Copies of letters dispatched by Robert Saunders, relating to his internment under Defence Regulation 18B, and the years following his release, when he was in contact with other detainees and former local members of the British Union (BU). Accompanied by correspondence concerning the Wessex Book Club, and his involvement in the Union Movement.

Includes letters sent to:



Derek M. Nommensen [18B detainee] (C15/481-482A). Includes a farm job with Major De Laessoe and news of 18B detainees (December 1944) (481); response to news of release from detention (November 1943) (482A)

Mrs Norah Pearson (later Mrs Norah Falls) [18B detainee] (C15/483-489). Including references to news of local activities and plans for Union Movement (January 1948) (483); Mosley starting work on “The Alternative” (February 1947) (484); 18b Detainees Aid Fund Concert in London on 27 May 1944 (485); news of other 18B detainees (September 1943) (486); Saunders’ appearance before Advisory Committee on Regulation 18B (June 1943) (487); restrictions on Saunders’ movements (May 1943) (488); intention to meet (April 1943) (489)

Inspector F. L. J. Mills, Dorset County Special Constabulary (C15/490)

Chief Inspector Elmes, Dorset County Special Constabulary (C15/491)

Major L.W. Peel Yates, Chief Constable of Dorset Police (C15/492-504). Includes references to application for return of property following revocation of Defence Regulation 18B (May 1945) (492); permission to travel (June 1942- Mar 1945) (493- 497, 499-504); application to waive requirement to report movements monthly (November 1943) (498)

Walter Porter [18B detainee] (C15/505-518). Includes enquiry regarding Pitt-Rivers (December 1948) (505); news of 18B detainees (June-December 1943) (507-9); enquiry about 18B Detainees (British) Aid Fund (February 1942) (510); Porter’s release, and news of other 18B detainees (February 1942) (511). Accompanied by letters to Brixton Prison, concerning acknowledgement of news of recent releases (January 1942) (512) and news of move to Brixton (January 1942) (513), as well as letters to Peel Internment Camp, Isle of Man, relating to sending parcel of goods (November-December 1941) (514-517) and news of other 18B detainees (October 1941) (518)

George Pownall (C15/519-520). Includes references to West of England Book Clubs Gathering at Salisbury on 25 October 1947 and London Sales Conference on 15 November 1947 (519); Wessex Book Club membership (December 1946) (520)

British Railways, Southern Region (C15/521-527)

A. G. Rabbetts (C15/528), regarding membership to the Union Movement (May 1947) (533)

Alexander Raven Thomson of Raven Books, London and Thomson and Smith Ltd [18B detainee] (C15/534-536), regarding Wessex Book Club account (Feb 1948) (534); re donation to Van Fund (October 1947) (536)

C15/537 Harold L. Robinson [18B detainee] (C15/537)

Rural Reconstruction Association (C15/538-539)

George Scott [18B detainee] (C15/540-543), concerning news of other detainees (December 1943-December 1944), and Saunders’ unendorsed identity card (December 1944) (540)

J. Sheddick (C15/544-548), concerning West of England Book Clubs Gathering at Salisbury on 25 October 1947 (544-545); London Sales Conference on 15 November 1947 (546); Salisbury and Wessex Book Club Dinner at Boscombe on 25 January 1947 (547-548)

J. P. Sheddick, Secretary, Mayflower Book Club, Plymouth (C15/549-557). Including references to West of England Book Clubs Gathering at Salisbury on 25 October 1947 and the London Conference on 7 February 1948 (549); Wessex and West of England Book Clubs Rally on 13 July 1947 (550); West of England Book Clubs (March 1947) (551-2); Salisbury and Wessex Book Club Dinner, 25 January 1947 (553-555); principles of setting up a Book Club (Jan 1947) (556-557)

“The Southern Times” (C15/558). Letter quoting from the “Yorkshire Post” on disturbance at Mosley at Leeds on 9 September 1946.

Mrs Gladys Stephenson (C15/559), regarding London Sales Conference on 15 November 1947.

Dr Humphrey Meigh Stephenson [18B detainee] (C15/560-562), concerning London Sales Conference on 15 November 1947 (560); Central Book Club Christmas Gathering on 21 December 1946 (561); information on Mosley, Mosley Publications and Book Clubs (November 1946) (562)

R. R. Stokes MP (C15/563-564). Includes letter from Peel Internment Camp, Isle of Man, as well as two drafts of Saunders’ case against internment (January 1941)

Strickland Press, Glasgow (C15/565-566), concerning orders for “It Might Have Happened To You” [by J. Wynn] (January-February 1944)

C. H. Sureties (C15/567-578), regarding Bournemouth meeting on 13 May 1948 (567); London Sales Conference on 15 November 1947 (568); Wessex Book Club Dinner on 25 January 1947 (570); Wessex Reunion at Ferndown on 19 January 1946 (571-572); 18B Detainees Aid Fund Christmas Gathering in London on 15 December 1945 (573); plan for local meetings (July-October 1945) (574-575)

Mrs Marta Swan [18B detainee] (C15/591), regarding Saunders’ attendance as witness at Arbon and De Laessoe cases against Home Secretary (November 1942)

Thomas F. Swan [18B detainee] (C15/579-590). Including references to 18B Detainees Aid Fund Christmas Gathering in London on 15 December 1945, and invitation to Saunders to visit Mosley farm (November 1945) (580); labour shortage on farm (May 1945) (581); news of former 18B detainees (December 1944-19 February 1945) (583-584); Mrs Swan to stay at Broadmayne for a month due to the blitz (December 1943- February 1944) (587-589); change of restrictions on Saunders and news of 18B detainees (September 1943) (590)