Thornycroft, Christopher Hamo (Oral history)

British student and member of Oxford University Labour Club at Oxford University in GB, 1935-1936; rifleman and armourer with Thaelmann Bn, XI International Bde and as mechanical engineer with Medical Service, 35th Div, Republican Army in Spain, 10/1936-4/1938

REEL 1 Background in London and Worthing, GB, 1915-1936: family; education. Aspects of period as student and member of Oxford University Labour Club at University of Oxford in GB, 1935-1936: question of political attitudes of family; membership and activities of Oxford University Labour Club; relations with and activities of Communist Party of Great Britain's October Club; decision to fight in Spain, 1936. Aspects of journey from GB to Spain, 10/1936: character of travelling group including John Cornford; arrival aboard MV Cuidad de Barcelona in Alicante, 10/1936. Recollections of period as rifleman and armourer with Thaelmann Bn, XI International Bde in Spain, 10/1936-3/1937: reception at Albacete and attempt to join Republican Air Force; estimate of his capabilities as an infantryman; duties with Lewis Gun team at Cerro de los Angeles, 12/1936; terrain; transfer to Madrid area; transfer to duties as armourer. REEL 2 Continues: reasons for declining transfer to British Bn, 2/1937; lack of standardisation of ammunition in battalion; memories of Esmond Romilly; move to Jarama, 1/1937; move to Murcia and issue of inferior Soviet rifles; opinion of captured Italian Breda M37 Machine Gun at Torija during Battle of Guadalajara, 3/1937; terrain at Guadalajara. Recollections of period as mechanical engineer with Medical Service, 35th Div, Spanish Republican Army in Spain, 7/1937-4/1938: transfer to unit as mechanical engineer, 7/1937; move to Aragon, autumn 1937. REEL 3 Continues: conditions in Belchite after occupation by Moorish troops of Nationalist Army of Africa, 12/1937; duties as despatch rider; move to Huesca area; improvising techniques for repairing vehicles in cold weather; contracting blood poisoning in left hand; fatal wounding of volunteer Percy Batson in Nationalist Air Force strafing of ambulance at Teruel, 2/1938; contracting jaundice; return to GB, 4/1938; effect of experiences in Spain and policy of non-intervention; opinion of relationship between Spanish Civil War and Second World War.