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Negative comments
The records include assessments of the volunteers made by their political superiors in the latter part of the war in Spain. Many are highly derogatory, referring to desertion, drunkenness and indiscipline, but should be taken with a pinch of salt, sometimes a very large amount. They were written for internal use, primarily as an assessment of suitability for future membership of the Communist Party at home and were often made by a party representative who may have had a grudge against certain individuals or may simply have been wrong. Many volunteers with outstanding military records in Spain – including senior ranking officers – received extremely critical assessments.

George Steele

Other name:

Place of birth: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland

Year of birth: 16th December 1914

Political organisation: None

Occupation: Labourer

Date of arrival: 14th January 1937

Brigade ID: 187

Date of departure: January 1938

Date of death: ??

Where killed:

Comments: Address given as; Grandmother, Mrs Mary Steele, 2 Cheston Street, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Probably living in Glasgow or at 14, Union Street Lane, Bridgend, Perth. Wounded at Jarama and Brunete, sent to training base at Tarazona, deserted 02.12.1937. Caught in Valencia and sent to punishment camp at Villamaruja. Held to be “thoroughly demoralised”. Deserted again on 18 January 1938 when sent to Tarazona. NG. WW2 joined the Cameron Highlanders. Captured by the Japanese in Singapore in 1940, released in 1945. Not to be confused with George Steel (1018) from Dundee.

Source: IBA Box D-7 Files A/1 & A/2, RGASPI 545/6/40/116 & 545/6/91/55 & 545/6/99/6 & 545/6/204/33-34. Larne Times - 6 December 1945 p6.

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Gerald "Jerry" Shirlaw AKA Steele

Other name: Bertram

Place of birth: Lódz, Lodzkie, Poland

Year of birth: 24th January 1913

Political organisation:

Occupation: Doctor

Date of arrival: 18th April 1937

Brigade ID: 913

Date of departure: 1938

Date of death: 15th March 1992 - Camden, London, England

Where killed:

Comments: Known as Jerry Steele in Spain. Address given as; c/o Brother, Doctor L. Shirlaw, The Advettising Coy, Bedford Row, London. Travelled to Spain with Angela Guest. Served at Guadalajara, Brunete. A good linguist: spoke English, French, Polish, German & Russian. 'Repatriated' (IBA Box D-7 File A/1) 1939 living in Thakeray Court, Chelsea, London. Became Deputy MOH for Battersea, and published two books based on his experience in Spain. 1941 Lieutenant RAMC.

Source: IBA Box D-7 Files A/1 & A/2, RGASPI 545/6/40/117 & 545/6/91/102 & 545/6/204/39-41.. "The Signal Was Spain " by Jim Fyrth p72. "Salud! Britsh Volunteers in the Republican Medical Service during the SCW" by Linda Palfeeman p267.

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John Steele

Other name:

Place of birth: Larbert, Stirlingshire

Year of birth: 28th December 1897

Political organisation: CP & ETU & NUS

Occupation: Telegraphist

Date of arrival: 18th December 1936, and then joined BB 14th January 1937.

Brigade ID: 2

Date of departure:

Date of death: 24th May 1937

Where killed: Killed as a result of an air-raid at Albacete

Comments: Joined Royal Navy, January 1914 as ‘Boy’. Discharged on Medical Grounds, November, 1919 as Leading Telegrapher. Conduct always “Very Good” and Ability always “Superior” or “Satisfactory”. Address given as; 11, Dollar Avenue, Merchiston, Falkirk. Originally volunteered for the Navy but a bad record with continual drunkeness meant he was sent back to Albacete, where it appears he simply hung around being drunk. Died of injuries as a result of being hit by falling scaffolding during an air-raid. Originally Employed as a radio-operator

Source: IBA Box D-7 File A/2, RGASPI 545/6/40/116 & 545/6/91/44 & 545/6/204/37-38

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Joseph Canniffe

Other name:

Place of birth: Prescott, Lancashire

Year of birth: 12th April 1908

Political organisation: CP '37

Occupation: Horsedriver

Date of arrival: 17th October 1937

Brigade ID: 1368

Date of departure: 5th February 1939

Date of death: July 1980 - Thameside, Greater Manchester.

Where killed:

Comments: Address given as: 26, Howarth Street, Waterloo Road, Manchester. "Good comrade, Average ability" G. Taken prisoner at Gandesa 3/4/38. POW at San Pedro de Cardeña. Repatriated. 1939, living in 6, Steele Street, manchester - General labourer.

Source: IBA Box D-7 File A/1 & A/6, RGASPI 545/6/98/2&14 & 545/6/113/57-59 & 84.

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Angela Guest

Other name: Ida Marjorie Judith Carmel

Place of birth: Strand, London

Year of birth: 26th August 1912

Political organisation:

Occupation: Student

Date of arrival: 9th October 1936 - enrolled in the BB 9th September 1937

Brigade ID: 888

Date of departure: December 1938

Date of death: 27th November 1965 - Tanzania

Where killed:

Comments: Address given as; Mother, 192, Sloan Street, London. Daughter of a Labour MP, and brother of David Guest of the BB. Nurse. Travelled to Spain with Gerald Shirlaw (known as Gerry Steele in Spain) with SMAC. Worked with the XIII IB from August 1937. Returned on the hospital train with the British wounded. Later worked for the World Health Organisation, and was killed in a car crash in Tanzania in 1965.

Source: IBA Box D-7 File A/2 & Box D-7 File A/1, RGASPI 545/6/40/106 & 545/6/91/100 & 545/6/144/7-15. "The Signal Was Spain: The Aid Spain Movement in Britain 1936-39" by Jim Fyrth

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