Anarchism and the Australian Labour Movement: Jean De Lisle's Letter from Newcastle, 25 June 1937

BHP plant at Port Waratah

Image: BHP at Port Waratah, Newcastle (University of Newcastle [Australia] Library)

This letter, dated 25 June 1937 and written by Jean De Lisle of Newcastle, NSW describes his involvement in Australian anarchist circles. It is unclear who the recipient was. He discusses the difficulties facing the labour movement, criticising the influence of the Santamaria Catholic faction in the Australian Labor Party and its support for Franco during the Spanish Civil War. He also describes the Communist Party's political compromises and intimidation and harassment by communist militants, whom he calls the 'Knuckle Duster Brigade'. A steelworker at BHP's Port Waratah works, De Lisle mentions his subscriptions to Italian and American publications and expresses interest in forming an anarchist group in Sydney.

The original document can be found attached, and was sourced from the Kate Sharpley Library.

Author
Jean De Lisle
Black Freighter
Submitted by Black Freighter on October 31, 2026

168 King St
Newcastle
New South Wales
Australia
June 25 – 1937

Comrades,

I have received word from Fellow Worker A. Westbrook of Sydney that she received a letter from you. I am an anarchist and have been connected with a small Italian group in the North of Queensland. One of the comrades (whose name I will refrain from mentioning owing to the possibility of deportation to Fascisti Italy) is now residing near here, and the last time I called on him he gave me a copy of the paper "Spain and the World" which I gave to Fellow Worker Westbrook and she said she would write to you, and I can assure you we are very pleased to hear from you.

I only receive one Anarchist paper and that is in the Italian language which I am able to read write and speak, but I would prefer the English papers. The paper I receive is called "Il Risveglio Anarchico" printed in Geneva.

I also receive the I.W.W. Industrial Worker from Chicago U.S.A. I am a steel worker employed at the B.H.P. steel works Port Waratah, and I hope you will excuse my writing as my hand is cramped and sore.

The Labour Movement in Australia is in a very bad way, a number of the leaders openly support Franco in Spain.

This is due to the Roman Catholic Church, having gained nearly all leading positions in the Labor Party. The Communist Party will not expose them because it would break the unity of the Party; but instead plead mournfully for a People's Front. One of the Communist Party leaders died here recently and it said the Central Committee ordered them to get a parson to read the burial service which was done (a classic example of the "United Front").

The Comrades as we call here have the sight of us and me in particular and have tried to molest me on several occasions generally 5 or 6 together like a pack of wolves, but never one at a time.

We call them the Knuckle Duster Brigade; but they are losing ground and continue to go more to the right, many of their pamphlets would interest you particularly on the defence of Australia against the Japanese and I will send some the next time I go to Sydney and you no doubt would think they were issued by a capitalist class group.

We will most probably form a small group in Sydney in the near future and will be able to keep contact with you.

Anarchist Greetings
Yours fraternally,

Jean De Lisle

168 King St Newcastle N.S.W. Australia.

Notes in margins:

Reply Aug. 18/37 Papers + Lists

Enclosed cutting from the Communist Party Worker Weekly which has been damaged, but I think you can manage to read it - also photo of Comrade Oliver (capitalist press)

P.S. I am an Australian born Frenchman
J.D.L.

I will give Fellow Worker Westbrook some money to forward for literature as soon as possible.

Attachments

t1g3n1.pdf (1.23 MB)

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