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Indian Communists and Trade Unionists on Trial: The Meerut Conspiracy, 1929-1933

Ben Bradley papers

Collection: Indian Communists and Trade Unionists on Trial: The Meerut Conspiracy, 1929-1933 Volumes Ben Bradley papers

Benjamin Francis Bradley (1898-1957) was a communist metalworker, born in Walthamstow, who was sent to India to promote militant trade unionism in 1927 and sentenced in the Meerut Conspiracy Trial five years later. Bradley's papers are an indispensable source for the episode and include extensive prison correspondence, documents from the Meerut trial and records of the international campaigns of solidarity with the defendants. They also contain his notes for a projected autobiography and materials relating to his later political activities. For several years Bradley continued to be involved in anti-colonial activities and between 1934 and 1940 served as secretary of the League Against Imperialism and its successor, the CPGB's Colonial Information Bureau. He also spent periods as the Daily worker's circulation manager and, briefly before his death, as national organiser of the Britain-China Friendship Association. His papers bear witness to the genuine internationalism that was one of the outstanding qualities of many communist activists.

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Rosa Glading deposit

CP/IND/BRAD/07/09. Papers deposited by Rosa Glading, principally copy of Bradley's statement in the Meerut conspiracy case, with correspondence about the papers, dating from 1969. The principal focus of these papers...

Date:1931-1969
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-48
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/09

Papers re. the Ben Bradley Memorial Endowment Fund: mainly correspondence with supporters

CP/IND/BRAD/07/08. Supporters include: R. Palme Dutt, Idris Cox; Ted Brake; John Gollan; Amalgamated Engineering Union branches and other sympathetic trade unions. This item also includes duplicated minutes, accounts, etc. of...

Date:1957-1958
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-47
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/08

Papers from his final years and regarding his death, funeral and the Ben Bradley Memorial Fund

CP/IND/BRAD/07/07. Papers from his final years and regarding his death, funeral and the Ben Bradley Memorial Endowment Fund, circa 1955-1957. Correspondents with Ben Bradley include Alan Winnington; papers also include...

Date:1955-1957
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-46
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/07

Transcript diary of visit to China on AEU delegation

CP/IND/BRAD/07/06. The two major focal points for Ben Bradley's notes are the Socialist movements and events already existing in China and the statistics on state provision of services for workers....

Date:1956-1956
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-45
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/06

Manuscript notes on history of Amalgamated Engineering Union

CP/IND/BRAD/07/05. These notes commence with references to the first legislation considered to be relevant to Trades' Union's formation, the Combination Act of 1799, then continue through to the end of...

Date:1945-1945
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-44
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/05

Cuttings from Indian press

CP/IND/BRAD/07/04. Cuttings from the Indian press. These cuttings focus on the 3 separate arguments in relation to releasing India from British rule: The pro self-governance side who wished to see...

Date:1942-1942
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-43
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/04

Letters from prison mainly to his wife Joy but with one letter to Reginald Bridgeman

CP/IND/BRAD/07/03. Letters to his wife discuss subjects including the release of prisoners, such as himself, whose skills might be useful at a time of war. His arrest having occurred in...

Date:1940-1940
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-42
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/03

Leaflets regarding Indian politics in various languages

CP/IND/BRAD/07/02. Leaflets relating to Indian politics in various languages (part handlist with papers), 1930s. These leaflets contain a focus on Students' associations with regard to their conferences and their elections;...

Date:1930-1938
Contributor:Labour History Archive & Study Centre
Identifier:72696b-41
Archive Reference(s):CP/IND/BRAD/07/02

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