British intellectuals in brigade; retreat from Nationalist forces using experimental ‘blitzkrieg’ tactics at Belchite, 9/1937. REEL 6 Continues: fining for forgetting route at Calaceite; evidence of earlier retreat; mistaking Nationalist unit for Lister Bn; ambush by Nationalist troops; casualties including death of Wally Tapsell; capture by Italian troops, 31/3/1938; question of lack of proper uniform and problems identifying opposing forces; attitude towards being under Nationalist artillery fire during retreat from Belchite, 8/1937; story of intellectual volunteer screaming at retreating tank crews at Belchite. Recollections of period as POW in Zaragoza Prison, Zaragoza, San Pedro de Cardena Prison, Burgos, Palencia Camp, Palencia and San Sebastian Prison, San Sebastian, Spain, 4/1938-1/1939: escaping execution on capture; status of British prisoners. REEL 7 Continues: interrogation; prisoner’s burying of money; conditions during journey to Zaragoza Prison; reactions of local population to arrival of International Bde prisoners in Zaragoza Prison; status as prisoners of war and demand to give Fascist salute; living conditions in prison; beatings; interrogation of German volunteers by Gestapo; sentencing of POWs. REEL 8 Continues: execution of Jimmy Rutherford; death of POW; comparison between prison conditions in San Pedro de Cardenas and Zaragoza Prisons; his release as part of prisoner exchange, 1/1939; conditions and treatment by Italians in holding camp at Palencia; memories of Clive Branson; reaction of prison guards to initial Republican success on River Ebro; conditions and executions at San Sebastian Prison. REEL 9 Continues: Aspects of repatriation to GB, 1939: description of prisoner exchange at French border; reception on arrival in GB. Aspects of period as POW in Zaragoza Prison, Zaragoza, San Pedro de Cardena Prison, Burgos, Palencia Camp, Palencia and San Sebastian Prison, San Sebastian, Spain, 4/1938-1/1939: lice problem in captivity; POWs eating of rats in Palencia Camp. Recollections of period as runner with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 4/1937-3/1938: retreat from Teruel, 2/1938; re-grouping at Corbera; question of desertion in brigade; question of shooting of suspected Fascist infiltrator known as ‘Poona’ Brown; desertion cases. REEL 10 Continues: opinion of Jock Cunningham, Harry Dobson and Sam Wild; VIP visits to brigade; story illustrating Buenaventuara Durruti’s leadership of Anarchists; question of Soviet presence in Spain; attitude towards service in Spain.