James Oswald Noel Vickers
Encyclopedia
James Oswald Noel 'Jon' Vickers (J.O.N. Vickers) (1916–2008) was a British trade union leader.
and Cambridge where he studied History and English.
He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
, influenced by the death of school contemporary, John Cornford
, in 1937. It was here he met fellow Cambridge communist party member Winifred 'Freddie' Mary Lambert, later to become his wife.
he was called up in 1939, joining the Royal Army Service Corps
as 2nd Lieutenant. He was posted to the 5th brigade of the BEF
. Whilst on leave in February 1940 he married 'Freddie' Lambert in Cambridge.
A few months later, in May 1940, Vickers was wounded and captured shortly before Dunkirk
. He subsequently spent 5 years in Prisoner of War Camps including a period at Stalag XXI-D
in Poznan
, Poland
.
Towards the end of the war, as prisoners were moved ahead of the retreating German army, he managed to escape in woods near Kassel
and a few days later made contact with an American tank crew.
In 1942, Freddie was injured by falling timbers in a bombed house in Cambridge and she subsequently had to have both legs amputated below the knee. James and Freddie were finally reunited at Baker Street tube station
.
where he worked until, in 1949, he was forced to resign following complaints of 'communist bias'.
His next job was with the Electrical Trades Union (ETU)
research department and he went on to become its education officer. One of his achievements with the ETU was the establishment of Britain's first residential trade union training facility at Esher Place
in 1953.
During his time with the ETU, he became increasingly disillusioned with the Communist Party and, following the Soviet invasion of Hungary
in response to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, both he and Freddie left the CP, and both joined the Labour Party
soon after.
In 1960 he became deputy general secretary of the Civil Service Union
and became general secretary in 1963. He was influential in the success of the women night cleaners' recognition dispute in 1972. He also served as a member, and from 1975 as chairman, of the staff side of the civil service
Whitley Council. He was awarded the OBE
in December 1976.
for several years after. Freddie died 23 March 2006 and
Jon died 1 June 2008.
Early life and Education
Born in London April 6, 1916, educated at Stowe SchoolStowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
and Cambridge where he studied History and English.
He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, influenced by the death of school contemporary, John Cornford
John Cornford
Rupert John Cornford was an English poet and communist. He was the son of F. M. Cornford and Frances Cornford.- Biography :...
, in 1937. It was here he met fellow Cambridge communist party member Winifred 'Freddie' Mary Lambert, later to become his wife.
Wartime
At the outbreak of warWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was called up in 1939, joining the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
as 2nd Lieutenant. He was posted to the 5th brigade of the BEF
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
. Whilst on leave in February 1940 he married 'Freddie' Lambert in Cambridge.
A few months later, in May 1940, Vickers was wounded and captured shortly before Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
. He subsequently spent 5 years in Prisoner of War Camps including a period at Stalag XXI-D
Stalag XXI-D
Stalag XXI-D was a German World War II PoW Camp based in Poznań , Poland.- Description :Following the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the establishment of the Reichsgau Wartheland, Poznań became the administrative centre of 'Wehrkreis XXI' . Some of Poznań's eighteenth century forts were used as...
in Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Towards the end of the war, as prisoners were moved ahead of the retreating German army, he managed to escape in woods near Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
and a few days later made contact with an American tank crew.
In 1942, Freddie was injured by falling timbers in a bombed house in Cambridge and she subsequently had to have both legs amputated below the knee. James and Freddie were finally reunited at Baker Street tube station
Baker Street tube station
Baker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
.
Post-War Career
In 1946 Vickers was appointed warden of Wedgwood Memorial CollegeWedgwood Memorial College
Wedgwood Memorial College is a small residential college in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The college is owned and operated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and is nationally important as a centre of Esperanto education....
where he worked until, in 1949, he was forced to resign following complaints of 'communist bias'.
His next job was with the Electrical Trades Union (ETU)
Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union
The Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union, known as the EETPU was a British trade union formed in 1968 as a union for electricians.-History:...
research department and he went on to become its education officer. One of his achievements with the ETU was the establishment of Britain's first residential trade union training facility at Esher Place
Esher Place
Esher Place is a Grade-II listed country house, now used as a college by the trade union Unite, in Esher, Surrey, United Kingdom. The current building is at least the fourth on the site.-History:...
in 1953.
During his time with the ETU, he became increasingly disillusioned with the Communist Party and, following the Soviet invasion of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in response to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, both he and Freddie left the CP, and both joined the 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...
soon after.
In 1960 he became deputy general secretary of the Civil Service Union
Civil Service Union
The Civil Service Union was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was formed in 1944 from the Government Minor and Manipulative Grades Association.The union primarily worked in the Civil Service, but also in other public organisations...
and became general secretary in 1963. He was influential in the success of the women night cleaners' recognition dispute in 1972. He also served as a member, and from 1975 as chairman, of the staff side of the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
Whitley Council. He was awarded the OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in December 1976.
Later life
Jon Vickers retired in 1977 but continued to serve on Industrial TribunalsEmployment tribunal
Employment Tribunals are tribunal non-departmental public bodies in England and Wales and Scotland which have statutory jurisdiction to hear many kinds of disputes between employers and employees. The most common disputes are concerned with unfair dismissal, redundancy payments and employment...
for several years after. Freddie died 23 March 2006 and
Jon died 1 June 2008.
Works
- Giles Radice, J.O.N. Vickers (1971), Divide and rule : the Industrial Relations Bill. Fabian Society, London. ISBN 0716304066
- Vickers, J.O.N. (1971), A trade without collective bargaining. Industrial Relations Journal, 2: 46–51. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2338.1971.tb00794.x