Barnett Stross
Encyclopedia
Sir Barnett Stross KBE (25 December 1899 – 13 May 1967) was a British
doctor and politician. He served twenty years as a Labour Party
Member of Parliament
, famously led the humanitarian campaign "Lidice Shall Live" and pushed for reforms in industry to protect workers
. He then went to the University of Leeds
where he studied medicine, qualifying in 1926.
. Two years later he appeared before a committee of inquiry into silicosis
as an expert witness on behalf of the pottery workers; this became a passionate cause and successive government schemes providing compensation for people suffering from pneumoconiosis
and silicosis
were established as a result of his campaigning. He successfully launched a media campaign to obtain financial compensation for miners who suffered serious occupational lung disease. At a time prior to the existence of a Welfare State in Britain, Stross gave medical care without charge to the poorer members of Stoke-on-Trent's communities. During the Second World War he gave healthy lifestyle lectures on behalf of the Ministry of Food. During one of these lectures a German bomb struck the auditorium, leaving Stross seriously injured.
in 1930. He was also involved with the North Staffordshire Miners' Federation and an active member of the Socialist Medical Association
. In 1937 he was elected to Stoke-on-Trent
City Council, on which he served until 1952 (during the later part of this period he was an Alderman
). At the 1945 general election
Stross was elected as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent's Hanley division
. His medical experience was often called upon when other MPs, Lords and members of the public present in the Palace of Westminster
fell ill. He concentrated on industrial illnesses and opposed smoking because of lung damage.
, a Czechoslovak village which had been destroyed by Nazi forces during the Second World War in a 1942 massacre.
Stross was deeply affected by the Lidice tragedy. Immediately after news of the event reached Stoke-on-Trent he spoke to miners and their leaders, proposing the reconstruction of the village of Lidice to commemmorate this crime against humanity forever. On the afternoon of Sunday 6th September, in The Victoria Hall, the "Lidice Shall Live" movement was formed in the presence of Czechoslovakian President, Edvard Benes, Will Lawther, Presdient of the Miners' Federation , and Soviet Ambassador Bogomolov. The name of the movement came about in defiant response to Adolf Hitler's proclamation that "Lidice shall die". It was Barnett Stross who so vehemently replied, "Lidice Shall Live!"
An audience of 3,000 men and women heard Dr Benes' concluding remarks: "This meeting has made it clear that Lidice has not died: it lives on in the hearts of the people of Stoke-on-Trent at least. From now on, Stoke-on-Trent will forever in the heart of every Czech citizen".
In the months that followed, from its base in Stoke-on-Trent fund-raising campaigns were organised, collecting donations from British miners and workers to fund the construction of a new Lidice. Stross was honoured by the Czechoslovak government for this work with the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, and became Chair of the British-Czechoslovakia Society, although he used this point to highlight human rights abuses under the Communist government.
The support from the Stoke-on-Trent movement did not end even after the new Lidice had been built. After the financial support another idea of Stross's saw the light of day in 1954 - to found the Friendship and Peace Rose Garden, linking symbolically the bare plain of the original Lidice with the newly built village. Stross, in his plea for contributions, called it, "A fragrant symbol of the need for all nations of the world to live together in peace and friendship". The Rose Garden, the largest in the world, received roses from all over the world. The largest and most beautiful assortment came from the UK. The credit for that went to the well known rose growers, the Wheatcroft's from Ruddington, near Nottingham. The inhabitants of Lidice showed their appreciation by planting a lime avenue which was named after Barnett Stross.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the, recently newly refurbished, Mitchell Memorial Theatre. In 1962, making use of his artistic contacts, he invited artists from all over the world to donate their works to Lidice to establish a museum of art symbolizing the solidarity of artists with the Lidice tragedy. Many artists responded to the invitation, among them: J.Beuys, G. Richter, E. Vedova, R. Guttuso, S. Polke, R. Opalka, L. Survage, P. Blake and W. Vostell. The themes and the techniques were not defined. Thanks to this, the rapidly growing collection assumed its heterogeneous character, compromising many different forms influenced by the ideologies and art styles of that time. Today the collection contains 433 works of art by 331 artists from 34 countries including the UK. It has been on display at the Lidice Gallery of the Lidice Memorial since 2003.
, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health
. However he left office in February 1965 and in July 1965 announced his retirement from the House of Commons due to concerns about his own health. He stood down at the 1966 general election
. Barnett Stross passed away at the University College in London on 14th May 1967.
He devoted the largest part of his life to his political career, playing a major role in the development of relations between the UK and Czechoslovakia, the renewal of the village of Lidice and the protection of workers against industrial disease. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee he kept in touch with Czechoslovakia for all his life. On the 18th June 1947 the Czechoslovak government awarded him the highest state award, Order of the White Lion, for his effort to support the renewal of Lidice.
Sir Barnett Stross considered the establishment of the movement to support Lidice, its genesis in Stoke-on-Trent, but growing worldwide, his greatest personal success. He said that the success lied neither in the big sum that had been collected for the rebuilding of Lidice nor in the beautiful Rose Garden or Lidice Collection he had succeeded to found. He saw the success in the fact that the news about the slaughter of innocent people had flown around the world, converting the crime committed by the Nazis into a weapon of peace.
named him as having been an agent of Czechoslovakia. According to Frolik, Stross (code-named "Gustav") had provided "interesting information about the domestic and foreign policies of the Labour Party while it was in opposition". Stephen Dorril and Robin Ramsay's book "Smear! Wilson and the Secret State" claims that such information as Stross supplied could have been obtained by writing to Transport House
(the headquarters of the Labour Party).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
doctor and politician. He served twenty years as a Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, famously led the humanitarian campaign "Lidice Shall Live" and pushed for reforms in industry to protect workers
Early life
Barnett Stross was born to a Jewish family, originally bearing the name Strasberg, in Poland on Christmas Day 1899. His parents - Father Samuel and Mother Cecilia, daughter to a Rabbi, were married in Poland in 1880. Barnett, called Bob by his family, had eleven siblings. When he was three, his family moved to Leeds. Stross was educated at Leeds Grammar SchoolLeeds Grammar School
Leeds Grammar School was an independent school in Leeds established in 1552. In August 2005 it merged with Leeds Girls' High School to form The Grammar School at Leeds. The two schools physically united in September 2008....
. He then went to the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
where he studied medicine, qualifying in 1926.
Doctors' practice
He chose to set up in practice in the Potteries area of north StaffordshireStaffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. Two years later he appeared before a committee of inquiry into silicosis
Silicosis
Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot, is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs...
as an expert witness on behalf of the pottery workers; this became a passionate cause and successive government schemes providing compensation for people suffering from pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease and a restrictive lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust, often in mines.-Types:Depending upon the type of dust, the disease is given different names:...
and silicosis
Silicosis
Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot, is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs...
were established as a result of his campaigning. He successfully launched a media campaign to obtain financial compensation for miners who suffered serious occupational lung disease. At a time prior to the existence of a Welfare State in Britain, Stross gave medical care without charge to the poorer members of Stoke-on-Trent's communities. During the Second World War he gave healthy lifestyle lectures on behalf of the Ministry of Food. During one of these lectures a German bomb struck the auditorium, leaving Stross seriously injured.
Early Political career
After Stross became honorary Medical adviser to the Pottery Worker's Society, he joined the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in 1930. He was also involved with the North Staffordshire Miners' Federation and an active member of the Socialist Medical Association
Socialist Health Association
The Socialist Medical Association was founded in 1930, in order to campaign for a National Health Service in the United Kingdom. It took in many of those who had been active in the State Medical Service Association...
. In 1937 he was elected to Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
City Council, on which he served until 1952 (during the later part of this period he was an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
). At the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
Stross was elected as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent's Hanley division
Hanley (UK Parliament constituency)
Hanley was a borough constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1885 and 1950. Elections were held using the first past the post voting system.- History :...
. His medical experience was often called upon when other MPs, Lords and members of the public present in the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
fell ill. He concentrated on industrial illnesses and opposed smoking because of lung damage.
Lidice Shall Live
However, Stross did not confine himself to medical issues. He also led a campaign to rebuild LidiceLidice
Lidice is a village in the Czech Republic just northwest of Prague. It is built on the site of a previous village of the same name which, as part of the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, was on orders from Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, completely destroyed by German forces in reprisal...
, a Czechoslovak village which had been destroyed by Nazi forces during the Second World War in a 1942 massacre.
Stross was deeply affected by the Lidice tragedy. Immediately after news of the event reached Stoke-on-Trent he spoke to miners and their leaders, proposing the reconstruction of the village of Lidice to commemmorate this crime against humanity forever. On the afternoon of Sunday 6th September, in The Victoria Hall, the "Lidice Shall Live" movement was formed in the presence of Czechoslovakian President, Edvard Benes, Will Lawther, Presdient of the Miners' Federation , and Soviet Ambassador Bogomolov. The name of the movement came about in defiant response to Adolf Hitler's proclamation that "Lidice shall die". It was Barnett Stross who so vehemently replied, "Lidice Shall Live!"
An audience of 3,000 men and women heard Dr Benes' concluding remarks: "This meeting has made it clear that Lidice has not died: it lives on in the hearts of the people of Stoke-on-Trent at least. From now on, Stoke-on-Trent will forever in the heart of every Czech citizen".
In the months that followed, from its base in Stoke-on-Trent fund-raising campaigns were organised, collecting donations from British miners and workers to fund the construction of a new Lidice. Stross was honoured by the Czechoslovak government for this work with the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, and became Chair of the British-Czechoslovakia Society, although he used this point to highlight human rights abuses under the Communist government.
A "New" Lidice
The decision of the Czechoslovak government to renew the village of Lidice was made public at the first ceremonial commemoration on the 10th June 1945. Two months later the architectural competition was announced and in 1947 the development of the new Lidice began. Over some years, 150 detached houses were built for the women survivors, with a community centre, museum, shopping centre and the building of "the people's committee". The movement "Lidice Shall Live" made an important financial contribution in the region of £1m in today's money, to the renewal of Lidice. Barnett Stross visited Lidice several times. He considered it a great personal honour to be awarded the Freedom of Lidice on 21st June 1957.The support from the Stoke-on-Trent movement did not end even after the new Lidice had been built. After the financial support another idea of Stross's saw the light of day in 1954 - to found the Friendship and Peace Rose Garden, linking symbolically the bare plain of the original Lidice with the newly built village. Stross, in his plea for contributions, called it, "A fragrant symbol of the need for all nations of the world to live together in peace and friendship". The Rose Garden, the largest in the world, received roses from all over the world. The largest and most beautiful assortment came from the UK. The credit for that went to the well known rose growers, the Wheatcroft's from Ruddington, near Nottingham. The inhabitants of Lidice showed their appreciation by planting a lime avenue which was named after Barnett Stross.
The Arts
Stross's lifelong love was art. In 1945 he became a co-founder of the Arts & Amenities Group of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He was able to enthuse Conservative as well as Labour politicians for art. He played a key role in purchasing works by Leonard Cartoon for the UK. As a member of the Historical Buildings Council he pushed through the preservation of some industrial buildings as a reminder of the industrial revolution in England. Thanks to Barnett Stross North Staffordshire gained many precious works of art. He bequeathed his large art collection to the University of Keele, of which he was a co-founder. Primarily, the collection consisted of pictures, sculptures and objets d'art of the 19th and 20th centuries.He was instrumental in the establishment of the, recently newly refurbished, Mitchell Memorial Theatre. In 1962, making use of his artistic contacts, he invited artists from all over the world to donate their works to Lidice to establish a museum of art symbolizing the solidarity of artists with the Lidice tragedy. Many artists responded to the invitation, among them: J.Beuys, G. Richter, E. Vedova, R. Guttuso, S. Polke, R. Opalka, L. Survage, P. Blake and W. Vostell. The themes and the techniques were not defined. Thanks to this, the rapidly growing collection assumed its heterogeneous character, compromising many different forms influenced by the ideologies and art styles of that time. Today the collection contains 433 works of art by 331 artists from 34 countries including the UK. It has been on display at the Lidice Gallery of the Lidice Memorial since 2003.
Ministerial career
Stross received a Knighthood in the New Years' Honours list of 1964. When Labour won the 1964 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health was a junior ministerial office in the United Kingdom Government.The Ministry of Health was created in 1919 as a reconstruction of the Local Government Board...
. However he left office in February 1965 and in July 1965 announced his retirement from the House of Commons due to concerns about his own health. He stood down at the 1966 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
. Barnett Stross passed away at the University College in London on 14th May 1967.
He devoted the largest part of his life to his political career, playing a major role in the development of relations between the UK and Czechoslovakia, the renewal of the village of Lidice and the protection of workers against industrial disease. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee he kept in touch with Czechoslovakia for all his life. On the 18th June 1947 the Czechoslovak government awarded him the highest state award, Order of the White Lion, for his effort to support the renewal of Lidice.
Sir Barnett Stross considered the establishment of the movement to support Lidice, its genesis in Stoke-on-Trent, but growing worldwide, his greatest personal success. He said that the success lied neither in the big sum that had been collected for the rebuilding of Lidice nor in the beautiful Rose Garden or Lidice Collection he had succeeded to found. He saw the success in the fact that the news about the slaughter of innocent people had flown around the world, converting the crime committed by the Nazis into a weapon of peace.
Espionage claims
Two years after Stross' death, the Czech intelligence defector Josef FrolikJosef Frolík
Josef Frolík was a Czechoslovak spy who, in 1969, defected to the United States and joined the CIA.-Childhood:Josef Frolík was born in Libušín, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from secondary school at the end of World War II...
named him as having been an agent of Czechoslovakia. According to Frolik, Stross (code-named "Gustav") had provided "interesting information about the domestic and foreign policies of the Labour Party while it was in opposition". Stephen Dorril and Robin Ramsay's book "Smear! Wilson and the Secret State" claims that such information as Stross supplied could have been obtained by writing to Transport House
Transport House
Transport House on Smith Square and Dean Bradley Street, London, England, was the headquarters of the Transport and General Workers' Union , and also originally of the Labour Party, the Trades Union Congress, and the Workers' Travel Association...
(the headquarters of the Labour Party).