The Freedom Press Defence Committee was formed in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

following the arrests on the 22nd of February 1945 of the editors of ''

War Commentary ''War Commentary'' was an England-based anti-militarist anti-war anarchist serial publication that was published from 1939 to 1945, initially as a journal and then as a newspaper, as part of the movement which was opposed to World War II (see Op ...

'':

Marie Louise Berneri Marie Louise Berneri (born Maria Luisa Berneri; 1 March 1918 – 13 April 1949) was an anarchist activist and author. Born in Italy, she spent much of her life in Spain, France, and England. She was involved with the short-lived publication, ' ...

Vernon Richards Vernon Richards (born Vero Benvenuto Costantino Recchioni, 19 July 1915 – 10 December 2001) was an Anglo-Italian anarchist, editor, author, engineer, photographer and the companion of Marie-Louise Berneri. Richards' founding of the paper ' ...

(the husband of Berneri),

John Hewetson John Christopher Hewetson (10 January 1913 – 20 December 1990) was a British anarchist physician, writer and newspaper editor. During the Second World War he was an editor of the anarchist newspaper '' War Commentary'', which saw him imprisone ...

and

Philip Sansom Philip Richard Sansom (19 September 1916 – 24 October 1999) was an English conscientious objector, anarchist, surrealist, writer, cartoonist and activist. Early life and education Sansom was the son of John Sansom, lathe operator, and Lillia ...

under Defence Regulation 39a for conspiring "to undermine the affections of members of His Majesty's Forces" On 12 December 1944, officers of the

Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and Intelligence (information gathering), intelligence in Policing in the United Kingdom, British, Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, ...

, led by Inspector Whitehead, raided the homes of the editors of ''War Commentary'' and its sympathisers, and searched the belongings of soldiers who were stationed in various part of Britain. One of the soldiers was anarchist

Colin Ward Colin Ward (14 August 1924 – 11 February 2010)

, who was stationed in

Stromness Stromness (, ; ) is the second-most populous town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the southwestern part of Mainland, Orkney. It is a burgh with a parish around the outside with the town of Stromness as its capital. Etymology The name "Stromnes ...

, on

Orkney Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but locals now consider it outdated. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, ...

. Around the same time, the offices of

Freedom Press Freedom Press is an anarchist publishing house and Radical bookshops in the United Kingdom, bookseller in Whitechapel, London, United Kingdom, founded in 1886. Alongside its many books and pamphlets, the group also runs a news and comment-based ...

were also raided. In the January, Sansum was charged with ‘being in possession of an army waterproof coat and for failing to notify a change of address’, for which he was sentenced to two months imprisonment in

Brixton Prison HM Prison Brixton is a Category C training establishment men's prison, located in Brixton area of the London Borough of Lambeth, in inner- South London. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. Before 2012, it was used as a loca ...

. Then in February Berneri, Richards and Hewetson were arrested in their homes and taken to Marylebone Police Court, where they were joined by Sansom. Shortly after the raid on the ''Freedom Press'' offices, Bernari and Richards met fellow

anarchist Anarchism is a political philosophy and Political movement, movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or Social hierarchy, hierarchy, primarily targeting the state (polity), state and capitalism. A ...

George Woodcock George Woodcock (May 8, 1912 – January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer of political biography and history, an anarchist thinker, a philosopher, an essayist and literary critic. He was also a poet and published several volumes of travel wri ...

, who was loosely affiliated with ''War Commentary'', to tell him about the raid and to convey their expectation that they and the two other editors would be arrested and tried under Defence Regulation 39a, as a result of which there would be no-one left to run it. Consequently, Bernari asked Woodcock if he would run the newspaper in their absence. Woodcock immediately agreed to do so and, after having regularized his situation by registering his change of address, he immediately contacted

Herbert Read Sir Herbert Edward Read, (; 4 December 1893 – 12 June 1968) was an English art historian, poet, literary critic and philosopher, best known for numerous books on art, which included influential volumes on the role of art in education. Read wa ...

for support. Within a few days they persuaded

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist and playwright.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biography''. New York: Oxford University ...

E. M. Forster Edward Morgan Forster (1 January 1879 – 7 June 1970) was an English author. He is best known for his novels, particularly '' A Room with a View'' (1908), ''Howards End'' (1910) and '' A Passage to India'' (1924). He also wrote numerous shor ...

Stephen Spender Sir Stephen Harold Spender (28 February 1909 – 16 July 1995) was an English poet, novelist and essayist whose work concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle. He was appointed U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry ...

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...

Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer, whose works include the poems " Do not go gentle into that good night" and " And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Un ...

and several other well-known writers to sign letters in protest about the raid on ''Freedom Press''. Their letters were published in the ''New Statesman'' and ''Tribune'', and were followed by the arrests of the four editors, who were charged and released on bail. The previous events afforded Woodcock and Read the basis that they needed to create a defence committee. Accordingly an announcement appeared in the 10th March issue of ''War Commentary'' that a meeting had been held on the 3rd at which a decision was made to 'set up immediately a defence committee with three main objectives: '1. To defend the four anarchists arrested and charged under Defence Regulation 39A. 2. To protest against any attacks upon the freedom of speech and publication. 3. To organize a Defence Fund to cover the legal expenses of the accused and the Committee's own expenses.' The committee was formed independently of the

National Council for Civil Liberties Liberty, formerly, and still formally, called the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), is an advocacy group and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, which challenges unjust laws, protects civil liberties and promotes huma ...

which at the time was regarded as being a Communist front or 'Communist-dominated and only inclined to aid the politically correct’. Simon Watson Taylor, a

Surrealist Surrealism is an art movement, art and cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists aimed to allow the unconscious mind to express itself, often resulting in the depiction of illogical or dreamlike s ...

, organized it. The announcement in ''War Commentary'' subsequently stated: 'Herbert Read agreed to become Chairman of the Committee' and Ethel Mannin, who was not able to be present, has since agreed to be Secretary. Vice-Chairmen include Fenner Brockway and Patrick Figgis. The treasurer is S. Watson Taylor.' The announcement went on to report that premises for the committee had been secured at 17 St George Square, Hanover Square, London W.1. Also it made two appeals, for volunteers to assist during the day at the office and for contributions towards the Defence Fund. The committee duly raised funds for the defence of the editors, which were collected by the Simon Watson Taylor in his capacity as its treasurer. The trial of the editors took place at the

Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands, is a criminal court building in central London, one of several that house the Crown Court of England and Wales. The s ...

, the Central Criminal Court, on 27 April 1945. Marie Louise Berneri, was acquitted on the legal technicality that a wife could not be guilty of conspiracy with her husband. The other three defendants were convicted and sentenced to 9 months imprisonment. Herbert Read made a speech before the trial, which he followed with one after it, which the Committee published in the following June.

Freedom Defence Committee

On 3 March 1945, after the defendants had served their imprisonments, the ''Freedom Press Defence Committee'' reconstituted itself as the ''Freedom Defence Committee'', which was set up "to uphold the essential liberty of individuals and organisations, and to defend those who are persecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of speech, writing and action".

served as the chair.

Fenner Brockway Archibald Fenner Brockway, Baron Brockway (1 November 1888 – 28 April 1988) was a British socialist politician, humanist campaigner and anti-war activist. Early life and career Brockway was born to Rev. William George Brockway and Frances Eliz ...

and Patrick Figgis (a well-known church socialist) initially served as its vice-chairs. Other vice-chairs later included

Richard Acland Sir Richard Thomas Dyke Acland, 15th Baronet (26 November 1906 – 24 November 1990) was one of the founding members of the British Common Wealth Party in 1942, having previously been a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP). He joined the Labour ...

and

Ethel Mannin Ethel Edith Mannin (6 October 1900 – 5 December 1984) was a popular British novelist and travel writer, political activist and socialist. She was born in London. Life and career Mannin's father, Robert Mannin (d. 1948) was a member of the S ...

initially served as its secretary, from whom

later took over. The Committee had sponsors. Initially they were

A. E. Housman Alfred Edward Housman (; 26 March 1859 – 30 April 1936) was an English classics, classical scholar and poet. He showed early promise as a student at the University of Oxford, but he failed his final examination in ''literae humaniores'' and t ...

S. Vere Pearson
and Reginald Reynolds, who had previously been members of the defunct

Solidaridad Internacional Antifascista Solidaridad Internacional Antifascista (), SIA, was a humanitarian organisation that existed in the Second Spanish Republic. It was politically aligned with the anarcho-syndicalist movement composed of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, CNT ...

(in English ''International Antifascist Solidarity''). They were subsequently joined by many well-known 'writers, artists and musicians', and politicians

Aneurin Bevan Aneurin "Nye" Bevan Privy Council (United Kingdom), PC (; 15 November 1897 – 6 July 1960) was a Welsh Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician, noted for spearheading the creation of the British National Health Service during his t ...

and

Michael Foot Michael Mackintosh Foot (23 July 19133 March 2010) was a British politician who was Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition from 1980 to 1983. Foot beg ...

. On 18 September 1948, the committee had published in the '' Socialist Leader'' its letter requesting urgent funds which was signed by

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, o ...

Augustus John Augustus Edwin John (4 January 1878 – 31 October 1961) was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a time he was considered the most important artist at work in Britain: Virginia Woolf remarked that by 1908 the era of John Singer Sarg ...

, Orwell, Read and

Osbert Sitwell Sir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet CH CBE (6 December 1892 – 4 May 1969) was an English writer. His elder sister was Edith Sitwell and his younger brother was Sacheverell Sitwell. Like them, he devoted his life to art and l ...

. The situation which prompted the letter was that the accounts of the committee showed 'a deficit of over £145', and that it immediately needed 'at least £500' and thereafter 'a regular income of at least £1,000' if it was 'to carry on efficiently.' The Committee was dissolved in 1949.Goodway 2012, p. 143.

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Freedom Defence Committee

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