Description
Object description
British civilian member of Young Communist League in Middlesbrough, GB, 2/1937-12/1937; rifleman served with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1938-3/1938; served as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1938; prisoner of war in San Pedro de Cardeña Prison, Burgos and Ondarreta Prison, San Sebastian in Spain, 4/1938-1/1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Middlesbrough, GB, 1915-1937: family origins in Eastern Europe; father's liberal political outlook; family's religious outlook; education; attending public meeting where Lloyd George spoke; attending meeting where Ramsey Macdonald was present; breaking of Jewish shop windows during General Strike, 5/1926; background to employment in family business, 1932-1935; degree of awareness of effects of Depression; degree of Zionist belief in Jewish community; effects of rise in Fascism; joining Left Wing Book Club and influence of Stephen Spender's 'Forward from Liberalism'. Aspects of period as member of Young Communist League in Middlesbrough, GB, 2/1937-12/1937: joining Young Communist League, 2/1937.
REEL 2 Continues: activities with Young Communist League; attending Young Communist League National Conference; opinion of weakness of British Union of Fascists in Middlesbrough; Jewish community's attitude towards his membership; political activities; reasons for lack of support for Middlesbrough Branch of Communist Party of Great Britain; relations with local Labour Party; activities for Aid Spain movement. Aspects of journey from GB to Spain via France, 12/1937: background to volunteering for Spain; reassurance of parents; preparations for service; leaving GB.
REEL 3 Continues: briefing in Paris, France; move by train to Carcassonne; crossing into Spain. Aspects of training as rifleman with International Brigades at Tarazona de la Mancha in Spain, 1/1938-2/1938: Nationalist bombing attack on Figueras; train journey to Headquarters, International Brigades at Albacete for kitting out; training at Headquarters, XV Bde at Tarazona de la Mancha; memories of other volunteers at Tarazona de la Mancha. Aspects of period as rifleman with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 2/1938-3/1938: rapid move of recruits to frontline; wounding in leg in Gandesa area, 3/1938; straggling back to River Ebro. Aspects of period as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1938: rejoining British Bn on River Ebro; memories of Jack Coward; taking up duties as company political commissar of No 4 Coy. Aspects of capture as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde at Battle of Calaceite, 31/3/1938: capture; memories of Douglas Eggar.
REEL 4 Continues: incarceration in General Military Academy, Zaragoza and memories of Frank Ryan. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in San Pedro de Cardeña Prison, Burgos and Ondarreta Prison, San Sebastian in Spain, 4/1938-1/1939: move to San Pedro de Cardeña Prison in Burgos; shooting of prisoner of war James Rutherford; conditions in San Pedro de Cardeña Prison; death of prisoner from beating received; work of prisoner of war committee; rations; hearing news of prisoner exchange; move to Ondarreta Prison, San Sebastian, 1/1939; swapping boots with Basque prisoner; release from captivity and crossing into France; physical condition on return to GB; reception on arrival at parent's home in Middlesbrough. Aspects of period as civilian in Middlesbrough and Stockton-on Tees in GB, 1939-1945: reaction to not being called up for military service; police's attitude towards his political activities and move to Stockton-on-Tees, 1940; effects of black-listing and prevention from doing war work, 6/1941.
REEL 5 Continues: obtaining war work at Riley Brothers Boilermakers; background to becoming branch secretary of Stockton-on-Tees Branch of Communist Party of Great Britain.