Russell, Sam (Oral history)

British machine gunner served with No 4 Section, Machine Gun Coy, Commune de Paris Bn, 11th International Bde and rifleman with 1st Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, 14th International Bde in Spain, 10/1936-12/1936; civilian radio broadcaster and correspondent with Daily Worker in Barcelona, Spain, 7/1937-1/1939

REEL 1 Background in Hackney, London, GB, 1915-1936: reasons for change of name in Spain; family origins; education; formative political influences; experiences of anti-Semitism in East End; recruitment to Communist Party of Great Britain at University College London, 1934; receiving training with Officers Training Corps at University College London and attachment to British Army; influence of John Cornford in decision to go to Spain, 1936; reaction to Nationalist uprising in Spain, 1936. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of journey from GB to Spain, via France, 10/1936: preparations for journey to Spain; reception in Paris, France; crossing into Spain; initial impressions of Spain. Aspects of period as machine gunner with No 4 Section, Machine Gun Coy, Commune de Paris Bn, 11th International Bde in Spain, 10/1936-12/1936: arrival at Albacete; opinion of military calibre of unit, uniforms and arms; provision of machine guns; rations; contact with civilians; hospital treatment in Linares; attitude of civilians to International Bde wounded. REEL 3 Continues: story of British consul encouraging desertion from International Bdes; relations with Spanish women; Spanish making of churros; arrival in Madrid, 11/1936; character of University City, Madrid; problems handling Maxim Machine Gun compared with Vickers Machine Gun; John Cornford receiving minor wound; opinion of Anarchists abandoning positions in favour of cinema; death of Freddie Jones in accident; opinion of Moorish snipers; nature of fighting at University City, Madrid; sight of La Passionara addressing retreating Republican troops; opinion of Nationalist forces. REEL 4 Continues: encounter with Sefton Delmer and Geoffrey Cox during leave in Madrid. Aspects of period as rifleman with 1st Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, 14th International Bde in Spain, 12/1936: formation of company and more to Lopera, 12/1936; Nationalist Air Force air attack at Lopera; memories of George Nathan; background to execution of Major Gaston De la Salle, 2/2/1937; wounding in foot at Lopera; opinion of medical services; opinion of Anarchists in Barcelona, 3/1937; work as clerk with Peter Kerrigan at Albacete after wounding prior to return to GB, 1/1937-3/1937; duties processing volunteers in Paris, France, 5/1937-7/1937. Recollections of period as radio broadcaster and correspondent with Daily Worker in Barcelona, Spain, 7/1937-1/1939: story of escorting nurses during voyage by fishing boat to Spain, 7/1937; work as radio broadcaster; recruitment as correspondent of Daily Worker; activities in Barcelona just prior to entry of Nationalist forces, 1/1939. REEL 5 Continues: acting as interpreter during radio broadcast; opinion of Andre Marty; opinion of Spanish Republican Government’s attitude towards International Bdes; escape from Barcelona, 1/1939; story of La Passionara stopping panic during air attacks on Figueras, 1/1939; crossing French border, 2/1939; question of priority of revolution over fighting civil war; story of speaking on behalf of Socialist Party of Catalonia at CNT factory; opinion of Peter Kerrigan. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Sam Wild, Bob Cooney and Malcolm Dunbar; question of British Army’s attitude towards International Bde members; career in GB during Second World War; question of infiltration of International Bdes by Soviet Union; question of handling of unit at Cordoba; importance of supplies on morale in International Bdes; opinion of importance of fighting in Spain; effect of Munich Agreement on Republican Spain, 1938; effect of British policy of non-intervention; sight of stockpiled Soviet arms in France, early 1939.