description
Object description
British civilian miner in South Wales 1926-1936. Served as base commissar with British Bn, 15th International Bde 3/1937-10/1937. Activities with Aid Spain movement in England during 1930s.
Content description
R1 Recollections of political activities as miner in Rhondda, South Wales, GB, 1926-1936: lockout in 1926; recruitment to CP, 6/1929; family reactions to CP membership; election as check-weigher; story of being arrested in defence of CP delegate in Mardy, Montgomeryshire in 1929. Background to joining International Bdes in Spain, 7/1936-3/1937: campaigning for recall of parliament on outbreak of Spanish War, 7/1936; support for Aid Spain campaign in Mardy including Sunday marches; getting married, 1937; accepting request to go to Spain as political commissar; relevance of trades union experience; being questioned by police officers in GB; reception from Charlotte Haldane in Paris; journey through France; crossing Pyrenees. Recollections of period as base commissar with British Bn, 15th IB in Albacete, Spain, 3/1937-10/1937: background to returning to Wales for miners elections in 10/1937; duties; munitions; reinforcements; opinion of battle of Brunete, 7/1937. R2 Continues: desertions at Brunete; question of medical provision; political backgrounds of British volunteers. Aspects of activities with South Wales Miners Executive in South Wales, GB, 10/1937-9/1939: support for Republican Spain; aid for Basque refugees; assistance with IB Dependents Aid Committee. Review of experiences in Spain during 1937: opinion of role of CNT; opinion of Republican defeat, effects of policy of non-intervention; aspects of action at Belchite, 9/1937; routine; rations; impressions of Valencia, 9/1937; returning to GB with Giles Romilly, 10/1937.
