Jock Cunningham is Wounded

(Told by Charles Coodfellow)

On the afternoon of the 14th of March, sometime about four o’clock after receiving some information regarding the Fascists breaking our lines, a party proceeded to the point in question. On arriving there, we found a part of the trench had beenbl-own in and quite a number of Spaniards had been killed by the Fascist tanks and trench mortars; also a mule which had been carrying rations and munitions had been killed in the same trench.

After a bit of investigation we saw that Fascists were actually dig- ging themselves in and already had crossed the section of trench which had been occupied by the Spaniards. We gave them some rapid fire, but it didn’t «seem to take any effect. We bombed! and it proved ef- fective because one of the Fascists became inquisiltive about what was happening, and comrade Graham picked him off. Then another round of bombs and up pops another Fascist, and once again Graham scores, this time only wounding him. Then up comes another, and once again comrade Graham performs a service to the working class!

Suddenly the Fascist tanks opened fire on us and shells dropped very near. Then a rifle shot which spent itself in the trench very near comrade Coipeman’s head. “By Christ! that was a near one!” someone said.

Then we moved back along the trench to get more grenades. On our return, we had another look over the parapet and on the suggestion of C-o-mra-de Cunningham we crept a little nearer. This enabled us to find a good observation post from which we could obtain a better view. Then it started. We sent over grenades and anti-tank bombs, drop- ping them with the rhythm of machine guns. Then Comrades Reid, Cunningham and Graham got over the parapet, Copeman and I covering their advance with grenades. Over they went and after they had fired a few rounds and were attempting to reload, a Fascist gun opened up and in a few minutes our Battalion Commander, Comrade Cunningham so- mersaulted over the parapet with blood streaming from chest and arms.

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