John Baker White
Encyclopedia
John Baker White started his career as a political activist becoming a director of a private organisation dedicated to fighting left-wing subversion. He became an amateur spy
in Nazi Germany before becoming a propaganda agent during World War II. In 1945, he was elected a Conservative
politician. He was also a journalist
and author
and his work reveals a colourful, possibly, eccentric personality.
in 1920. In the early 1920s he was a member of the Anti-Socialist Union
and was part of a tendency within that group that sought to co-operate with the British Fascists
. He then worked for the Economic League (UK)
, a privately funded anti-Communist pressure group and intelligence organization, serving as its Director from 1926 to 1939. Immediately before the war, he spent time in Germany
as a spy; accepted there as an ardent anti-communist, he was invited to attend the Nuremburg rally of 1937; he wrote about this experience in Dover Nurenberg Return. After publicly exposing Nazi propaganda
and fifth column
activity, he was obliged to slip out of Germany in April 1939.
In the early days of World War II
, he joined Section D. He was a leading figure in Britain's propaganda
campaign, including attempts to convince German soldiers of a failed German landing attempt along the south coast of England.The job of Baker White and of his handful of co-workers was to cook up stories to be fed to the enemy and give him a quite false impression of the state of Britain’s defences. Writing in 1955, he recalled his wartime experiences in The Big Lie.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury
in the 1945 General Election
and served until 1953, when he left Parliament through the method of becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead. The subsequent by-election
was won by Leslie Thomas
.
He was also chair of the Freedom Association in Kent
and he published four autobiographical books: It's Gone for Good, The Big Lie, Sabotage is Suspected and True Blue.
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
in Nazi Germany before becoming a propaganda agent during World War II. In 1945, he was elected a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was also a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and his work reveals a colourful, possibly, eccentric personality.
Career
Baker White graduated from Malvern CollegeMalvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
in 1920. In the early 1920s he was a member of the Anti-Socialist Union
Anti-Socialist Union
The Anti-Socialist Union was a British political pressure group that supported free trade economics and opposed socialism. It was active from 1908 to 1948 with its heyday occurring before the First World War.-Formation:...
and was part of a tendency within that group that sought to co-operate with the British Fascists
British Fascists
The British Fascists were the first avowedly fascist organisation in the United Kingdom. William Joyce, Neil Francis Hawkins, Maxwell Knight and Arnold Leese were amongst those to have passed through the movement as members and activists.-Early years:...
. He then worked for the Economic League (UK)
Economic League (UK)
The Economic League was an organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to opposing what they saw as subversion and action against free enterprise....
, a privately funded anti-Communist pressure group and intelligence organization, serving as its Director from 1926 to 1939. Immediately before the war, he spent time in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as a spy; accepted there as an ardent anti-communist, he was invited to attend the Nuremburg rally of 1937; he wrote about this experience in Dover Nurenberg Return. After publicly exposing Nazi propaganda
Nazi propaganda
Propaganda, the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the NSDAP in the years leading up to and during Adolf Hitler's leadership of Germany...
and fifth column
Fifth column
A fifth column is a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group such as a nation from within.-Origin:The term originated with a 1936 radio address by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War...
activity, he was obliged to slip out of Germany in April 1939.
In the early days of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined Section D. He was a leading figure in Britain's propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
campaign, including attempts to convince German soldiers of a failed German landing attempt along the south coast of England.The job of Baker White and of his handful of co-workers was to cook up stories to be fed to the enemy and give him a quite false impression of the state of Britain’s defences. Writing in 1955, he recalled his wartime experiences in The Big Lie.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury
Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Canterbury is a county constituency which has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in the 1945 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
and served until 1953, when he left Parliament through the method of becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead. The subsequent by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was won by Leslie Thomas
Leslie Thomas (politician)
Sir Leslie Montagu Thomas was a British Conservative politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury in a 1953 by-election, and served until he stood down in 1966....
.
He was also chair of the Freedom Association in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and he published four autobiographical books: It's Gone for Good, The Big Lie, Sabotage is Suspected and True Blue.
Publications
- "Red Russia Arms", Burrup Mathieson, 1932
- "The Innocents' Clubs" (pamphlet), John Baker White, 1935
- "Dover Nurenberg Return", Burrup Mathieson, 1937
- "The Red Network", International Anti-Communist Entente, 1939
- "Its gone for Good", Vacher & Sons, 1941
- "A Soldier Dares to Think", Vacher, 1942
- "Nationalisation: Chaos or Cure?", Forum Books, 1946
- "The Soviet Spy System", Falcon Press, 1948
- "The Big Lie", Evans Bros, 1955
- "Pattern for Conquest [On Russian intrigue and espionage in Europe since 1945]", Robert Hale, 1956
- "Sabotage is Suspected", Evans Bros, 1957
- "True Blue", Frederick Muller, 1970
External links
- Profile: Sir George Makgill, Journal of Parapolitics, pp 26–28.
- Select Bibliography: Economic League Documents published, Spies at Work, Mike Hughes, 1994.
- Spies at Work, Michael Hughes, 1994 (cf Chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6). Printed version ISBN 0948995053.
- Spies at work: the rise & fall of The Economic League, Michael Hughes, Edition 2, 1995. Printed version ISBN 0948994061, ISBN 9780948994067.