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While I was lying there, to make things worse, a spray of shrapnel hit my right arm. I just had to lie there in the heat until the night came and then move in the dark. It was a tough time, I knew that. I didn't think I might die, but I didn't feel too good.
As night fell, I made my own way, crawling to the bottom of the hill. I was taken with other wounded men, down the line to an emergency field hospital at Mora de Ebro, where I was given an anti-tetanus injection. The hospital was like an abattoir.
My arm was out of action for quite some time, and although I was moved to hospitals at Barcelona and Santa Colomba, my wounds didn't heal easily. It was decided that I should go back to Britain. That was my last part in the fighting.
When it came to an end, I had feelings of great sadness that we hadn't made the progress that we wanted to, but at least I could feel I'd done my bit - and done my best. I also had a strong feeling of repugnance towards those who had advocated non-intervention and who didn't want to know. I had more support from Ted Heath than I had from the Labour leaders.
? Real Band of Brothers, by Max Arthur, is published by Collins, ?18.99
Jack Jones: Union Warrior
Born James Larkin Jones in Liverpool in 1913, the son of a dock worker.
Became a Labour party ward secretary at 15 and the youngest member of Liverpool City Council at 23.
Fought with the International Brigades in the Spanish civil war and was wounded.
Became a full-time trade union official in 1939 as a district organiser for the Transport and General Workers Union, rising to be general secretary in 1969.
Credited with helping to end two national dock workers' strikes in the 1970s.
Retired in 1978, with 2,500 guests attending his farewell party in the Royal Festival Hall.
Turned down a peerage but accepted title of Companion of Honour.
Given a special award, aged 90, at the 2003 Labour party conference in recognition of his service to the movement.
Source:
The Observer
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