Description
Object description
British boy seaman 1918-1927; political activist in London 1930s; volunteer served with Australia-New Zealand section, 15th International Bde in Spain, ca 1/1937-2/1937, leg amputated after battle of Jarama
Content description
REEL 1 Background in England and period with Royal Navy, ca 1909-1924: rejecting career as jockey; recruitment to Royal Navy, reactions to General Strike, 1926; joining HMS Renown on world tour 1926; deserting with others to Australia in 1927; release from Royal Navy, 1930; various employment in London; recruitment to Communist Party of Great Britain, 1934. Aspects of volunteering for International Brigade in Spain, 9/1936-1/1937: Aid Spain meetings in Balham and Tooting, London; intentions to create Republican ship of IB volunteers; acceptance for IB, 1/1937; journey to Spain. Recollections of period in Spain: joining Australia-New Zealand Bn; uniform; move to Jarama front without training; positions; move to support Lincoln Bn suffering heavy casualties, 27/2/1937; question of tanks, artillery; sustaining wounds from sniper in legs and shoulder; treatments at La Pasionaria hospital, Murcia; infection of wounds; return to England for treatment. Aspects of period in England, 1939: medical opinion on leg amputations; fitting of pauper grade wooden leg, Hangers, Roehampton; being accepted as tool and cutter grinder, Lagonda Works, Staines, 1939; problems with stump; IB Association funding for artificial legs; return to work.
REEL 2 Recollections of employment at Lagonda Works and as Secretary of National Shop Stewards Council, 1939-1945: attitudes towards production for war effort among management and workers; relations with Ministry of Production; election as works convener; attitudes towards employment of women as skilled workers; appointment, activities as secretary of National Shop Stewards Council; attempt to arbitrate at strike meeting at Vickers Ltd; story illustrating levels of production at works at Devonport, Plymouth; problems organising trades union conference for Second Front production; various employment including in agriculture, interviewing Paul Robeson as broadcaster in Czechoslovakia.
REEL 3 Review of period as boy seaman with Royal Navy, 1918-1927: opinion of class as seaman; story of Maltese sailors making stew for dock-workers in Devonport; reaction to attempts to use seamen during General Strike; reason for jumping ship to Australia; reaction to naval discipline, description of being caned.
REEL 4 Aspects of activities with anti-Fascist movement, London during 1930s: participating in Cable St disturbances; being ejected from Mosley's Albert Hall meeting; reasons for British Union of Fascists support; political development, attending lectures at Morley College; reasons for volunteering to fight in Spain; fear, responsibilty. Review of period in Spain: arrival of kitted-out American volunteers; kit; mule stew; Australian volunteers; orders to go over the top at battle of Jarama, 2/1937.
REEL 5 Continues: paralysis of volunteer after wounds received at Jarama; activities during period at La Pasionaria hospital; opinion of medical staff; news of war; opinion of non-intervention policy; question of disunity in Republican forces; attitude towards period in Spain; opinion of revolution