Toby O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Edward Donough "Toby" O'Brien (21 November 1909 – 9 January 1979) was an Anglo-Irish journalist and public relations expert who spearheaded Britain's efforts to counter Nazi Germany propaganda during World War II
.
border in India to Colonel Aubrey O'Brien an Indian Army officer. The O'Brien
family is one of the oldest lines of descent in Europe, dating back from much earlier than the Irish High King Brian Boru
(941-1014).
At the age of five O'Brien was sent to England. Four years later he began attending St Cyprian's School
, Eastbourne
following his elder brother, Turlough. As his elder brother's initials TOB had given rise to the nickname Toby, he was known as Toby2, leading to subsequent confusion. He became friends with Alaric Jacob
, and despite their political differences, O'Brien would refer to Jacob as his oldest friend.
O'Brien won a scholarship as one of the first batch of pupils to newly-opened Stowe School
and then earned a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford
. Before Oxford he spent a term in Germany at Leipzig
. At Oxford University he was President of the Oxford Union
in 1932 and took part in a transatlantic debate with Harvard University
.
as press officer. His duties, which were to secure favourable publicity for the council and its activities and to provide articles and photographs for the foreign press, in fact represented Britain's counter to Goebbels' Nazi propaganda. Aside from maintaining a network of supporters in the foreign press and pointing out German lies (including their claims that they had sunk Royal Navy ships, which were, in fact, inland naval bases bearing the HMS prefix), O'Brien is credited with penning the lyrics to the Colonel Bogey tune "Hitler Has Only Got One Ball
".
, leading the election campaigns which led to the hung parliament
of 1950 and the Conservative victory in 1951.
He became a public relations consultant, and one of his first clients was the government of Spain
which wanted to promote tourism. Since the Spanish Civil War
Spain had been out of favour in British circles and its obscurity as a holiday destination at the time was indicated by O'Brien's question "Costa Brava
, where is that?". Years later with the number of British tourists visiting Spain reaching 2 million, O'Brien was awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic by General Franco
.
Between 1953-55, O'Brien was called in to apply his skills in the campaign to establish commercial television in Britain. Later he was well known in political circles for his "No Strings" parties when senior politicians from both parties attended his annual gathering with no strings attached.
and two daughters. Sylvia O'Brien died in 1950.
World 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...
.
Early life and education
O'Brien was born on the BaluchistanBalochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
border in India to Colonel Aubrey O'Brien an Indian Army officer. The O'Brien
O'Brien
The O'Brien dynasty are a royal and noble house founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais or Dalcassians. After becoming King of Munster, through conquest he established himself as High King of Ireland...
family is one of the oldest lines of descent in Europe, dating back from much earlier than the Irish High King Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
(941-1014).
At the age of five O'Brien was sent to England. Four years later he began attending St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
following his elder brother, Turlough. As his elder brother's initials TOB had given rise to the nickname Toby, he was known as Toby2, leading to subsequent confusion. He became friends with Alaric Jacob
Alaric Jacob
Harold Alaric Jacob was an English writer and journalist. He was Reuters correspondent in Washington in the 1930s, and a war correspondent during World War II in North Africa, Burma and Moscow.-Early life:...
, and despite their political differences, O'Brien would refer to Jacob as his oldest friend.
O'Brien won a scholarship as one of the first batch of pupils to newly-opened Stowe School
Stowe 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 then earned a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. Before Oxford he spent a term in Germany at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. At Oxford University he was President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in 1932 and took part in a transatlantic debate with Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Journalism and counter-propaganda
O'Brien became a journalist, working at the Daily Telegraph, initially as assistant and eventually as editor of the Peterborough column. In 1936 he went to Germany ostensibly as a reporter but with a hidden agenda of assessing the Nazi regime and possible opponents of it. In 1938 he was recruited to the British CouncilBritish Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
as press officer. His duties, which were to secure favourable publicity for the council and its activities and to provide articles and photographs for the foreign press, in fact represented Britain's counter to Goebbels' Nazi propaganda. Aside from maintaining a network of supporters in the foreign press and pointing out German lies (including their claims that they had sunk Royal Navy ships, which were, in fact, inland naval bases bearing the HMS prefix), O'Brien is credited with penning the lyrics to the Colonel Bogey tune "Hitler Has Only Got One Ball
Hitler Has Only Got One Ball
"Hitler Has Only Got One Ball" is a song that mocks Nazi leaders using blue comedy in reference to their testicles. Multiple variants of the lyrics exist, generally sung as four-line verses to the tune of the "Colonel Bogey March".-Origin of the song:...
".
Public relations
After the war O'Brien became public relations adviser for Rootes and was then recruited to the Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, leading the election campaigns which led to the hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
of 1950 and the Conservative victory in 1951.
He became a public relations consultant, and one of his first clients was the government of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
which wanted to promote tourism. Since the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
Spain had been out of favour in British circles and its obscurity as a holiday destination at the time was indicated by O'Brien's question "Costa Brava
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a coastal region of northeastern Catalonia, Spain, in the comarques of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. Costa is the Catalan and Spanish word for 'coast', and Brava means 'rugged' or 'wild'...
, where is that?". Years later with the number of British tourists visiting Spain reaching 2 million, O'Brien was awarded the Order of Isabella the Catholic by General Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
.
Between 1953-55, O'Brien was called in to apply his skills in the campaign to establish commercial television in Britain. Later he was well known in political circles for his "No Strings" parties when senior politicians from both parties attended his annual gathering with no strings attached.
Family
O'Brien married Sylvia Denny on 12 February 1936. They had a son Donough O'BrienDonough O'Brien (author)
Donough O’Brien is a marketing and public relations executive and author of books containing quirky facts.-Life:O'Brien was born in London, the son of E.D. O’Brien. His father helped to run Britain’s propaganda against the Nazis in World War II, was then the Conservative Party’s first...
and two daughters. Sylvia O'Brien died in 1950.