Description
Object description
Cypriot rifleman served with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, XIV International Bde in Spain, 12/1936-1/1937; served with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 2/1937; hospitalisation in International Bdes Hospitals at Castellon de la Plana and Benicassim, Spain, 2/1937-6/1937; served as political commissar with British Bn, XV International Bde at XV Bde Headquarters, Tarazona de La Mancha in Spain, 6/1937-11/1937; served as political commissar served with International Bdes at Figueras Castle, Spain, 11/1937-4/1938; served as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1938-10/1938
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of volunteering for International Bdes and journey from GB to Spain via France, 1936: reasons for wanting to volunteer for International Bdes; initial rejection by Communist Party of Great Britain due to lack of military experience; family background in Cyprus; employment as hotel worker in London, GB, 1929-1931; attitude to British class structure; involvement in political activities relating to Cyprus; attitude towards German and Italian intervention in Spain; paying own fare to Paris, France; travelling by train to Perpignan, France; medical examination. Aspects of operations with with No 1 Coy, La Marseillaise Bn, XIV International Bde in Spain, 12/1936-1/1937: journey to Albacete; opinion of food and sanitary facilities in barracks; move to Cordoba; problem of lack of rifles; attachment to Irish volunteers; strafing by Nationalist aircraft; description of coming under fire at Lopera and casualties including poet John Cornford; move by lorry to Madrid, 1/1937; problem of cold weather and lack of winter clothes; accommodation in house; description of action at Las Rozas de Madrid. Aspects of operations with served with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 2/1937: move with battalion to front line; relations with Spanish civilians. Recollections of period as as political commissar with British Bn, XV International Bde at XV Bde Headquarters, Tarazona de La Mancha in Spain, 6/1937-11/1937: move to Tarazona de la Mancha, 6/1937; relations with Anarchists; morale in International Bdes; opinion of volunteers and discipline; role in charge of training British volunteers; opinion of base commander; problem of political conflict among volunteers; reaction to execution of Gaston Delasalle; opinion of film 'Land and Freedom' (1995).
REEL 2 Continues: attitude to historical importance of Spanish Civil War; prior recollection of wounding in leg during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; attitude to outcome of war and British non-intervention policy. Aspects of period as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1938-10/1938: wounding at Corbera d'Ebre during Battle of the Ebro, 7/1938; role as political commissar. Aspects of period as political commissar served with International Bdes at Figueras Castle, Spain, 11/1937-4/1938: training posting to Figueras Caslte, 11/1937; volunteering for further service at the front; period of leave in Spain; role at Figueras Castle co-ordinating newly arrived volunteers. Aspects of period as political commissar with No 4 Coy, British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 4/1938-10/1938: rejoining British Bn, 4/1938; reason for increased number of Spaniards in British Bn; further training in mountains; problem of illiteracy among volunteers. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1939-1996: repatriation to London, GB, 12/1938; attitude to leaving Spain; classification as medically unfit for military service during Second World War; employment as munitions worker, 1940-1943; later employment in catering; holidaying in Spain; opinion of Spanish Socialist government; attitude of Spanish Ambassador towards attending International Bdes meetings; question of renouncing nationality; comparison of attitudes to volunteers on Nationalist and Republican sides; problem of obtaining passport to travel to Spain; reflections on role of International Bdes in Spanish Civil War.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison of Spanish Civil War with contemporary events including Bosnian War; opinion that Second World War could have been prevented; story of pacifist volunteer Stanley Harrison.
