Gillan, Phillip (Oral history)

British volunteer served with Tom Mann Centuria in Barcelona, Spain, 9/1936-10/1936; rifleman served with No 1 Coy, Thaelmann Bn, XII International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-12/1936; hospitalisation in Palace Hotel, Madrid and International Bdes Hospital Castellon de la Plana in Spain, 12/1936-2/1937

REEL 1 Background in Gorbals, Glasgow, GB, 1912-1933: father's occupation and family; attitude towards religion; question of poverty in area and housing conditions; employment; attitude towards politics. Aspects of period as member of Young Communist League in Glasgow, 1933-1936: recreational activities; decision to join organisation; memories of comrades; political activities; relations between Labour Party and Young Communist League; parents' politics; opposition to British Union of Fascists in Glasgow. Aspects of volunteering to go to Spain in Glasgow, GB, 1936: background to volunteering; memories of Peter Kerrigan; experience with Territorial Army, 1929-1933. Aspects of period as volunteer with Tom Mann Centuria in Barcelona, Spain, 9/1936-10/1936: journey from GB to Spain via France; joining Tom Mann Centuria; training and billets; impressions of atmosphere in Barcelona; opinion of training received; move to join Thaelmann Bn, near Madrid. REEL 2 Continues: comparison of training received in Tom Mann Centuria and Territorial Army. Recollections of period as rifleman with No 1 Coy, Thaelmann Bn, XII International Bde in Spain, 11/1936-12/1936: attack on Cerro de los Angeles in Madrid, 11/1936; rifles; firing on Nationalist positions; use of cover; casualties; availability of rations and water; nature of action at Cerro de los Angeles; morale; move to University City, Madrid, 11/1936; nature of fighting at University City, Madrid; unit commanders; opinion of German volunteers; British Section; memories of Esmond Romilly; character of fighting in University City, Madrid, 11/1936; opinion of Moors serving with Nationalist forces; positions held at University City, Madrid, 11/1936; reaction to sight of dead Moor; unit casualties; supplies from local bakery; illnesses; question of taking prisoners. REEL 3 Continues: Nationalist air attacks on Republican lines; relations with civilians in Madrid; opinion of Spanish Republican troops; move to positions at Boadilla del Monte; sustaining neck wound at Boadilla del Monte, 24/12/1936; opinion of marksmanship of Moorish troops of Nationalist Army of Africa; question of treatment of wounded in captured hospital in Boadilla del Monte; terrain at Boadilla del Monte; surviving original British members of unit, 12/1936; memories of Arnold Jeans. Aspects of hospitalisation in Palace Hotel, Madrid and International Bdes Hospital at Castellon de la Plana, Spain, 12/1936-2/1937: opinion of medical treatment received in; nature of wound; opinion of role of political commissars; cases of desertion; opinion of deserters. REEL 4 Continues: return journey to GB, 2/1937; attitude towards service in Spanish Civil War; attitude towards Non-Intervention policy; attitude towards Spanish Republican politics; degree of contact with Anarchists; question of songs sung with International Bdes in Spain.