War Commentary

War Commentary was an England-based anti-militarist anti-war anarchist serial publication that was published from 1939¹ to 1945, initially as a journal and then as a newspaper, as part of the movement which was opposed to World War II (see Opposition to World War II), along anti-capitalist and anti-state lines. War Commentary was launched in November 1939 after the closure of the journal Spain and the World, and was published by Freedom Press Distributors from its temporary address of 'Whiteway Colony, nr. Stroud, Glos England'. The Whiteway Colony in Stroud, Gloucestershire was where Lilian Wolfe was still living after the death of her partner Thomas Keell. The issue was produced on a duplicator and was sold out in the first fortnight after it was published, for which credit was accorded to comrades in Glasgow, who sold 500 copies. The second issue of War Commentary was printed by the Narod Press in Whitechapel, in East London, which was run by Israel Narodiczky, and was published from its mailing address of '9 Newbury Street, Clerkenwell' in Central London. The relationship between Freedom Press Distributors and the Narod Press was not a happy one. Consequently, Freedom Press Publishers changed its printers to a printing press off the Harrow Road in West London which was run by Hugh and Ashley Brock, two pacifist brothers.…

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 Opposition to World War II), along anti-capitalist and anti-state lines. War Commentary was launched in November 1939 after the closure of the journal Spain and the World, and was published by Freedom Press Distributors from its temporary address of 'Whiteway Colony, nr. Stroud, Glos England'. The Whiteway Colony in Stroud, Gloucestershire was where Lilian Wolfe was still living after the death of her partner Thomas Keell. The issue was produced on a duplicator and was sold out in the first fortnight after it was published, for which credit was accorded to comrades in Glasgow, who sold 500 copies. The second issue of War Commentary was printed by the Narod Press in Whitechapel, in East London, which was run by Israel Narodiczky, and was published from its mailing address of '9 Newbury Street, Clerkenwell' in Central London. The relationship between Freedom Press Distributors and the Narod Press was not a happy one. Consequently, Freedom Press Publishers changed its printers to a printing press off the Harrow Road in West London which was run by Hugh and Ashley Brock, two pacifist brothers. Until 1941 it appeared monthly, when six supplements were produced. From its mid-January (Vol. 3 No. 4) 1942 issue, it appeared twice a month. From its June 1942 (Vol. 13 No. 3) issue, it was printed from The Express Printers, in 84a High Street, Whitechapel, E.1. Express Printers was owned by Judah Shenfield, whose brother ran the London office of V.W.H. Ltd, a firm of printers. See Spain and the World for a detailed account. Shenfield signed up for the army and tragically was killed in action. The premises, which had become neglected, became even more rundown. The landlord was left with the printing equipment, which he wanted to sell. The by-now editorial team of War Commentary bought the equipment for £500 and then proceeded to publish the journal from the address. In November 1944, on the occasion of its 100th issue, War Commentary changed its format from a journal to a four-page newspaper. Regular contributors to War Commentary included Vernon Richards, Marie Louise Berneri (who was married to Richards), John Hewetson, Philip Sansom, and Ethel Mannin, with John Olday contributing cartoons. Occasional contributors included Tom Brown, Reginald Reynolds, George Woodcock and Colin Ward.

Further reading

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