Ivor Benson

Ivor Benson (1907 - 1993) was a journalist, essayist and notorious anti-semitic conspiracy theorist.

Life and Activities

Benson was born in South Africa. He started out as a journalist in Durban before later moving to London where he wrote for the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Express.[1]

During the Second World War he enlisted in the British Army in South Africa, and returned to journalism there after the War. He became a news commentator at Radio South Africa and broadcaster for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. He became chief assistant editor of the Rand Daily Mail; however, after he wrote an editorial in favour of Sir Oswald Mosley, who was staying with him [2] he was later sacked.

From 1964 to 1966, he served as Director of the Government Information Department to the government of Rhodesia, under Ian Smith and would speak for the Rhodesian Front.[3] In South Africa his fanatical support of apartheid went beyond that of most Afrikaners.[4]

Benson would author many books and essays alleging a Jewish World Conspiracy. He wrote articles for magazines abroad, such as Western Destiny, The Journal of Historical Review, and The Spotlight. He produced a newsletter, Behind the News, and in the 1970s founded a group called the National Forum,[5] and would head the South African chapter of the World Anti-Communist League.[6] He was the South African correspondent of the Crown Commonwealth League of Rights.[7] He would pay host to Eric Butler in 1970.

Benson would travel worldwide promoting his view point. In 1983 he spoke to the Swinton Circle in England,[8] and for the Canadian League of Rights in Canada.[9]

In later years he would leave South Africa to live in England, where he died.

Selected bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Ó Maoláin, Ciarán (editor), The Radical Right: A World Directory p244 Longman (1987)
  2. ↑ Pogrund, Benjamin War of Words: Memoir of a South African Journalist p58 Seven Stories Press (2000)
  3. ↑ Lowry, D The Impact of anti-communism on white Rhodesian political culture c.1920-1980 in Onslow, Sue (editor) Cold War in Southern Africa: White Power, Black Liberation p94 Routledge (2009)
  4. ↑ Knight,Derrick Beyond the Pale: The Christian Political Fringe p153 , CARAF Publications(1982)
  5. ↑ Ó Maoláin, Ciarán (editor), The Radical Right: A World Directory p244 Longman (1987)
  6. ↑ Bellant, Russ Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party p83 South End Press (1991)
  7. ↑ Ó Maoláin, Ciarán (editor), The Radical Right: A World Directory p302 Longman (1987)
  8. ↑ Peter Barberis, John McHugh, Mike Tyldesley entry on London Swinton Circle Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations Continuum International Publishing Group (2005) p185
  9. ↑ Lethbridge, David Jew-haters and red-baiters: The Canadian League of Rights AntiFa Info-Bulletin, (1999)
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