Notting Hill Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (Notting Hill VSC) was a wst London 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 campaigning against the Vietnam war that mobilised through local branches and ad hoc committees.
Formed in 1968, Notting Hill VSC was a very active branch. It also worked with other branches of the VSC, participated in Ad Hoc Committees and joined national protests in opposition to the Vietnam war. It also formed strong connections with local groups such as the Hyde Park DiggersHyde Park DiggersThe Hyde Park Diggers was formed by the so-called 'King of the Hippies', Sid Rawles, in 1968. They held various events in Hyde Park, and took their inspiration from the 17th Century group - 'The Diggers'. By the spring of that year, the Diggers had at least 200 members. In September 1969, they were part of the occupation of 144 Piccadilly in Central London, a run-down 100-room mansion.
, Notting Hill People’s Front, Wednesday Group and Notting Hill Tenants Association to campaign on a range of issues including housing and Black Power.
One campaign in focused on Powis Square in Notting Hill as a symbol of social injustice. The campaign, led by mothers and children, aimed to make the square accessible to the local community, in particular young people.
On 25 May 1968, as part of this campaign, Notting Hill VSC marched with other local groups from Portobello Road to Powis Square. The police attempted to halt the march and arrested at least ten people. Plain clothes officers were present at the demonstration and at the court proceedings that followed.
Battle for Powis Square. London Community Video Archive (1974)
The campaign successfully forced Kensington and Chelsea council to buy the square and make it a public resource.
The Notting Hill branch did not agree with the national organisation's proposed tactics for the 27 October 1968 anti-Vietnam war march and aligned itself with Abhimanyu Manchanda's Britain Vietnam Solidarity Front (BVSF) which planned to march to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, against the wishes of the national VSC.Britain Vietnam Solidarity Front (BVSF) The Britain Vietnam Solidarity Front (BVSF) was a Maoist group that existed from June 1966 to 1973, though its activities were in serious decline after the height of the protests in 1968. It was founded in parallel with the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC) after Abhimanyu Manchanda staged at walkout at the latter’s founding conference, reconvening to hall nearby to organise under an alternative name and with closer ties to Maoism. Full page: Britain Vietnam Solidarity Front (BVSF)
Notting Hill VSC was targeted by multiple undercover officers, and its members incurred numerous arrests. It was reported on by HN68 'Sean Lynch'HN68 ‘Sean Lynch’HN68 ‘Sean Lynch’ was the cover name used by a former Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer deployed between 1968 and 1974 into groups related to political violence in Northern Ireland. He held a managerial position as second-in-command of the SDS between 1981 and 1983 and retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1993. He is dead.Full page: HN68 ‘Sean Lynch’, HN330 'Don de Freitas'HN330 'Don de Freitas''Don de Freitas' was the cover name of Detective Sergeant HN330 who was an undercover officer with the SDS between September and October 1968. He infiltrated the Havering branch of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign with HN334 'Margaret White'.Full page: HN330 'Don de Freitas', HN331HN331HN331 was an undercover officer in the SDS who infiltrated the Notting Hill and Earl’s Court branches of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign between August and December 1968, as well as two meetings of LSE students in the run up to the 27 October 1968 anti-Vietnam war demonstration. He died in a road traffic accident in the 1970s and his cover name has been lost. HN331’s real name was restricted by Inquiry Chair John Mitting.Full page: HN331, HN323 Helen CramptonHN323 Helen CramptonHelen Crampton was not a typical SDS undercover officer. Between August and November 1969 she attended a couple of meetings of the Notting Hill branch of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, a group that was heavily infiltrated by at least four other undercover officers. Her principal role appears to have been as a witness for planned criminal proceedings against a Black Power activist and VSC supporter. Following his conviction in February 1969, Crampton was transferred back to ordinary Special Branch duties. She is dead and her cover name, if she used one, is not known., HN328 Joan HillierHN328 Joan HillierJoan Florence Hillier had only recently joined the Metropolitan Police Special Branch when she was recruited into the first cohort of Special Demonstration Squad officers on 31 July 1968. An administrator in the SDS back office, she attended a handful of Notting Hill Vietnam Solidarity Campaign meetings in October 1968 but left the SDS in July 1969, moving to A Squad. She retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1984.Full page: HN328 Joan Hillier, HN338HN338 HN338 was an undercover officer in the SDS between at least April 1970 and December 1973. He initially spied on Agitprop and then the International Marxist Group, plus several related organisations, notably the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign and Anti-Internment League. He is dead, his cover name has been lost and his real name is restricted.Full page: HN338 , HN326 'Douglas Edwards'HN326 'Doug Edwards'HN326 ‘Doug Edwards’ was the cover name of an undercover police officer in the Special Demonstration Squad between November 1968 and May 1971. He infiltrated the Independent Labour Party and anarchist groups including the West Ham Anarchists. His real name has been restricted; he is referred to in the Undercover Policing Inquiry as HN326. Full page: HN326 'Doug Edwards', HN332 Cameron SinclairHN332 Cameron SinclairCameron 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, HN345 'Peter Fredericks'HN345 'Peter Fredericks'‘Peter Fredericks’ was the cover name of a former Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer who attempted to infiltrate Black Power organisations and groups campaigning for Bangladeshi independence in 1971. His SDS and Special Branch careers were short; he had left the SDS by the mid-1970s. In the Undercover Policing Inquiry, he is known by the nominal HN345.Full page: HN345 'Peter Fredericks'and HN321 'Bill Lewis'.HN321 'Bill Lewis''Bill Lewis' was the cover name of an early SDS officer who infiltrated the Lambeth branch of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign and the London branch of the International Marxist Group from 1968 to 1969. He was given the nominal HN321 in the Undercover Policing Inquiry to which he provided a witness statement. He was not asked to give oral evidence.Full page: HN321 'Bill Lewis'
The infiltration of Notting Hill VSC was central to a significant prosecution in this period. There was considerable state paranoia – further propelled by media coverage – speculating that mass violence at national VSC demonstrations was likely, though all evidence suggests that both the leadership of the VSC and the vast majority of ordinary protestors were intent on peaceful protest. Notting Hill VSC held regular meetings until early 1969.
Report on public meeting of Notting Hill VSC on the subject of American aggression in Vietnam, filmed by BBC, held at juntion of Westbourne Grove and Queensway W2 on 15 Oct 1968
Three documents one the 'Militantr Demonstration' leaflet: 1) Statement of Helen Crampton HN323 on meeting of the Notting Hill branch of the VSC held at Essex church on 9 Oct 1968; 2) Leaflet titled “The Potential of a Militant Demonstration; 3) Extract f
Report on weekly meeting of the Notting Hill Vietnam Solidarity Campaign on the subject of ‘British Imperialism and the complicity with US aggression in Vietnam’, held at Queensway junction with Westbourne Grove W2 on 10 Sept 1968
Report on Notting Hill VSC meeting inc discussing summonses given to members involved with Powis Square demo of 25 May, held at Essex Church Hall W8 on 28 Aug 1968
Report on public meeting of Notting Hill VSC on the subject of American aggression in Vietnam, held at Westbourne Grove junction with Queensway W11 on 20 Aug 1968
Report on public meeting of Notting Hill VSC on the subject of imperialist aggression in Vietnam, held on Notting Hill Gate's junction with Pembridge Gardens W11, 18 Aug 1968
