The LNER Encyclopedia

Most LNER enthusiasts know this man was an LNER Director, not prominent enough to be named on an A4, who had his name applied to a B1 Class 4-6-0 (later BR No. 61243) whose home depot was 65A Glasgow(Eastfield).

Something disturbingly new has come to my attention since seeing a t.v. programme called "CHURCHILL and the Fascists". It seems that (Colonel) Sir Harold Paton Mitchell was a member of the "Right Club" - a secret society of pro-Hitler sympathisers as well as being a Conservative M.P. in Winston Churchill's wartime government.

Is this true or just a co-incidence. If true then in this man the LNER Board contained a 'Moseleyite' and a traitor to the realm.

Television today is notorious for revisionist histories, sensationalism, and distortion of or even creation of 'the facts'.

Even if he was, did it make him bad director? Did it even make him a better one??

By association you appear to be condemning Churchill, which is exactly what the recent film and programmes about him seemed to be aimed at doing.

The LNER Society are in the process of gathering together a list of Directors of the Company and their interests. I am sure it will be interesting.

Re-the post. Wasn't there a Duke of Windsor?

John

It is very much modern history to retell stories that have a little enigma in them. The National Trust has recently "outed" some one who left
them a house, with little of no real knowledge.

What too few people know is the whole political scene before the second war. Hitler was admired by many for a much longer time than from this
perspective we would have thought acceptable, and don't forget the whole number of people who were determined not to have another war
in their lifetime. Even Mosley was originally a Tory, but soon became disenchanted with his chances of becoming leader. Both Mussolini and
Hitler were respected by many, and let us not forget that Stalin was idolised by many of the left into the 1960's some years after his death,
and he killed a lot more of his own countrymen than even Hitler managed.

As Jas said, the Duke of Windsor actually visited Hitler.

Judging things like this from the distance of over 80 years is rather like someone recently suggesting that Nelson's column should come down
because he disagreed with Wilberforce over slavery.

Be very careful about believing all that so called history progammes say on TV. Especially since so many of the modern historians are anti Churchill, and look for any sign of his being too right wing.

Politics and directorships are no more relevant from then to now.

Paul

Many thanks to all who responded to my post. I thought there were some well-reasoned comments there and had to smile at 65447's question "Even if he was, did it make him a bad director? Did it even make him a better one?

Having simply noticed the name "Harold Mitchell" on the list of signatories to "The Red Book" I 'Googled' his name with "B1", "The Right Party" and then his entry as a Baronet.

G'Day Gents

You can see the same sentiments today over North Korea, 'Oh, we must avoid war' or 'Get the the little warmonger' with the collective memory of the First World war still fresh in many peoples minds, another war was to be avoided, Hitler to many was a savior, a man who would rebuild Germany and get the wheels of industry in Europe moving again, he did get them moving again, but not in the way people had hoped for. I wonder what happened to the 'Mitford' girls, they liked the Nazis !!

Anyone know what happened to the nameplates off of Harold Mitchell, hope they didn't end up in Germany!

manna

john coffin wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:33 pm
...What too few people know is the whole political scene before the second war. Hitler was admired by many for a much longer time than from this
perspective we would have thought acceptable, and don't forget the whole number of people who were determined not to have another war
in their lifetime...

Quite so, and I would suggest that until the evidence came in, the division in the English speaking world over the merits or demerits of Hitler's regime was on much the same scale as the present UK division over leaving or remaining in the EU.

The Mitford girls were by no means unanimous, rather a good illustration of the UK division: Diana and Unity, fervently pro-fascist, Jessica and Nancy communist and left leaning respectively, Pamela and Deborah 'neutrals' compared to their sisters! Of course their brother Tom wouldn't fight European fascism, but was prepared to fight Japanese imperialism, possibly in defence of British imperialism. Interesting family...