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 Battalion, 11th International Brigade and as mechanical engineer with Servicio Sanitaro, 35th Div, Republican Army in Spain, 10/1936-4/1938

REEL 1 Background in London and Worthing, 1915-1936: family; education. Aspects of period as student and member of Oxford University Labour Club at Oxford University in GB, 1935-1936: question of political attitudes of his family; membership and activities of Oxford University Labour Club; relations with and activities of Communist Party’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 Cuidad de Barcelona in Alicante, 10/1936. Recollections of period as rifleman and armourer with Thaelmann Bn, 11th International Bde in Spain, 10/1936-3/1937: reception at Albacete and attempt to join 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 Battalion, 2/1937; lack of standardisation of ammunition in battalion; memories of Esmond Romilly; move to Jarama, 1/1937; move to Murcia front and issue of inferior Russian rifles; opinion of captured Italian Breda machine gun at Torija during Battle of Guadalajara, 3/1937; terrain at Guadalajara. Recollections of period as mechanical engineer with Servicio Sanitaro, 35th Div, Republican Army in Spain, 7/1937-4/1938: transfer to unit as mechanical engineer, 7/1937; move to Aragon front, autumn 1937. REEL 3 Continues: conditions in Belchite after occupation by Nationalist Moorish troops, 12/1937; duties as despatch rider; move to Huesca area; improvising techniques for repairing vehicles in cold weather; contracting blood poisoning in left hand; death of Percy Batson in Nationalist Air Force strafing of ambulance; 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.