Frankford, Frank (Oral history)

British civilian member of Hackney Branches of Communist Party of Great Britain, National Unemployed Workers' Movement and Independent Labour Party in Hackney, London, GB, 1932-1936; rifleman served with Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937-7/1937

REEL 1 Background in Slough and London, GB, 1913-1932: family; running away from home and employment in London. Aspects of period as member of Hackney Branches of Communist Party of Great Britain, National Unemployed Workers' Movement and Independent Labour Party in Hackney, London, GB, 1932-1936: background to joining Young Communist League of Hackney Branch of Communist Party of Great Britain, 1932; activities with National Unemployed Workers' Movement; memories of Julie Jacobs; leaving Communist Party of Great Britain for Independent Labour Party; clashes with British Union of Fascists in East End of London; comparison of Independent Labour Party and Communist Party of Great Britain activities. Aspects of background to volunteering for Independent Labour Party Continent and journey to Spain, 1936-1937: story illustrating support for Spanish Medical Aid Committee, 12/1936; background to recruitment to contingent, 12/1936; story of personal repercussions from press coverage of contingent leaving London; volunteering and briefing; journey to Spain. Recollections of period as rifleman with Independent Labour Party Contingent in Spain, 1/1937-7/1937: wearing Soviet made boots; conditions in Lenin Barracks in Barcelona; training; atmosphere in Barcelona, 1/1937. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of Spanish people; change in atmosphere during second period in Barcelona, 5/1937; memories of Georges Kopp; question of British volunteers visiting brothels; training at Lerida; Spanish militiamens' attitudes towards taking cover; move to Aragon front; question of contact between Republicans and Nationalists lines; reaction to article written by Sam Lesser; further details of contact between Republicans and Nationalists lines; initial sight of George Orwell in trenches; opinion of George Orwell. REEL 3 Continues: question of George Orwell's attitude towards working class; description of George Orwell's wounding in neck; relations within unit; opinion of George Orwell's version of story of Frankford going absence without leave in search of food; opinion of George Orwell's version of events in his book 'Homage to Catalonia' (1938); question of treatment of members of Workers Party of Marxist Unification (POUM); attitude towards animals; opinion of George Orwell's leftist credentials and his book 'Animal Farm' (1945); visits from George Orwell's wife Eileen Blair; conditions in trenches at Huesca; unit morale; question of activity in front line; discipline and boredom; accident with firearm; question of relations between Georges Kopp and Eileen Blair; opinion of Anarchist tanks; acquiring weapons from Soviet Union. REEL 4 Continues: relations with Anarchists and opinion of treatment of members of Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) by Republicans; confusion in early stages of Barcelona uprising, 5/1937; positions taken at Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) headquarters in Barcelona; barricades on Ramblas and dangers of 'Bloody Corner', Barcelona; question of awareness of nature of uprising; rapid return to front-line; story of being interrogated by security patrol and imprisoned, then leading authorities to looted paintings in Barcelona; background being deported from Spain to France, 7/1937. REEL 5 Continues: appealing to British Consul for money in Paris, France, 7/1937; return to GB, 7/1937; role of Sam Lesser in his release from prison in Barcelona; attempt to join International Brigades; question of potential of revolution in Spain; opinion of Spanish Civil War; attitude to participation in Spanish Civil War.