Two British Leaders

Commissar George Aitken

George Aitken was Commissar of the British Battalion from January to May 1937, and then succeeded Jean Barthel as Brigade Commissar. Born in Airdrie, Scotland, in 1894, he gained his military experience in the World War. 'Wounded and discharged from the British Army as .‘‘no longer ‘physically fit”, he returned to participate in the Labour Mo- vement in Great Britain. He subsequently joined the Communist Par- ty, and has been in turn first Manager of the Daily Worker, London District Organiser, North-East England organiser and member of the Central Committee. He took an active part in the working—class mov- ement, and soon became known as a capable organiser. 1

He came to Spain in January 1937, and had scarcely time to make the acquaintance of the 600 members of the British Battalion when they, and he, went to the Jarama Front. After the heavy battles of the first days and the severe losses, especially in the leadership, he and Jock s-Cunningham, Commander, had the onerous task of rebuilding the Bat- talion in the actual battle-line. iWitho»ut even a typewriter at his dispos- al Aitken set to work. His bulletins ‘Were the first issued in that per- iod; four copies of each were ‘written by hand and read out to the Comp- anies in the line. The contents of the first Bulletin, issued on the tenth day‘ in the trenches, gives an idea of the difficulties which by tireless work Aitken surmounted. The first issue reviewed the ten days fight-

ing, and explained to the men straightly and honestly why they could

not yet berelieved from the line. There was no attempt to raise false hopes; morale could be built up only by facing facts. Slow food—;deta- ils, irregular letter-deliveries —~ every complaint of the men was an- swered. While sympatl1ising with their hardships the Commissar Was strong on discipline.

It was due to the foundations laid under such discouraging circum- -stances in those early days that the long vigil by the Jarama was suc- cessfully maintained. Aitken was the butt of grumblers then; but gradually the fruits of his work were evident as the Battalion became strengthened in morale and discipline.

The role of Commissar is not easy, nor was it popular in those early Jarama days. Aitken succeeded. As a result, he was an obvious choice for Brigade Commissar ‘when Jean Barthel left in May. During the Brunete offensive, Aitken was always cool and cheery, en-

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