Stratton, William Henry (Oral history)

British civilian member of Cardiff Branch, Communist Party of Great Britain in Cardiff, GB, 1936-1937; rifleman served with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 2/1937-6/1937; served with British Medical Unit, 15th International Bde in Spain, 7/1937-9/1937; driver served with Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Swansea and Cardiff, GB, 1905-1936: family; employment in father’s horse carriage business, 1918; reasons for change in attitude towards religion; father’s political outlook; setting up in employment as taxi driver, 1929; growing interest in Socialism including reaction to reporting of Russian Revolution in Daily Express; delivering Daily Worker; move to Cardiff, 1935; story of whitewashing over Conservative Party election posters in Cardiff. Aspects of period as member of Cardiff Branch, Communist Party of Great Britain in Cardiff, GB, 1936-1937: background to recruitment to party, 1936; character of branch membership. REEL 2 Continues: attitudes towards Communist Party of Great Britain in South Wales; question of support for British Union of Fascists in South Wales; story of being physically assaulted by member of British Union of Fascists during screening of Soviet film ‘Professor Mamlok’ in Swansea, 1938. Aspects of recruitment to International Bdes in London, GB and journey to Spain, 1936-1937: activities with Aid Spain movement; attitude towards Spanish Republic in South Wales; concealing intention of joining International Bdes from wife; reasons for going to Spain; volunteering for International Bdes in London, 1/1937; meeting volunteers at Victoria Railway Station; cover story used; arrival in Paris, France; train journey to Perpignan, France; coach journey to Figueras, Spain, 31/1/1937. Aspects of period as volunteer with International Bdes in Spain, 31/1/1937-3/2/1937: sight of American volunteers at Figueras Castle; column’s singing of 'The Internationale’. REEL 3 Continues: reception from Spanish civilians in Barcelona and Valencia. Aspects of as rifleman with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 2/1937-6/1937: advice from Peter Kerrigan to new recruits on arrival at Albacete, 4/2/1937; billeting in hayloft with cartoonist William Rowney known as ‘Maro’ and Arthur Porter; hospitality of Spanish family; being left out of initial battalion deployment to front line at Jarama; nature of training received at Albacete; second hand story of priest firing machine gun from church tower at Madrigueras; move by train to Morata de Tajuna on Jarama front, 12/2/1937; issue of Soviet rifles; trenches and terrain; observation duties; morale of Lister Bn, 5th Regt, Spanish Republican Army; receiving rifle training from comrade in front line; attack over top of trench under machine-gun fire; battalion casualties during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; supporting further attacks by Republican forces; digging trenches and attitude towards guard duty at night; three day rest period at Morata de Tajuna, 3/1937; return to front line and morale. REEL 4 Continues: battalion meeting at Morata de Tajuna, 3/1937; desertions; political discussions; story illustrating unit discipline; opinion of political commissar system; role drawing medical operating theatre for ‘La Voz de la Sanidad’ magazine; question of his wife not receiving allowance for his service and refusal to rejoin battalion, 6/1937. Aspects of period as volunteer with British Medical Unit, 15th International Bde in Spain, 7/1937-9/1937: duties with unit; dealing with casualties during Battle of Brunete, 7/1937; move to Colmenar; memories of Jack Williams; return to Headquarters, 15th International Bde at Albacete; medical check and hospitalisation, 9/1937; background to return to GB, 9/1937. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian in Cardiff, GB, 1937-1939: delousing on arrival in GB, 9/1937; reception on return to family home; question of dependence aid to family; decision to set up small business; memories of 15th International Bde volunteers including Will Paynter, Alec Cummings. Jock Cunningham and Bob Cooney. Aspects of period as driver and instructor with Royal Artillery at Kimmel Park Camp, Rhyl, GB, 1941-1943: call up 1/1941; question of British Army attitude towards political opinions; starting war newspaper; organising ‘Brains Trust’ meeting; organising campaign for second front to aid Soviet Union; reads extract from petition for second front, 9/1941; disciplinary action taken against those who had organised petition. REEL 6 Continues: story illustrating his marksmanship; meeting second wife; background to obtaining posting to anti-aircraft unit. Aspects of period as driver with Royal Artillery in GB, 1943-1945: production of unit newspaper ‘Ack Ack Activities’; story of meeting Polish Jewish troops in Clacton and publicising incidences of discrimination in Polish Army; story of imprisonment of Polish Jewish troops for desertion in 1944; reads article written with Arthur Goddard about discrimination against Polish Jewish troops for 'News Chronicle' newspaper, 3/1944; story of meeting Bob Cooney in Felixstowe, 1944.