Greening, Edwin (Oral history)

British rifleman trained with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Albecete and Tarazona de La Mancha, Spain, 10/1937-11/1937; served with No 1 Coy, British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 1/1938-10/1938

REEL 1 Background in Aberdare, GB, 1910-1929: family; early interest in politics. Aspects of period as member of Independent Labour Party Guild of Youth in Aberdere, GB, 1929-1933: recruitment to organisation; activities; question of opposing Blackshirts of British Union of Fascists; background to split within Independent Labour Party, 1933. Aspects of period as member of Aberdare Branch of Communist Party of Great Britain in Aberdere, GB, 1933-1937: recruitment to Communist Party of Great Britain; character of branch members; contrast between Communist Party of Great Britain and Independent Labour Party activities; story of background to setting up of Committee Against Unemployment, Fascism and War, 1934; reaction to Nationalist uprising in Spain, 7/1936. Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes in GB and journey to Spain via France, 9/1937: volunteering, 9/1937. REEL 2 Continues: background to volunteering for Spain in London; incident of being questioned by police at Victoria Station; receiving travel instructions in Place du Combat, Paris, France; journey to Arles, France; impressions of Arles, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains. Aspects of training as rifleman with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 9/1937-1/1938: conditions for volunteers at Figueras; opinion of delay in volunteers’ training; move to Albecete; opinion of further delays in training at Albecete and Tarazona de La Mancha, 10/1937-11/1937. REEL 3 Continues: rifle training; journey to Gandesa; story of being rescued whilst suffering from extreme cold. Recollections of period as rifleman with No 1 Coy, British Bn , 15th International Bde in Spain, 1/1938-10/1938: joining unit in reserve on Ebro Front, 1/1938; retreat at Belchite, 15/1/1938; reaction to first action; character of retreat from Belchite, 1/1938-3/1938; in reserve positions at Corbera, 3/1938; move into positions near Gandesa, 28/3/1938; sight of refugees; reaction to news of ambush on British Bn at Calaceite, 3/1938; in action at Batea, 3/1938; taking refuge in barn, 4/1938. REEL 4 Continues: continuing journey and linking up with Garibaldi Bn, 12th International Bde, 4/1938; under Nationalist air attack near River Ebro; re-joining battalion, 6/4/1938; duties as observer in Ebro Gorge, 5/1938; problems with indiscipline comrade; attending infantry observer course, 6/1938-7/1938; crossing River Ebro at Ascot, 25/7/1938; duties during Ebro offensive; under air attack in Sierra Pandols, 8/1938. REEL 5 Continues: effective Nationalist mortar fire and death of friend Tom Jones to it, Sierra Pandols, 25/8/1938; reaction to death of Tom Jones and death of niece in Wales; question of disappearance of town of Sandesco from maps of Spain; return to front line, 9/1938; taking cover during barrage; evading Nationalist tanks and troops; story of crossing River Ebro and re-gaining Republican lines; re-joining British Bn. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of period International Bde personnel spent in front line; reaction to withdrawal of International Bdes. Aspects of repatriation to GB, 9/1938-12/1938: books sent to International Bdes personnel by supporters; hearing news of signing of Munich Agreement, 9/1938; billeting in Ripoll, 10/1938; International Bdes farewell parade in Barcelona, 10/1938; announcement of repatriation and issue of civilian clothing at Ripoll, 11/1938; train journey from Ripoll to border; crossing French border; train journey to Dieppe, France. REEL 7 Continues: reception in London, 6/12/1938; return to Aberdere; opinion of impending conflict with Nazi Germany, 1939; opinion of Spanish Civil War; question of achievements of International Bdes; question of encountering discrimination in GB.