Harry Young (28 February 1901 – 1995) was a British socialist activist.
Born in Stoke Newington, Young attended a socialist Sunday school in Islington. He worked in a large number of jobs and, at various times, joined the Herald League, the British Socialist Party (BSP), and the Industrial Workers of the World, while still a teenager. Inspired by the October Revolution, he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain soon after its foundation, in 1920. He was soon appointed as national organiser of its associated Young Communist League (YCL), and in 1921 became the youngest member of the party's executive committee. The following year, he was appointed as the YCL's representative in Moscow, attending the Fourth Congress of the Comintern. On returning to the UK, he served as editor of the English language edition of Communist International, and then as manager of the Collets Bookshop on Charing Cross Road.[1][2]
In 1937, Young resigned from the CPGB, unhappy that he felt it would uncritically follow all Soviet policies, and became a taxi driver. In 1940, he instead joined the Socialist Party of Great Britain (SPGB). He was a conscientious objector during World War II, serving instead as an ambulance driver in London.[1][2]
Young remained active in the SPGB in his retirement, serving on its executive committee for several years. In 1991, he was part of the Socialist Studies split.[1][2] In 1994, he obtained a degree in science from the Open University, becoming its oldest graduate that year.[3] He died the following year.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcde"Obituary: Harry Young". Socialist Standard. February 1996. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
^ abcdWhitehead, Andrew (6 November 1992). ""I was one of the glory boys"". New Statesman & Society.
^"At 93, a degree for man who met Stalin". 28 April 1994. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
January 01, 1970
harry, young, socialist, harry, young, february, 1901, 1995, british, socialist, activist, born, stoke, newington, young, attended, socialist, sunday, school, islington, worked, large, number, jobs, various, times, joined, herald, league, british, socialist, p. Harry Young 28 February 1901 1995 was a British socialist activist Born in Stoke Newington Young attended a socialist Sunday school in Islington He worked in a large number of jobs and at various times joined the Herald League the British Socialist Party BSP and the Industrial Workers of the World while still a teenager Inspired by the October Revolution he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain soon after its foundation in 1920 He was soon appointed as national organiser of its associated Young Communist League YCL and in 1921 became the youngest member of the party s executive committee The following year he was appointed as the YCL s representative in Moscow attending the Fourth Congress of the Comintern On returning to the UK he served as editor of the English language edition of Communist International and then as manager of the Collets Bookshop on Charing Cross Road 1 2 In 1937 Young resigned from the CPGB unhappy that he felt it would uncritically follow all Soviet policies and became a taxi driver In 1940 he instead joined the Socialist Party of Great Britain SPGB He was a conscientious objector during World War II serving instead as an ambulance driver in London 1 2 After the war Young became a regular speaker at Speakers Corner and he wrote a column for the Socialist Standard under the pen name of Horatio He stood for the party in East Ham South at the 1950 general election taking 0 7 of the vote He retrained as a science teacher becoming active in the National Association of Schoolmasters 1 2 Young remained active in the SPGB in his retirement serving on its executive committee for several years In 1991 he was part of the Socialist Studies split 1 2 In 1994 he obtained a degree in science from the Open University becoming its oldest graduate that year 3 He died the following year 1 References edit a b c d e Obituary Harry Young Socialist Standard February 1996 Retrieved 28 November 2020 a b c d Whitehead Andrew 6 November 1992 I was one of the glory boys New Statesman amp Society At 93 a degree for man who met Stalin 28 April 1994 Retrieved 28 November 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harry Young socialist amp oldid 1189754203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
