Description
Object description
British volunteer served as runner with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-7/1937
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, France and Chile, 1914-1936: father's career; education; father's death; reasons for return to GB, 1928; plight of widowed mother in depression; employment in building trade; first contact with political ideas; influence of publications about Soviet Union and its depiction as an equitable society; anti-British Union of Fascists activity; influence of William Morris and Joe Beckett; reasons for becoming diary writer; ambitions to write fiction; later interest in Buddhism and Zen after Second World War.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of volunteering for service with International Bdes in London, GB and journey to Spain via France, 12/1936-1/1937: first contact with Joe Beckett; memories of help nuns of Peru gave to single mothers; how political situation attracted his attention, 1936; interview at Headquarters, Communist Party of Great Britain, King Street, London, 12/1936 including interest shown in his fluent Spanish language; second interview, 1/1937; character of other recruits who volunteered for Spain; conflict between Young Communist League idealists' idea of democratic army and Communist Party of Great Britain hierarchy; arrival in France, 1/1937; handling of recruits in transit across France; questions put to him by stranger in train to Spanish border, 1/1937.
REEL 3 Continues: arrival at Perpignan, France, 1/1937; method of crossing Pyrenees Mountains; recruits inadequate clothing and preparations for crossing. Recollections of period as rifleman with British Bn, XV International Bde in Spain, 1/1937-7/1937: reaction to lack of welcome in Spain; Catalan anarchist suspicion of International Bdes volunteers; Spanish Communists reference to Soviet Union as 'La Casa'; ruthless attitude of Comintern agents towards International Bdes recruits; arrival in Figueras and signing on for service Spanish Republican Army; introduction to revolutionary vocabulary of Spanish Left; visit to brothel conversations with Catalans; Catalans criticisms of desecrations of Roman Catholic Church property; reaction to violent politics of Spain; arrival in Barcelona, 1/1937; initial awareness of divisions on Spanish Left.
REEL 4 Continues: journey to Albacete; address by André Marty; language problems in International Bdes; nature of military training, Madrigueras; leadership of British Bn; role as runner; memories of George Nathan; personalities in British Bn; opinion of British Bn military effort during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; question of impracticality of military instruction and untrained nature of recruits during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937.
REEL 5 Continues: fighting on Suicide Hill during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; performance of British Bn and withdrawal on first night during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; question of performance of individual British volunteers; how 'Trotskyites' were sent to correction camps; question of impatience of Spaniards with foreign intervention; Nationalist Moorish troops method of advance; memories of Fred Copeman during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; Harold Fry's machine gunning of Falange troops; Lister Brigade's support for British Bn; memories of George Nathan during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; deception tactics employed by Nationalist Moorish troops and capture of Harold Fry; lack of medical treatment for casualties; wounding of Tom Wintringham; role of George Aitken; British Bn morale.
REEL 6 Continues: amusing story about unit members hiding in large pots; recapture of machine guns and withdrawal at Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; stabilising of line; information acquired as battalion runner about battle; keeping away of Very Important Person (VIP) visitors from non-Communist Party of Great Britain members; primitive grenades issued to unit; question of anxiety about his own safety on eventual return to GB, 7/1937; period in Madrid after Battle of Jarama; minor wound received from sniper during Battle of Jarama, 2/1937; medical treatment he received for wound; physical condition after Battle of Jarama; reaction to being returned to Albacete; escape from Spain, 7/1937 including help received from British journalist; journey from Spain to GB; anxiety to become untraceable after return to GB, 1937.
