VSC Hampstead

The Hampstead Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (Hampstead VSC) was a branch of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC), Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC) The Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC) was formed in 1966 as a collaboration between the International Marxist Group and the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. Though dominated by Trotskyists, the VSC was able to forge broad coalitions across the left through its use of ad-hoc committees to plan specific actions. The VSC’s campaigning activities went into sharp decline in 1969, ceasing to function from October that year. Full page: Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC)  a national organisation that mobilised through local branches like Hampstead and other ad hoc committees. Hampstead VSC was spied on by HN329 ‘John Graham’ HN329 'John Graham' HN329 is the nominal given to SDS officer 'John Graham', deployed from August 1968 to September 1969. He spied on the Camden, Kilburn and Willesden, and Hampstead branches of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, and on the Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation. Graham claims his memory of his time in SDS is poor but gave evidence about fellow officers being convicted in their undercover identities, being taken off the squad for refusing to attend a meeting and taking a female activist he had spied on to dinner after the end of his deployment. Full page: HN329 'John Graham'  who reported on the post-mortem meeting of the group on 30 October 1968, and went on to infiltrate other VSC branches. 

 Graham also reported on the North West London Ad Hoc Committee of the VSC, which members of the Hampstead and Camden Branches also attended. HN332 Cameron Sinclair HN332 Cameron Sinclair Cameron Sinclair joined the Special Demonstration Squad in 1968. He held the rank of detective inspector, so would have been considered a manager, but his roles varied, and included some undercover work in branches of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. Sinclair left the SDS at the end of 1968, but returned as head of the unit between July 1971 and February 1972. He then oversaw the SDS as chief superintendent of S Squad. Full page: HN332 Cameron Sinclair  also attended one meeting alongside Graham.

Sources

HN329 'John Graham' profile. HN329 'John Graham' HN329 is the nominal given to SDS officer 'John Graham', deployed from August 1968 to September 1969. He spied on the Camden, Kilburn and Willesden, and Hampstead branches of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, and on the Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation. Graham claims his memory of his time in SDS is poor but gave evidence about fellow officers being convicted in their undercover identities, being taken off the squad for refusing to attend a meeting and taking a female activist he had spied on to dinner after the end of his deployment. Full page: HN329 'John Graham'

HN332 Cameron Sinclair profile. HN332 Cameron Sinclair Cameron Sinclair joined the Special Demonstration Squad in 1968. He held the rank of detective inspector, so would have been considered a manager, but his roles varied, and included some undercover work in branches of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. Sinclair left the SDS at the end of 1968, but returned as head of the unit between July 1971 and February 1972. He then oversaw the SDS as chief superintendent of S Squad. Full page: HN332 Cameron Sinclair