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Home , Ben Greene, British Fascism, Francis Beckett, John Amery, John Warburton (fascist), National Front (UK)

University of Sheffield Library. Special Collections and Archives. Ref: MS 238 Title: John Beckett Collection

Scope: Books, journals and some documents formerly belonging to the politician John Beckett, together with files of research material assembled by his son, the journalist , during the writing of a biography of his father “The Rebel Who Lost His Cause” (1999).

Dates: 1914-1998 Level: Fonds Extent: 50 vols. and 15 files Name of creator: John [William] Warburton Beckett (1894-1964); Francis Beckett

Administrative / biographical history: The collection consists of books, journals and some documents formerly belonging to the politician John Beckett, together with research materials assembled by his son, the journalist Francis Beckett, during the writing of his biography of his father The Rebel Who Lost His Cause, published in 1999. This book makes clear that most of John Beckett’s correspondence and other documents then extant were lost at the time of his arrest in , although his unpublished autobiography ‘After my fashion’, which covers the period 1918 to 1938, is in the University of Sheffield Library (MS 188). John [William] Warburton Beckett (1894-1964), a maverick figure of British politics, was active in the decades between the Wars and immediately following the Second World War. He was born in Hammersmith, on 11 October 1894, son of a master draper, and his wife (who came from a Jewish family). He was educated at an elementary school and then won a scholarship to the Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a draper, about which time his father’s business collapsed. John Beckett taught himself advertising and journalism through correspondence courses and night school, and had begun working in these professions when war was declared on 4 August 1914 - he enlisted on the same day. Experiences in the Great War affected him profoundly: before the war a Conservative and a militarist, he moved into left-wing politics following discharge from the Army in 1916 or 1917 due to ill-health. In 1918 he married his first wife. Moving to Sheffield, he began to take an interest in , and joined the in September 1917. He was already active in the Sheffield Branch of the Comrades of the Great War. Dismissed by his employers for political reasons he moved back to London, where he joined the Hackney Branch of the ILP. He also became chairman of the National Union of Ex-Servicemen, though this organisation lasted only a year due to the growth of the British Legion. Beckett became a Hackney councillor two months after the council election, in November 1919, in which Labour became the governing party. When was brought in from outside the Borough as mayor, relations between the two became strained. At the end of 1920 Beckett accepted the position of full-time agent for in . He became honorary secretary of the ILP divisional council, and secretary of the No More War Movement, founded in February 1921. His journalistic talent was employed in a monthly periodical, the East End Pioneer (1921- 23). When Clement Attlee was returned for Limehouse in the general election of 1922, Beckett acted as his private secretary. The Parliament lasted less than a year, and Beckett then stood as a candidate for North Newcastle, the first official Labour candidate in that division. Although not elected his campaign nevertheless attracted a large vote. Eventually he was returned, in 1924, at the age of 30, as an ILP member for Gateshead, with a large majority, serving as MP there until 1929. In that year he stood for Peckham, being elected, and serving until 1931. His Parliamentary career was notable for several incidents. Amongst these, investigation of the Sir Alfred Mond ‘war profits’ scandal was the first, centered around the commercial exploitation of German secrets on the fixating of nitrogen from the air following their acquisition by an Army commission under the terms of the Armistice. Beckett’s anger over this affair led to a campaign to discredit Mond in 1925. Elsewhere, breaches of Parliamentary etiquette led to his suspension from the House on more than one occasion: notably, in 1930, when, during a debate on the treatment of political prisoners in British during which another MP was suspended, he seized the Mace and walked off with it. Such incidents marked a growing disillusionment with the Parliamentary system. In December 1929 he was divorced, a matter of considerable local scandal in Peckham. In the general election of 1931 Beckett again stood as ILP candidate for Peckham, but was defeated. In June 1930 he had married the actress Kyrle Bellew, and this second marriage led, after his electoral defeat, to his undertaking the management of the Strand Theatre, though he continued to take an active interest in ILP politics for a time. In 1933 he was declared bankrupt and his second marriage failed, and he joined the British Union of Fascists, like Mosley having been impressed through visits to by the achievements of the Mussolini regime. During his years with the BUF he was widely involved in agitational work, took a full share in rowdy meetings, became Director of Publicity, and for the years 1936-7 edited both Action and Blackshirt. During this time he was involved in several libel actions both as plaintiff and defendant. He was successfully sued in 1937 by Lord Camrose and over strong anti-Semitic allegations. By the time the trial took place, in Spring 1937, Beckett had been dismissed from the BUF, and was by then openly critical of Mosley. With , dismissed at the same time, he founded the National Socialist League, but this organisation never achieved more than a small number of members. He left the League in 1938 but remained in contact with Joyce until the latter left for shortly before WWII. In September 1938 Joyce joined with Viscount Lymington to form the British Council Against European Commitments, to which the NSL became affiliated. Beckett and Lymington published a monthly journal, the New Pioneer, championing non-involvement in European affairs. Beckett now moved to a new organisation which he joined with Lymington and the Marquess of Tavistock (later the Duke of Bedford), the British People’s Party, of which he became Secretary, which had as its slogan ‘Campaign against War and Usury’. Its aims were monetary reform, the championing of small shopkeepers against trusts, security of employment and electoral reform. In 1938 Beckett went through a ceremony of marriage with Anne Cutmore, though as his currently estranged wife would not divorce him the marriage was not legal (they married legally in 1964). Following the declaration of World War II in Beckett was involved in the foundation of an anti-war campaign called the British Council for a Christian Settlement in Europe, of which he was Secretary and Tavistock was Chairman, advocating a negotiated peace. In May 1940 Beckett was arrested under Defence Regulation 18B and interned, along with many other political detainees considered a potential danger by the , Herbert Morrison. He served a term of three and a half years, much of it in prison, considerably longer than most detainees, and he believed this was because of personal animosity by Morrison dating back to their estrangement in 1919-20. He was eventually released in October 1943, following which he moved into accommodation provided by the Duke of Bedford. In June 1945 the activities of the British Peoples Party were revived, though it attracted violent opposition. Between 1948 and 1954 Beckett edited the Fleet Street Preview, which Bedford subsidised,. After the death of the Duke of Bedford in 1953 Beckett became essentially a private person, making a living by issuing a fortnightly stock market letter called Advice and Information which was aimed at small investors. Following his wartime experiences Beckett turned to Catholicism, being received into the Church in 1952. He died on 28 December 1964 in London. [Notes based on the Beckett entry by Colin Holmes in J.M. Bellamy and J. Saville, eds., Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 6, 1982, with additional information from Francis Beckett]

Related collections: British Union Collection; in Great Britain Collection; Joyce Papers; Robert Saunders Papers Source: Donated by Francis Beckett System of arrangement: By category

Subjects: Fascism - Great Britain; - Great Britain Names: Aldred, Guy A.; Beckett, John [William] Warburton (1894-1964); Beckett, Francis; British Council Against European Commitments; British Peoples Party; British Union of Fascists; Independent Labour Party; National Socialist League;

Conditions of access: Academic researchers by appointment Restrictions: Certain documents are restricted (not yet available) Copyright: Various

Finding aids: Listed Books and Journals

Independent Labour Party period SNOWDEN, Philip Labour and national finance. London, Leonard Parsons, 1920 signed: ‘John Beckett, June 1921’

British Union of Fascists period Quarterly Vol. 1, parts 1-4 (Jan -Oct 1935), with index. Vol. 2, parts 1-4 (Jan-Oct 1936), with index in BUF binding

CHESTERTON, A.K. : portrait of a leader. London, Action Press, [1937] DRENNAN, JAMES B.U.F.: Oswald Mosley and . London, Murray, 1934 GIBBS, Henry The Spectre of . London, Selwyn & Blount, [1936] signed: ‘J.W. Beckett’. Inscribed: ‘Henry Gibbs For J.B.’ MOSLEY, Oswald The Greater Britain. New edition. London, BUF, 1934. SCANLON, John Decline and Fall of the Labour Party. London, Peter Davies, [1932]

National Socialist League period

JOYCE, William National Socialism now. London, National Socialist League, 1937

British Council Against European Commitments period New Pioneer, The Vol. 1 Nos. 1-9 (Dec 1938- August 1939) missing: Vol. 1 No. 5 in publisher’s loose binding

LYMINGTON, Viscount Famine in England. London, Witherby, 1938 inscribed: ‘With many thanks and very best Wishes from Lymington, June 18th 1939’

British Peoples Party period (including Defence Regulation 18B ) Fleet Street Preview “for private circulation only” Vols 1-7 (Mar 1948-Oct 1954) missing: Vol. 2 Nos. 26, 31, 42; Vol. 3 No. 35; Vol. 4 Nos. 16, 20, 33, 41-2; Vol. 5 Nos. 38, 43; Vol. 6 No. 28 in publisher’s loose binding This publication had a closed circulation to subscribers only, and was aimed at opinion formers

ALDRED, Guy A. No traitor’s gait!: the autobiography of Guy A. Aldred. In twelve monthly numbers... Volume 1. , Strickland Press, [?1957] inscribed by the author: ‘To J. Beckett with Best wishes from Guy Aldred, in remembrance of much that happened, & loyalty in crisis. Glasgow 17/10/57’ BRITISH PEOPLES PARTY. Research Department Failure at Nuremberg: (an analysis of trial, evidence and verdict). London, Research Department of the British Peoples Party, ?? [Written by Anne Cutmore (Mrs Anne Beckett)] 4 copies BRITISH PEOPLES PARTY. Research Department The Truth about this war. (London), Research Department of the British Peoples Party, 1939 [Written by Anne Cutmore (Mrs Anne Beckett)] signed: ‘J.W. Beckett’ another copy (repr. 1940) BROWN, W.J. Everybody’s guide to Parliament. London, Allen & Unwin, 1945 LOCKHART, R.H. Bruce Retreat from glory. 2nd ed. London, Putnam, 1935 (repr. 1937) inscribed: ‘To John Beckett knowing the word “Retreat” has no place in your vocabulary. John M. Dennis 18/3/41; signed by various internees. Given to Beckett during internment in 1941. LYMINGTON, Viscount Alternative to death: the relationship between soil, family and community, by the Earl of Portsmouth (Viscount Lymington). London, Faber and Faber, 1943 WHITE, J. BAKER ed. The Red network: the Communist International at work. London, Duckworth, 1939 signed: ‘J.W. Beckett’

Post-active political period Advice and Information Vols 1-11 (Nov 1954-Feb 1965 missing: Vol. 1: No. 6; Vol. 2: No. 6; Vol. 3 No. 22; Vol. 4 No. 23; Vol. 5 Nos. 9, 16; Vol. 6 Nos.15-24; Vol. 7 No. 13; Vol. 8 No. 15; Vol. 9 No. 3 (incomplete); Vol. 10 Nos. 1 (incomplete), 2, 4, 17 advice on the Stock Market; issued by John Beckett, initially under the pseudonym ‘J. Barclay’; includes some political comment

CHESTERTON, A.K. The new unhappy lords: an exposure of power politics. London, Candour, 1965. presented by the author to Mrs Ann Beckett; inscribed: ‘To Ann affectionately AK. May ‘66’ HESS, Ilse Prisoner of peace. Translated from the German of Frau Ilse Hesss, England-Nürnberg-Spandau by Meyrick Booth; edited by George Pile... London, Britons Publishing Co., 1954

Notes and documents compiled by Francis Beckett towards the biography of his father “The Rebel Who Lost His Cause” (1999)

Tthe following files are arranged in the form in which they were presented (apart from the additional Post-publication file 238/15). A few changes have been made, particularly in bringing together documents relating to Regulation 18B internment. Their original titles have been retained. References within the lists of individual files to ‘After my fashion’ refer to the unpublished autobiography by John Beckett [MS 188 in University of Sheffield Library]. Sources have generally not been referenced by the author, and are sometimes uncertain or unknown. Certain documents are at present restricted (these are marked with *).

List of documentary files:

238/1 Notes / Research Articles and letters about research on John Beckett: 1894-1964 238/2 MFAI Ch.1 “My Father and I” (provisional title), Chapter 1: 1894-c.1931 238/3 MP Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament: 1924-1931 238/4 Theatre marriage to Kyrle Bellew [Violet Marion Beckett] and period of Strand Theatre management; 1930-1933 238/5 British Union of Fascists Oswald Mosley’s Fascist movement 238/6 Home Office Reports on John Beckett notes and copies from official files in the Public Record Office 238/7 A.K. Chesterton and William Joyce period of the National Socialist League 238/8 18B internment under Defence Regulation 18B 238/9 Guy Aldred Guy A. Aldred was the proprietor of the Strickland Press, Glasgow, a civil libertarian who took up the cause of opposition to the principle of internment under Defence Regulation 18B without charge or trial. He published a detailed study of the issues involved in “It Might Have Happened to You!” (1943)] 238/10 Harry Edmonds Major Harry Morton Edmonds, novelist; pre-war association with the Peace movement and member of BPP; alleged Nazi sympathiser, Hon. Sec. of Constitutional Research Association post-war 238/11 Some letters and personal documents 1945- 238/12 British Peoples Party Duke of Bedford’s political movement 238/13 “Purely Personal” personal letters of condolence to Mrs Beckett on decease of John Beckett (28th December 1964) 238/14 General miscellaneous items 238/15 Post-publication reviews and other documents 238/1 Notes / Research Articles and letters about research on John Beckett (1894-1964)

includes: 1/1 ms. notes by FB (i-cxv)

1/3 article ‘Beckett’ by Colin Holmes from Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 6, 1982 [xerox] [3 ll.] 1/4 article ‘Forgan’ by Barbara Hill and Colin Holmes from Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 6, 1982 [xerox] [3 ll.] 1/5 article ‘Wheatley’ by Sheridan Gilley from Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 7, 1984 [xerox] [3 ll. [1/6 transferred to file 8 as item 8/3] 1/8 article ‘Catholics and the National Front’ by Douglas Hyde, The Month, April 1978 [xerox] [4 ll.] 1/9 extract ‘Bibliography. Primary sources’ from unpublished thesis by David L. Baker ‘The making of a British Fascist : the case of A. K. Chesterton’, University of Sheffield [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] [1 p] 1/9a note re career and remaining Papers [provenance unknown] [t/s, copy] [2 ll.]

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB: 1/10 Geoffrey Alderman (25 Feb 1992) [t/s, signed] 1/11 letter FB to GA: (18 Feb 1992) [t/s] [xerox] 1/12 John D. Beasley (3 Aug 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/13 Ada M. Beckett [n.d.] [ms, signed] 1/14 Ada M. Beckett [n.d.] [ms, signed] (i-ii) 1/15 Philip Beckett [n.d] [ms, signed] 1/16 Bedford, 13th Duke of (14 Dec 1992) (ms, signed) 1/17 Robert Benewick (12 Jan 1993) [t/s, signed] 1/18 Robert Benewick (27 Apr 1993) [t/s, signed] 1/19 Robert Benewick (6 Jun 1995) [t/s, signed] 1/20 Fenner Brockway (31 Dec 1973) [xerox] [ms, xerox] (i-iii) 1/21 Sean Creighton (6 Oct 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/22 Colin Cross (6 Dec 1973) [xerox] [t/s, xerox] 1/23 Stephen Dorril (19 Dec 1998) [t/s, signed] 1/24 Derek Edgell (17 Mar 1992) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) 1/25 Liz Forgan (20 Jun 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/26 Simon Fowler, Labour Heritage (5 Aug 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/27 Brendan Fox (2 Sep 1974) [t/s, xerox](i-ii) 1/28 Brendan Fox (3 Sep [19??]) [ms, signed] 1/29 Bernard Hall (24 Aug 1974) [t/s, xerox] 1/30 Douglas Hyde (16 Mar 1992) [t/s, signed] 1/31 Nigel Jones (14 Jun 1994) [t/s, signed] 1/32 Clarie Knowles [n.d.] [ms, signed] [pp 3-4 only] 1/33 F. Knowles [c. Nov 1992] [ms, signed] written on FB’s original letter toFK (20 Nov 1992) 1/34 Mrs Margaret Knowles [n.d.] [ms, signed] 1/35 Tony Kushner (24 Feb 1992) [ms, signed] (i-ii) 1/36 letter FB to TK: (18 Feb 1992) [t/s, xerox] 1/37 Mrs Majorie R. Moore (28 Sep 1990) [t/s, signed] 1/38 Stan Newens (15 Oct 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/39 N.R. Orton, Latymer Upper School (12 Jly 1995) [t/s, xerox] (i-iii) 1/40 William Pine-Coffin (9 Oct 1991) [t/s, signed] 1/41 Rhona Rimmer (16 Mar 1992) [ms, signed] 1/42 (13 Jun 1996) [ms, signed] 1/43 Robert Skidelsky (13 Aug 1996) [t/s, signed] 1/44 (6 Jun 1992) [t/s, signed] 1/45 letter FB to JW: (18 Feb 1992) [t/s, xerox] 1/46 John Warburton (10 Apr 1994) [[t/s, initialled] *1/47 John Warburton (9 Sep 1995) [t/s, signed] 1/48 Barry Winter (20 Mar 1996) [t/s, signed] 1/49 John Yeowell [n.d.] [t/s, initialled]

History Today correspondence 1/50 article ‘The Rebel who lost his cause’ by FB, History Today, 44 (5) May 1994, pp 36- 42) [xerox] [7 ll.] 1/51 draft of above [n.d] ([t/s] [14 ll.] 1/52-8 letters from editor of History Today (Gordon Marsden) re article by FB (Dec 1992-Mar 1994)

1/59 letter from editor of (Steve Platt) re similar article for publication (1 Jun 1994) 238/2 MFAI Ch.1 “My Father and I” [provisional title], Chapter 1: 1894-c.1931

includes: ms. notes by FB 2/1 notebook 2/2 loose notes (i-l)

2/3 army enlistment / medical report and discharge papers 1914-1916 [ms, xerox] [4 ll.] (i-iv) 2/4 offprint ‘The National Union of Ex-Servicemen and the Labour Movement, 1918- 1920’ by David Englander, History, Vol. 76, No. 246, Feb 1991 2/5 extract from ‘After my fashion’ [t/s] [43 ll.] 2/6 extract from ‘After my fashion’, re relations with Herbert Morrison [ms, xerox] [4 ll.] probably prepared by Mrs Beckett as part of case for JB’s release during Internment 2/7 article ‘Anderson, William Crawford’ by David E. Martin, from Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 2, 1974 [xerox] [3 ll.] 2/8 extract from Attlee Papers, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1920-21 [ms, xerox] [2 ll.] 2/9 Labour Party NEC Minutes: Report of the Deputation from the National Union of Ex- Service Men [t/s, xerox] [n.d.][3 ll] Constitution and Rules of the Union (1919) [xerox] [4 ll.] covering letter from Stephen Bird, National Museum of Labour History 2/10 extract ‘The Birmingham Labour Movement 1919-1926’ [unidentified document], chapter 18 [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] [12 ll.] 2/11 pamphlet ‘Mr Wilkins: the story of a “middle class” man, by Ernest Mander, I.L.P., 1921[xerox] [4 ll.] 2/12 East End Pioneer, Nov 1921 [xerox] [10 ll.] 2/13 East End Pioneer, Mar 1922 [xerox] [8 ll.] 2/14 Limehouse Election News, 11 Nov 1922 [xerox] [3 ll.] note: sections cut out 2/15 cartoon of Profiteer, Limehouse Election News, 11 Nov 1922 [xerox] (2 copies) 2/16 article ‘Full exposure of the Mond scandal’ by John Beckett, Lansbury’s Labour Weekly, 23 May 1925 [xerox] [2 ll.] 2/17 letter on the Class Struggle, The Plebs [1926] 2/18 letter on the Class Struggle, The Plebs [1926] photographs: 2/19 J. Wheatley, Minister of Health (1924) [xerox] 2/20 Bob Smillie, Miss Jenny Lee MP, Jimmy Maxton (26 Mar 1929) [xerox] 2/21 article ‘Pulley-string Hancock’ and others, Labour Heritage, Winter 1991/92 [8 pp] 2/22 draft first chapter of biography, 1894-1931 [t/s] [3 pp] 2/23 copy of grandfather John Beckett’s will (Jan 1934) [t/s, xerox] [4 ll.] 238/3 MP Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament: 1924-1931 includes: 3/1 ms. notes by FB (i-xxiv)

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB: 3/2 John D. Beasley (23 Apr 1992) [t/s, signed] 3/3 Fred Brooks (4 Oct 1991) [t/s, signed] 3/4 letter FB to F. Brooks: (17 Mar 1992) [xerox copy] 3/5 Barbara Castle (Baroness Castle of ) (7 Jun 1995) [t/s, signed] 3/6 Mrs B.B. Elliott (7 Sep 1991) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) 3/7 Douglas Hyde, formerly News Editor, Daily Worker (19 May 1994) [t/s, signed] 3/8 William J. Macnaught, Gateshead Libraries and Arts (21 Aug 1991) [t/s, signed] 3/9 Peta Van Den Bergh (7 Oct 1991) [t/s, signed] includes excerpt from ‘The long weekend’ by Robert Graves and Alan Hodge

3/10 letter ‘Don’t Buy “Black Papers” ‘ by JB in The Plebs [n.d.] [xerox] 3/11 ms. verse, signed by JB (Sep 1925) [xerox] adaptation of Pirate King’s song from The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan 3/12 news cuttings re JB (1925, 1928) [xerox] (i-iii) 3/13 extract from ‘After my fashion’ [General strike, 1926] [t/s, xerox] [3 ll.] 3/14 news reports on Mace incident ‘Two Members Suspended’, “It’s a Damned Disgrace” [?Daily Herald], 18 Jly 1930 [xerox] 3/15 extract from minutes, Labour Party NEC, on the Mace incident (22 Jly 1930) [xerox] [2 ll.] 3/18 article ‘Why I took the Mace’ by JB, The New Leader 25 Jly 1930 3/19 news-cutting ‘Mr Beckett and the Beer Trade’, Forward, 2 Aug 1930 [xerox] 3/21 extract re Mace incident from‘Inside the Left’ by Fenner Brockway (1942) [2 ll.] 3/22 news-cutting ‘Mace of Protest’ by Patrick Wintour [source unknown, n.d.] 3/23 results of Camberwell, Peckham general election, 1931 [t/s] & [m/s] (2 copies) 3/24 excerpt from ‘Southwark Trades Council: a short history, 1903-1978’, by Dave Russell, 1978 [xerox] [2 ll.] 3/25 article ‘Memories of the General Strike in Newcastle’ by Bertha Elliott, Labour Heritage Bulletin, Spring 1996 238/4 Theatre marriage to Kyrle Bellew [Violet Marion Beckett] and period of Strand Theatre management; 1930-1933 includes: 4/1 ms. notes by FB (i-iv)

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB: 4/2 Fred Brooks (14 Apr 1992) (i-ii) 4/3 H.B.M. Falck (Dec 1992) (i-ii) 4/4 H.B.M. Falck (Jan 1993) (i-ii) 4/5 entry ‘Bellew, Kyrle’ from Who’s Who in the Theatre [c.1933] [xerox] 4/6 entry ‘Bellew, Kyrle’ from Who’s Who in the Theatre [c.1939] [xerox] 4/7 entry for Strand Theatre in theatrical directory [unidentified] (circa 1950) 4/8 excerpt from ‘The Theatres of London’, new ed., by Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchener (1975) (2 ll.) 4/9 will of Violet Marion Beckett (Jly 1953) [xerox] (3 ll.)

238/5 British Union of Fascists involvement with Oswald Mosley’s Fascist movement

includes: 5/1 ms. notes by FB (i-x)

5/2 FB notebook on PRO files on BUF (1) 5/3 FB notebook on PRO files on BUF (2) 5/4 extract from ‘After my fashion’ [re joining BUF] [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] 5/5 page from biography re joining BUF [n.d.] [t/s] probably prepared by Mrs Beckett as part of case for JB’s release from internment 5/6 article ‘Why I Joined the ’ by JB, Fascist Week, 2-8 Mar 1934 [xerox] (2 ll.) 5/7 report on JB speech at Uxbridge, The Blackshirt, 23-29 Mar 1934 [xerox] 5/8 article ‘Fascism and Culture’ by E.D. Randall, The Blackshirt, 23-29 Mar 1934 [xerox] 5/9 article ‘Fascist Personality’ by JB, The Blackshirt, 20-26 Apr 1934 [xerox] 5/9A report ‘John Beckett’s campaign in Plymouth’, Fascist Week, 4-10 May 1934 [xerox] 5/10 report ‘Mounted police quell street “battles” ‘, The Newcastle Journal, 14 May 1934 [xerox] 5/11 report ‘Fascists in battle: Newcastle street arrests’, North Mail, 14 May 1934 [xerox] 5/12 report ‘Ten Fascists attacked by a thousand Reds’, The Fascist Week, 26-31 May 1934 [xerox] 5/13 report ‘Mr. John Beckett’s tour in ’, The Blackshirt, 7 Sep 1934 [xerox] 5/14 HO144/20144. Special Branch report on A.C. Scrimgeour (11 Apr 1935) [xerox] [2 ll.] 5/15 HO144/20145. Home Office report on BUF organisational structure (3 Jun 1935) [xerox] [3 ll.] 5/16 report of JB anti-semitic speech at Chiswick (4 Feb 1936)[ source Board of Deputies of British Archives] [t/s, xerox] [2 ll.] 5/17 report ‘Medway Fascists meeting’, Rochester and Chatham News, 4 Dec 1936 [xerox] [2 ll.] 5/18 extract from report on personal relationships at BUF NHQ, anon. [c.1938] [t/s, xerox] [5 ll.] (?) t/s document in University of London Library: A. Miles. ‘The streets are still: Mosley in Motley’. There is a published version entitled ‘Mosley in Motley’, [1937] 5/19 article ‘Some pre-war history: British Union and William Joyce’, Mosley News Letter, No. 15, Feb 1948 [xerox] [3 ll.] 5/20 report ‘Sensational split in - walks out on Mosley!’ [source (?)Wiener Library] [Feb ?1949] [xerox] 5/21 memoir of ‘British Union in Birmingham’, [anon., n.d.] [t/s, xerox] [6 ll.] 5/22 extracts from ‘The Fascists in Britain’ by Colin Cross. London, Barrie & Rockliff, 1961 [xerox] [5 ll.] 5/23 extract from ‘We marched with Mosley’ by R.R. Bellamy (1968) [t/s, xerox] [8 ll.] 5/24 copy of Action: Sir Oswald Mosley special memorial issue [1980] 5/25 article on [ source (?)The Tatler; author, title and journal source missing] [?1990] [xerox] [3 ll.] 5/26 article ‘Fascism, the Security Service and the Curious Careers of and James McGuirk Hughes’ by John Hope, Lobster 22 [?1991] [xerox] [5 ll.] 5/27 article ‘Dr ’s resignation from the British Union of Fascists’ by G. Alderman, Labour History, 57 No. 1, Spring 1992 [xerox] [5 ll.] 5/28 article ‘The curious case of Dr Tester’, pts 1-2, by David Turner, Searchlight, Feb- Mar 1995 [xerox] [2 ll.] 5/29 pages from ms. of ‘ of obsession: A.K. Chesterton and British Fascism’, by David Baker, 1996 [t/s, xerox] [8 ll.]

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB: 5/30 Stephen Dorril (5 Dec 1998) [t/s, signed] 5/31 Simon Fowler (27 Sep 1991) [t/s, signed] 5/32 Diana Mosley (Lady Mosley) (19 Oct 1991) [ms, signed] 5/33 Nicholas Mosley (Lord Ravensdale) (18 Jun 1991) [ms, signed] 5/34 David Turner (9 May 1995) [t/s, signed] 5/35 David Turner (27 Jly 1995) [t/s, signed] John Warburton (“John Christian” in the foreword of The Rebel Who Lost His Cause: 5/36 (21 Feb 1992) [t/s, signed] 5/37 (12 Mar 1992) [t/s, signed] with 4 ll. of biographical notes 5/38 note re relevant Special Branch reports (18 Mar 1992) [m/s., initiallled] with 1 leaf of biographical notes 5/39 letter re Forgan (9 May 1994) [t/s, signed] 5/40 letter re Forgan (16 May 1994) [t/s, signed] *5/41 letter re Forgan (7 Jun 1994) [t/s, signed] *5/42 letter re BUF members and other related matters (5 Sep 1995) [t/s,signed] (i-ii) *5/43 letter re Alexander Baron (23 Mar 1996) [t/s, signed] with 4 ll. of attachments

F.O.M. (Friends of Oswald Mosley) material: 5/44 letter from John Warburton inviting FB to F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, 18 Nov 1995 (7 Oct 1995) [t/s, signed] 5/45 notice of F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, Comrade, Oct 1995 *5/46 notebook and additional notes by FB from F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, 18 Nov 1995 *5/47 additional notes by FB from F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, 18 Nov 1995 (i-xv)

5/48 programme for F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, 18 Nov 1995 5/49 brief résumé of F.O.M. Commemoration Dinner, 18 Nov 1995, by FB [t/s] 5/50 article ‘Still Following the Leader’ by FB, Independent on Sunday, 24 Dec 1995 [xerox] [2 ll.] 5/51 article ‘Supping with devils’ re FB’s Independent on Sunday article [source (?) Searchlight] [1996] [xerox] [2 ll.] 5/52 article ‘Sympathy for Sir Oswald?: Old Nazis, New Dangers’, by Nick Cohen, Jewish Quarterly, Autumn 1996 [xerox] [3 ll.]

238/6 Home Office Reports on John Beckett notes and copies from official files in the Public Record Office includes: 6/1 ms. notes by FB (i-xxxi)

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB: 6/2 Simon Fowler, with details of relevant Home Office file (20 Sep 1998) [t/s, signed] 6/3 Simon Fowler, with details of relevant Home Office files (3 Oct 1998) [e-mail] 6/4 Alan Glennie, Cabinet Office Historical and Records Section (20 Nov 1996) [t/s, signed] 6/5 letter to Ms V.M. George, Home Office, re release of closed files: returned with ms. notes (17 Oct 1996 and [n.d]) 6/6 Julie Gottlieb to FB, with details of relevant Home Office files (5 Jun 1997) [ t/s, signed] 6/7 John R. Green, Prime Minister’s Office (15 Nov 1996) [t/s, signed]

printed lists: 6/9 list of relevant Home Office files [n.d] [printed] [6 ll.] 6/10 PRO Press Pack “Release of Home Office files on the British Union of Fascists, William Joyce and and on British Communism during the Second World War” (7 Feb 1995) [printed] [4 ll.]

Home Office files relating to John Beckett [xerox copies]:

Defence Regulation 18B Advisory Committee Papers 6/11 HO 45/25698 [Internment] [n.d.] Report on pro-Nazi activities 6/12 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (23 May 1940) Report on arrest [3 ll.] 6/13 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (22 Jly 1940) Letter from Selfridge & Co. to Home Office 6/14 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (30 Jly 1940) Report on appeal to Adisory Committee [4 ll.] 6/15 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (27 Oct 1940) Letter from Mrs Beckett to Home Secretary [3 ll.] 6/16 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (31 Oct 1940) Letter from Sylvia Morris to Home Secretary 6/17 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (4 Nov 1940) Letter from Oswald Hickson, Collier & Co. to Home Office re request for release 6/18 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (15 Nov 1940) Memo re transfer to Brixton Prison 6/19 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (26 Nov 1940) Report from Governor of ?Stafford Prison (p.2 only) 6/20 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (13 Dec 1940) Home Office reference to Cmd.6162: Instructions re Regulation 18B Detention 6/21 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (16 Dec 1940) Letter from Mrs Beckett to Home Secretary [2 ll.] 6/22 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (9 Dec 1941) ‘Supplementary report on the case of John Beckett’, from Advisory Committee (Defence Regulations 18B) to Home Office [4 ll.] 6/23 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (17 Dec 1941) Report by Trenchard Cox [2 ll.] 6/24 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (6 Jan 1942) Memo to Secretary of re doubts about evidence against JB, and comparison with case of Duke of Bedford. With ms. annotations by Home Secretary [4 ll.] 6/25 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (9 Jan 1942) Letter from JB to Chairman, 18B Advisory Committee [2 ll.] 6/26 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (17 Feb 1942) Minute re accusations [2 ll.] 6/27 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (30 Jun 1942) Statement on medical condition 6/28 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (17 Jly 1942) Letter from Dr Robert Forgan 6/29 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (28 Jly 1942) Letter re no grounds for release to convalescence 6/30 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (29 Jly 1942) Letter re medical treatment 6/31 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (8 Aug 1942) Minute re medical condition 6/32 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (10 Apr 1943) Supplementary report, Advisory Committee (Defence Regulation 18B) recommending release [5 ll.] 6/33 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (6 May 1943) Letter from G.R. Mitchell recommending continued detention [[8 ll.] 6/34 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (28 May 1943) Memo considering release [3 ll.] 6/35 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (14 Jun 1943) Minute recommending maintain detention [2 ll.] 6/36 [?HO 45/25698 [Internment] (5 Aug 1943) Letter from JB to Home Secretary re appeal [HO reference no. missing] 6/37 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (17 Aug 1943) Letter from Mrs Beckett to Home Secretary 6/38 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (17 Aug 1943) Report of interview with Mrs Beckett on application for release 6/39 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (18 Aug 1943) Memo re continued detention, with ms. annotation by Home Secretary 6/40 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (Nov-Dec 1943) Minutes re suspension order conditions, with ms. annotations inc. by Home Secretary 6/41 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (4 Dec 1943) Memo on applications for permission to travel beyond five mile radius limit 6/42 HO 45/25698 [Internment] (Nov-Dec 1943) Minutes on application for permission to travel beyond five mile radius limit

Reports on the National Socialist League 6/43 HO 144/2/247 British Union of Fascists / Special Branch, p. 4-11 (5 Apr 1937) 6/44 HO 144/2/247 British Union of Fascists, National Socialist League / Special Branch, p. 20 (22 Apr 1937) 6/45 HO 144/2/247 National Socialist League / Special Branch, p. 34-35 (15 Sep 1937) 6/46 HO 144/2/247 National Socialist League / Special Branch, p. 81-82 (26 Oct 1937) 6/47 HO 144/2/247 National Socialist League / Special Branch, p. 84-85 [n.d.]

Report on right-wing political movements 6/48 HO 144/14895 Extract from report on right-wing political movements [n.d.]

File on John Beckett and Appeal before the Defence Regulation 18B Advisory Committee 6/49 HO 283/26 Statement of Case Against John Beckett (2 Jly 1940) 6/50 HO 283/26 / sub-file B10 Letter from Ann Beckett with evidence of JB’s political views, p. 67 (14 Jly 1940); with document on National Socialist league by William Joyce, dated 17 Oct 1938, p.68 6/51 [HO 283/26 / sub-file B10/2 ‘retained under section 3 (4)’] 6/52 HO 283/26 Advisory Committee to consider Appeals Against Internment: Notes of a Meeting...Appeal by John Beckett, pp 69-154 (10 Jly 1940) 6/53 HO 283/26 John Beckett, dictated by N. Birkett. Report of Meeting to consider appeal by JB on 10 Jly 1940, p. 54-62 (26 Jly 1940) 6/54 HO 283/26 Letter from JB to 18B Advsory Committee, p.34 (13 Apr 1943) [bad copy, largely illegible] 6/55 HO 283/26 Memo on JB case, p.31 (29 Apr 1943) 6/56 HO 283/26 Report on political history of JB, p 46-52 [n.d.] 6/57 HO 283/26 Refusal of Secretary of State to agree to release, p.28 (20 Aug 1943) 6/58 HO 283/26 ‘Variation of Direction suspending operation of Detention Order’, p.25 (16 Feb 1944) 6/59 HO 283/26 Report of suspected breach of restrictions (26 Feb 1944) 6/60 HO 283/26 Letter from JB to Advisory Committee appealing against five-mile radius condition, p.23 (28 Mar 1944) 6/61 HO 283/26 Memo opposing relaxation of five-mile radius condition, p.12 (4 May 1944) 6/62 HO 283/26 ‘Notes of a Meeting held at the Royal Courts of Justice’ to consider representations by JB on removal of restrictions, p.7 (8 May 1944) 6/63 HO 283/26 ‘Supplementary report on the case of John Beckett’, p.4 (30 May 1944) 238/7 A.K. Chesterton and William Joyce involvement in the National Socialist League

includes: 7/1 ms. notes by FB (i-iii)

7/2 circular “The Future of National Socialism in Great Britain” by William Joyce and John Beckett (29 Mar 1937) [t/s, xerox] 7/3 circular “Private document - for personal use and information only” by British Union (unsigned) re expulsion of Joyce and Beckett [c.Mar 1937] [t/s, xerox] 7/4 War Crisis, 1 Oct 1938 [xerox] [8 ll.] 7/5 extract from report to Board of Deputies of British Jews on meeting of (1 May [?1939]

*7/6 letter from K.R. Bleach to FB re A.K. Chesterton Papers (24 Dec 1995): from A.K. Chesterton Papers [n.d.] [t/s, xerox]: 7/7 ‘The Enigma of William Joyce’ by One Who Knew Him [AKC} [8 ll.] 7/8 ‘The Strange Case of William Joyce’. Article One [11 ll.] 7/9 ‘The Strange Case of William Joyce’. Article Two [11 ll.] 7/10 ‘Note on the origin of the expression “Lord Haw-Haw” [from J..A. Macnab memoir]‘ [2 ll.] 7/11 ‘Material for a work on William Joyce’, by J.A. Macnab [4 ll.] 7/12 ‘Commentary on ’s “The Meaning of ” ‘ [? by J.A. Macnab] [8 ll.] 7/13 ‘ Extracts from letters written to JM by WJ while lying under sentence of death in Prison, both before and after the failure of his final appeal’ [5 ll.] 7/14 letter from J.A. Macnab to C.B.V. Head re trial of Joyce for treason (24 Sep 1945) [t/s, xerox] [2 ll.] 7/15 letter from J.A. Macnab to C.B.V. Head re trial of Joyce for treason (24 Nov 1945) [t/s, xerox] 7/16 notes from J.A. Macnab [?to C.B.V. Head] re trial of Joyce for treason [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] [2 ll.]

7/17 news-cutting ‘How men who play high stakes trip up over trifles’ by A.K. Chesterton, Sunday Express (12 Jly 1953) [xerox] [2 ll.] 7/18 extract from Selwyn Francis: Hitler's Englishman: the crime of Lord Haw-Haw. London Penguin 1993, c1987 [fax] [5 ll.] 7/19 article ‘Kaiser Edward’, by Richard Norton-Taylor and Jill Jolliffe, supplement to , 13 Nov 1995 [3 pp. in 8] 238/8 18B internment under Defence Regulation 18B includes: 8/1 ms. notes by FB (i-vi)

8/2 ‘addendum’ to ‘After my fashion’ re arrest and early detention [n.d] [t/s, xerox] [5 ll.] 8/3 biographical extract from ‘After my fashion’, to arrest and internment [?1940] [t/s, xerox] [5 ll.] probably prepared by Mrs Beckett as part of case for JB’s release during Internment

8/4 ‘Charges against John Beckett’ [unsigned, provenance unclear] [1940] [t/s, xerox]

Duke of Bedford and Viscount Lymington letters: 8/5 Viscount Lymington to Mrs Beckett (10 Jly 1939) [t/s, signed] 8/6 Viscount Lymington to Mrs Beckett re 18b internment (1 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/7 Duke of Bedford to Mrs Anne Beckett (9 Sep 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/8 Duke of Bedford to Mrs Beckett (25 Jly 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/9 Duke of Bedford to Mrs Beckett (8 Oct 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/10 Duke of Bedford to Mrs Beckett (18 Oct 1942) [ms, signed] (i-iii)

Duke of Bedford (Lord Tavistock to July 1940) to Mrs Beckett (letters clipped together in bundle): This section includes one letter from Audrey Housman, Confidential Secretary to the Duke of Bedford 8/11 (12 Mar 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/12 (27 Feb 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/13 (6 Feb 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/14 (18 Nov 1941) [t/s, signed] 8/15 (18 Nov 1941) [t/s, signed Audrey] 8/16 (9 Nov 1941) [t/s, signed] 8/17 (15 Oct 1941) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) 8/18 (2 May 1941) [t/s, signed] 8/19 (9 Oct 1941) [ms, signed] 8/20 (7 Feb 1941) [t/s, signed] 8/21 (28 Jan 1941) [ms, signed] 8/22 (4 Jan 1941) [t/s, signed] 8/23 (14 Sep 1940) [ms, signed] 8/24 (17 Jly 1940) [ms, signed] 8/25 (2 Sep 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/26 (30 Oct 1942) [ms, signed] 8/27 (16 Dec 1942) [t/s, signed] 8/28 (22 Dec 1942) [ms, signed] 8/29 (1 Sep 1943) [ms, signed] 8/30 (19 Oct 1943) [t/s, signed] 8/31 (29 Apr 1944) [t/s, signed] 8/32 (1 Mar 1949) [t/s, signed] 8/33 (3 Mar 1951) [t/s, signed]

Letter from Audrey Housman, Confidential Secretary to the Duke of Bedford 8/34 (25 Sep 1941) [t/s, signed]

Letters re Regulation 18B internment: 8/35 letter from (?)Bartholomew to Mrs Beckett (20 Jly [?1940]) (i-ii) 8/36 to JB’s solicitors re complaint of libel (16 Jan 1940) [t/s] 8/37 Asst. Secretary, Advisory Committee (Defence Regulation 18B), Home Office, to Mrs Beckett (7 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/38 Oswald S. Hickson, solicitor, to JB at Stafford prison re 18B internment (16 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/39 Norman Birkett, Advisory Committee (Defence Regulation 18B), Home Office, to Mrs Beckett (17 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/40 Paul T. W. Butters, solicitor, to JB’s solicitors re 18b internment (21 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/41 Oswald S. Hickson, solicitor, to Mrs Beckett (28 Oct 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/42 R.J. Davies to Mrs Beckett (1 Nov 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/43 Oswald S. Hickson, solicitor, to Mrs Beckett (22 Nov 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/44 R.H. Rumbelow, Under Secretary of State, Home Office, to Mrs Beckett, (13 Dec 1940) [t/s, signed] 8/45 JB’s solicitors to Editor, Daily Telegraph, re statement (3 Jan 1941) [copy t/s] 8/46 Daily Telegraph’s solicitors to JB’s solicitors re proceedings (10 Jan 1941) [t/s] 8/47 G. Garro-Jones, M.P to Mrs Beckett (17 Dec 1941) [t/s, signed]

8/48 excerpt from Russell, Hastings William Sackville (Duke of Bedford). Regulation 18B. Speech delivered, ... 25th January, 1944. [With a portrait.] pp. 29. Strickland Press: Glasgow, 1944. 8o. [xerox] [2 ll.]

letters in response to appeal for assistance by FB:

8/49 Jo Carter [sister of Mrs Beckett], to FB inc. re visit to JB in Brixton Prison (5 Jun 1994) [t/s, signed] 8/50 Ronald Creasy to FB re 18B internment (19 Sep 1995) [ms, signed] 8/51 Ronald Creasy to FB re 18B internment (29 Sep 1995) [ms, signed] 8/52 Mrs Louise Irvine to FB (24 Sep 1995) [ms, signed] 8/53 Mrs Louise Irvine to FB (15 Apr 1996) [ms, signed] 8/54 memoir by Miss C.L. Fisher (later Mrs Louise Irvine) of arrest and imprisonment under Regulation 18B [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] [6 ll.] 8/55 memoir by S.L. Irvine of arrest and imprisonment under Regulation 18B [n.d.] [t/s, xerox] 8/55 transcription transcription of p1-2 of above, partly illegible 8/56 A.L. Mason to FB (27 Apr 1992) [ms, signed] (i-iii) 8/57 Bob Row to FB (10 Jun 1997) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) 8/58 notes [from John Warburton] on Sylvia Morris [?1992] 8/59 notes [from John Warburton] on comments by other 18B internees re JB [?1992] 8/60 photograph [(?) from John Warburton] of Findlay 8/61 R.J.W. Wilkinson to FB re 18B internment (21 Sep 1995) [ms., signed]

8/62 extract from memoir of the Life of Ben Greene, by Leslie von Goetz [in Chesterton Papers] [n.d] [t/s, xerox] [3 ll.] 238/9 Guy Aldred Guy A. Aldred was the proprietor of the Strickland Press, Glasgow, a civil libertarian who took up the cause of opposition to the principle of internment without charge or trial under Defence Regulation 18B. With John Wynn, an 18B internee, he published a detailed study of the issues involved in “It Might Have Happened to You!”, 1943]

includes: Letters from Guy Aldred to Mrs. Beckett 9/1 (6 Mar 1941) [ms, signed] 9/2 (8 Mar 1941) [ms, signed] 9/3 (25 Mar 1941) [ms, signed] 9/4 (29 Mar 1941) [ms, signed]

Letters from Guy Aldred to John Beckett 9/5 (9 Feb 1954) [ms, signed] 9/6 (5 Jun 1954) [ms, signed] 9/7 (19 Jun 1954) [ms, signed] (i-ii) 9/8 (22 May 1956) [ms, signed] (i-ii) 9/9 (1 Jly 1956) [ms, signed] (i-iv) 9/10 [? Jly 1956] [ms, signed] [p.2 only] 9/11 (12 Oct 1956) [ms, signed] 9/12 (17 Oct 1956) [ms, signed] 9/13 (8 Dec 1956) [ms, signed]

Letters from Mrs Beckett to Guy Aldred 9/14 (5 Mar 1941) [ms, xerox] (i-iii) 9/15 [n.d.] [ms, xerox] (i-iii)

238/10 Harry Edmonds Major Harry Morton Edmonds, novelist; pre-war association with the Peace movement and member of BPP; alleged Nazi sympathiser, Hon. Sec. of Constitutional Research Association post-war includes: 10/1 ms. notes by FB (i-vii)

10/2 list of novels by Harry Edmonds [printed, xerox] 10/3 photograph of HE and others, with annotation [n.d.] [xerox] [2 ll.] 10/4 photographs of John Middleton Murry from ‘The Life of John Middleton Murry’ by F.A. Lea, 1959 (A-B) 10/5 pamphlet: ‘A British 5-Year Plan’ by Harry Edmonds, London, Manette Press, [1931] letters: 10/6 letter from Viscount Bennett to Edmonds (3 Mar 1945) [m/s, signed] 10/7 report of an address to the Constitutional Research Association by Monsignor John Van Ryswyck (10 Oct 1946) [t/s, duplicated] [3 ll.] 10/8 letter from Lord Hankey to Edmonds (23 Nov 1949) [t/s, signed] 10/10 letter from HE to A.J. Trythall re Major General Fuller (5 Jan 1978) {t/s, copy] (i-iii) 10/11 letter from Daphne Stone, Personal Assistant to Edmonds, to Mrs Beckett re visit (11 Jun 1986) [t/s, signed] 10/12 letter from Daphne Stone, to FB re Constitutional Research Association of the 1930 (28 Apr 1992) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) 10/13 letter from Daphne Stone to FB re John Middleton Murray and politics of the 1930s (18 May 1992) [t/s, signed] (i-iii)

10/14 pamphlet: ‘Decline of an Empire, 1805-1982’ by Harry Edmonds, Hythe, La Nive Studios, [?1982]

238/11 Some letters and personal documents 1945- includes: documents relating to Duke of Bedford’s estate, personal finance and purchase of Thurlwood House miscellaneous correspondence: letter from Denis Geoghan, Knights of St. Columba (5 Dec 1964) [ms, signed] letter from Frank Sheed of Sheed & Ward Ltd. to JB (3 Nov 1952) [t/s, signed] documents re Francis Beckett: letter from JB to Mrs Beckett re FB at school [n.d.] [t/s, signed] memoir by FB of experiences at Beaumont School [n.d.] [t/s, xerox]

238/12 British Peoples Party Duke of Bedford’s political movement includes: 12/1 ms. notes by FB (i-viii)

12/2A letter from JB to Mrs Beckett [n.d.] [t/s, signed] although undated, this personal letter is thought by Francis Beckett to date from 1939, when JB acted as election agent for the BPP candidate in the Hythe by-election. References are made to ‘Lewis’, possibly C.C. Lewis, who left the B.U.F. at the same time as Beckett and Joyce, and to Ann Black, in 1937 Chief Cashier at British Union NHQ. 12/2 copy of The Peoples Post, Vol 1, No. 6, 1940 {xerox] [4 ll.] 12/3 letter from JB to Duke of Bedford re gold standard, and public opinion (23 Sep 1944) [t/s, signed] 12/4 copy of report ‘The National Front: its Formation and Progress’ (6 Jly 1945) [t/s. xerox] [from Ivan Greenberg Papers; contains references to Beckett and the BPP] [11 ll.] 12/5 news-cutting of BPP meeting in London, Daily Worker (7 Dec 1945) 12/6 extract from Hansard re BPP and other anti-semitic organisations by Lord Vansittart (12 Mar 1946) [xerox] 12/7 extract from Labour Party N.E.C. Minutes, 27 Mar 1946 re Dr Forgan’s application to rejoin the Labour party and his relationship with JB [t/s, xerox] [2 ll.] 12/8 letter from Michael J.A. Mclean to A. Flockhart resigning from Union Movement (7 Jun 1946) [t.s., xerox] 12/9 letter from JB, Gen. Sec., British People’s Party to Michael .J.A. McLean re BPP (8 Jun 1948) [t/s, xerox] 12/10 letter from JB to Michael J.A. McLean re Mosley (8 Jly 1948) [t.s., xerox] 12/11 letter from Michael J.A. McLean to Duke of Bedford re JB and anti-semitism (28 Jly 1948) [t.s., xerox] 12/12 letter from JB to W.C. Crocker re business problem (5 Nov 1951) [t/s, copy] 12/13 letter from JB to Waveney Girvan re funding for publication by Peoples Post of pamphlets and leaflets (13 May 1952) [t/s, signed] 12/14 letter from [?Duke of Bedford] to Waveney Girvan re funding for publication (30 Jly 1952) [t/s, copy] 12/15 letter from [?] to Duke of Bedford re use of Trust income (6 Sep 1952) [t/s, copy]

12/16 copy of Duke of Bedford’s will, dated 21 Feb 1952 [xerox] [10 ll.] 12/17 Special Memorial Number for Duke of Bedford, Peoples Post, Nov 1953 12/18 letter from Pete [i.e. Ulius Louis Amos], American publisher, to JB re possible closure of Fleet Street Preview (2 Oct 1954) [t/s, signed] 12/19 article ‘British Peoples Party - a history lesson’, Searchlight [n.d.]

Colin Jordan correspondence: *12/20 letter from CJ to FB re memoir of JB (17 Dec 1998) [t/s, signed] *12/21 letter from CJ to FB re memoir of JB (27 Jan 1999) [t/s, signed] *12/22 memoir of JB and BPP (27 Jan 1999) [t/s, signed] [4 ll.] *12/23 letter from CJ to FB re questions on memoir (1 Mar 1999) [t/s, signed] *12/24 responses to questions by FB (1 Mar 1999) [t/s, signed] (i-ii) *12/25 résumé ‘’ by Graham Macklin [c. 1999] [t/s, signed] [5 ll.] 238/13 “Purely Personal” personal letters of sympathy and condolence to the Beckett family on the illness and decease of John Beckett (28th December 1964); addressed to Mrs Beckett unless otherwise indicated

includes letters from the following:

13/1 Richard Black (12 Jan 1965) [t/s, 1965] 13/2 Francis Cave, Sacred Heart College, Sunningdale, Berks. (30 Dec 1964) [ms, signed] 13/3 Francis Cave, Sacred Heart College, Sunningdale, Berks. (4 Jan 1965) [ms, signed] 13/4 Wilfrid Cooper (16 Dec 1964) [ms, signed] 13/5 Richard Eger, to Francis Beckett (18 Jan 1965) [t/s, signed] 13/6 Dr. Robert Forgan (6 Jan 1965) [ms, signed] 13/7 D. Geoghegan, Knights of St. Columba, Wimbledon (7 Feb 1965) [ms, signed] 13/8 Pat Keane (24 Feb 1965) [ms, signed] 13/9 Francis Kennedy, Knights of St. Columba, Wimbledon (13 Nov 1964) [ms, signed] addressed to John Beckett shortly before his death 13/10 Stuart Lowry (4 Jan 1965) [ms, signed] 13/11 Philip F. Mander (14 Dec 1964) addressed to John Beckett shortly before his death 13/12 Mary.St. Dominic, Canonesses of St. Augustine, London (31 Dec 1964) [ms, signed] 13/13 Frank Pepper (15 Dec 1964) [ms, signed] addressed to John Beckett shortly before his death 13/14 Frank Pepper (6 Jan 1965) [ms, signed] 13/15 G. Ronald Pryor, to Miss J.F. Beckett (19 Jan 1965) [t/s, signed] 13/16 Michael Scott (18 Jan 1965) [ms, signed] 13/17 Molly Stallard (1 Dec 1964) re JB’s illness shortly before his death 13/18 Geoffrey Stoop, Stoop, Vigne & Co., London (12 Jan 1965) [t/s, signed] 13/19 Kenneth Underhill (23 Nov 1964) [ms, signed] re JB’s illness shortly before his death 238/14 General miscellaneous items includes:

14/1 memo ‘Jews and H.M. Forces’ to Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen (6 Dec 1939) [t/s, xerox] 14/2 extract ‘Women’s voices in a man’s creed: the ideology of feminine fascism’, by Julie Gottlieb (Mar 1997) [t/s, xerox] [54 ll.] draft of thesis, chapter 3

238/15 Post-publication reviews and other documents includes:

‘My father, the fascist’ by Francis Beckett The Guardian, Saturday Review, 11 Dec 1999, pp 1-2