Needs, Walter (1866-1914) aka J. Walters

Walter John Needs was born in Lambeth in 1866. He became active in the National Secular Society, of which he was a member for twenty five years. It was there he honed his skills as a speaker. For example, he is listed as engaged in open air propaganda for freethought, at Hyde Park on Sundays (The Freethinker, August 26th, 1900).

After a long study of socialist and anarchist literature, he realised that secularism was not enough, and he entered the anarchist movement, associating with the group around Freedom. It was he and W.F. Rean (1) who took Tom Keell along to a farewell meeting for Lillian Harman, the American anarchist, feminist and campaigner for birth control, in June 1898.

As an anarchist speaker, his speciality appears to have been anti-parliamentarism. For example, in 1900, alongside Malatesta he spoke on Anarchism versus Social Democracy at a meeting chaired by Tom Mann. This was at the pub run by Mann in Covent Garden, the Enterprise on Long Acre, and where the discussion group The Cosmopolitans met during 1899-1900. Needs addressed another meeting of the Cosmopolitans there in July of that year on Parliamentary Methods Reactionary to the Obtaining of Socialistic Ideals. The SDP paper Justice reported “The hall was inconveniently packed, many leaders of advanced thought being among the audience. The discussion proved of so animated and interesting a character that it was decided to resume it on Sunday evening, July 15”. Needs appears to have been a good friend of Tom Mann, and a memorial card to Needs is included in a scrapbook of Mann's held at Warwick University.

As a commercial traveller, Needs often voyaged to the West of England and so was able to speak at many meetings in the region. He often operated under the alias of ‘J. Walters’ when speaking.

Writing to Freedom from Plymouth, R. E. Bell reported that, “I am writing you on behalf of the newly formed Plymouth Socialist League...We have had an uphill struggle since we left the S.D.P., or, rather, were expelled for preaching Direct Action. At first we constituted ourselves an S L.P. branch, but a controversy having arisen on the so-called "political clause" in the preamble of this party, a split occurred, five members remaining S.L.P., the other fifteen forming themselves into a branch of the Industrialist League. Hardly had we taken this step than we became acquainted with the Anarchist position, mainly through the efforts of Comrade J. Walters. We have now taken up a definite stand on the Anarchist Communist position, but, on account of the prejudice attaching to the name, we have adopted the title of Plymouth Socialist League…. We have had several visits front Comrade Walters. About a month ago he addressed a large and attentive meeting at Manor Street, creating a profound impression, especially among certain S.D.P. members who were present.”

Needs also took part in local agitation around the town council in Wimbledon where he lived, chairing and speaking at open air meetings on the Broadway.

He attended the meeting and dinner at the Food Reform Restaurant in Furnival Street, Holborn (2) on October 28th, 1911 to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Freedom. He was there with among others, Kropotkin, Tcherkesov, Tarrida del Marmol, Malatesta, Rocker, Nettlau, Keell, John Turner, Ted Leggatt, William Wess, Ambrose Barker, Alfred Marsh, Honore Jaxon, Henry Nevinson, Walter Ponder, and Nellie Ploschansky. He was one of those who addressed the dinner, stating “ that his travels through England had convinced him that the spirit and idea of Anarchism was spreading even in the most remote and unexpected places…The Industrial Unionist movement and Labour revolts were essentially Anarchistic in character, and were largely the outcome of Anarchist teaching. He remembered being present at a meeting some years ago when Turner put a question to H. M. Hyndman on the general strike, and Hyndman spoke of it as a thing of the past and as a dream. It was no mere dream now. He resented the Labour movement being exploited by individuals for their own profit and aggrandisement. It was a great movement for emancipation.”

He died of cancer on September 8th, 1914. At the age of forty eight. An obituary in Freedom (October 1914) wrote, “ From his usually healthy and robust appearance, few would have expected such an early and sudden end. His appearance on a platform was a guarantee of a well-reasoned lecture, which was usually prepared conscientiously. London comrades will also regret the loss of such a capable propagandist. The funeral took place at Streatham Park Cemetery on Sept. 12. In spite of the rain, there was a good muster of comrades. The ceremony consisted of a splendid tribute to his memory from Frank Baker, and the singing of " The Red Flag." We tender our sympathy to his widow and children in their loss”.

Walter Needs was married to Caroline nee McLaughlin, and had seven children.

Nick Heath

(1) His full name was William Frederick Smith Kingcombe Rean (!). Born in Plymouth in 1862. Worked as a printer from at least the age of 18. A typographer and compositor most of his life. A poet, who corresponded with Walt Whitman. Left the Freedom Group to join the Independent Labour Party. Died 1932.

(2) Set up in 1897, this vegetarian restaurant offered “Luncheons from 12 o'clock , Teas of exceptional value from 3.30 , late Dinners from 6 p.m”.