Interview with Charles Francis Riley

Charles Riley was born in Tower Hamlets, London, in 1893. Describes coming to New Zealand on the SS TAINUI (ship) in 1913; serving with 3rd Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards during World War I; being present at First Battle of Ypres. Recalls the burning of the Cloth Hall at Ypres and describes in detail life in the trenches, gas attacks and fighting on the St Julien Sector; being injured and returned to New Zealand where he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and served in Palestine.

Discusses taking a government bursary after the war to study structural engineering at Canterbury University; failing exams and becoming an engineering draughtsman; joining the New Zealand Railways; becoming involved with the Labour Movement; being made redundant in 1930; heavy involvement in organising the unemployed in Christchurch. Describes activities, food depots and illegal meetings in Victoria Square; convictions and prison term; recalls other labour and unemployed workers leaders; leaving for Australia and working as a miner at Cobar and Tennants Creek.

Talks about leaving to enlist with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War; describes Darwin in the 1930s; working passage to London as a fireman on a freighter; describes in detail process of joining Brigade in Paris; travelling to Spain; enlistment in 35th Division of Brigade; other New Zealanders in Brigade; training; experiences of fighting at Teruel and Brunete; crossing the Ebro River at Tortosa; being wounded and repatriated to London; organisation of Brigade; rank of shock brigadier and company commissar; Brigade weapons and tactics; the Spanish troops; withdrawal of Brigade from Spain; return to Australia; suspicion of New Zealand and Australian governments to returning International Brigade members. Briefly describes career in World War II in Z Company of the First Echelon of 2NZEF.

Venue - Lower Hutt

Interviewer(s) - Ray Grover

Venue - 36 Bush Street, Naenae, Lower Hutt

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000440

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s) (transcript). 1 interview(s). 50 Minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-001341.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-000328, OHLCD-0682