Londragan, John (Oral history)

British civilian member of Independent Labour Party and Communist Party of Great Britain in Aberdeen, GB, 1926-1936; gunner served with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 3/1937-7/1937; hospitalisation for wounds in Spain, 7/1937-1/1938; administrator with Headquarters, International Bdes in Albacete, Spain, 1/1938-9/1938

REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian in Aberdeen, GB, 1926-1936: family background; involvement in General Strike, 1926; joining Independent Labour Party and later Communist Party of Great Britain; cases of local poverty; opinion of Independent Labour Party and Communist Party of Great Britain; employment in bakery; memories of Communist Party of Great Britain comrades; question of support for Fascism in Aberdeen; work thwarting British Union of Fascists meetings from 1934 onwards; clashes with police; local British Union of Fascists leaders; question of anti-Semitism. REEL 2 Continues: sense of spread of Fascism; opinion of strength of anti-Fascist movement. Recollections of recruitment to International Bdes in GB and journey to Spain, 1/1937-3/1937: reaction to Nationalist uprising in Spain, 7/1936; reasons for belief in need to become involved in conflict; reasons why he did not decide to go Spain until 1937; presence of anti-Nationalist foreign volunteers in Spain prior to formation of International Bdes; decision to go to Spain; recruitment procedure in Glasgow and London; travelling to Paris, France; reception at trades union headquarters in Paris, France; crossing Pyrenees Mountains to Spanish frontier. REEL 3 Continues: reaction to initial sight of Spain. Aspects of period with British Bn, XV International Brigade in Spain, 3/1937-4/1937: conditions at Figueras Castle; Nationalist air attacks on Barcelona, 4/1937; journey to Albacete, 4/1937; reaction to civilians towards International Bdes; assembling of brigade at Headquarters, International Bdes at Albacete. Recollections of period with British Anti-Tank Bty, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1937-7/1937: formation of British Anti-Tank Bty under Malcolm Dunbar at Madrigueras, 4/1937; use of anti-tank guns; incautious handling of detonators; occupying trenches at Jarama; visit by Communist Party of Great Britain members during thunderstorm at Jarama, 4/1937; move to Brunete front, 6/1937; role of International Bdes and mistakes made by British Bn; problem of lack of heavy armaments. REEL 4 Continues: lack of Republican air support; Nationalist shell fire at Mosquito Ridge; death of Sergeant Jack Black, second in command of battery, 11/7/1937; sight of advance and retreat of El Campesino Bn; loss of anti-tank gun to El Campesino Bn; his wounding during Nationalist Air Force bombing of cross roads, 27/7/1937. Aspects of hospitalisation for wounds in Spain, 7/1937-1/1938: evacuation in ambulance; medical treatment for wounds; presence of wounded American volunteer in hospital; working out of piece of shrapnel from his wrist. Aspects of period as administrator with International Bdes in Spain, 1/1938-9/1938: eagerness to rejoin British Anti-Tank Bty. REEL 5 Continues: how Will Paynter obtained an administrative position for him in Albacete; political background to withdrawal of International Bdes. Aspects of repatriation of International Bde personnel to GB, 1938: background to repatriation of International Bde personnel to GB, 1938; reception on arrival in GB; his period in London and reception on arrival back in Aberdeen; attending formation of International Brigade Association at Royal Albert Hall in London, GB, 1/1939; joining Territorial Army in Aberdeen, 1939. Aspects of period with International Bdes in Spain, 1/1937-9/1938: question of desertion in International Bdes; role of political commissars; question of discipline in British Bn; opinion of various battalion in International Bdes.