Vassilious, Nicholas (Oral history)

Cypriot volunteer served with 14th International Bde and as political commissar with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 12/1936-10/1938.

R1 Background in Cyprus and move to London, England, 1917-1934. Aspects of life in London, 1934-1936: watching hunger marches as boy; work in grocers; being homeless, Christmas, 1934; apprenticeships with tailors; question of treatment as Cypriot; reaction to British colonialism in Cyprus; homelessness; decision to fight in Spain, ca 1937; voyage aboard and sinking of SS Barcelona; transfer to Albacete; question of training; hospitalisation after battle of Brunete, 7/1937; conditions in hospital, 7/1937-1/1938; contact with civilians; opinion of non-intervention policy. R2 Continues: opinion of training; move from reserve to Brunete front, 7/1937; story of sustaining arm wound from dum dum bullet; hospitalisation in Madrid and Murcia; death of volunteer; question of fear; background to withdrawal of IBs, 10/1938; contact with Willy Brandt. Aspects of repatriation, 10/1938: treatment in France; British Consul's intention to repatriate him to Cyprus; story of return to Britain. Aspects of life in GB, 1938-1941: call-up, medical with British Army; reaction to London Blitz; question of anti-imperialist atitudes. R3 Story of returning to Spain under Franco and recollections of Republican civil war veteran. Attitudes towards socialism. Reaction to British policy in Cyprus. Attitude towards period as IB volunteer in Spain.