William Denis Kendall

William Denis Kendall (born a Yorkshire miller's son on 27 May 1903 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, died 29 July 1995 [cite web|title = Financial Times|url = http://m.ft.com/d2c/0.0?feed-article-id=7c0bd716-e977-11dc-8365-0000779fd2ac&channel-id=FT.com%20-%20UK%20News|accessdate = 2008-03-05] in Los Angeles, California), generally known as Denis Kendall, was a British Independent MP (Member of Parliament) for Grantham (known at the time as Grantham and Cleethorpes) Parliamentary Constituency in Lincolnshire, from 1942-1950. He ran away to sea at 14 and made £5,000 helping police raid opium dens along China's Yangtze River before running a waterfront cabaret in Shanghai. He then ended up in the US as a steeplejack. Later he went to work for a Philadelphia car plant and eventually became works manager for the Paris Citroen car factory. MI5 said Brownlow used his position to smooth negotiations by wining and dining local councillors in Paris.

He went to Grantham in Lincolnshire, England, in 1938 and became Managing Director of an Arms Production Company. He was aided by the sixth Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Lord Brownlow [cite web|title = Lincolnshire Echo|url = http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=156130&command=displayContent&sourceNode=242285&home=yes&more_nodeId1=156139&contentPK=20050688|accessdate = 2008-03-06] . Kendall became a member or affiliate of the British Nationalist Party (BNP). His company, the Manufacturing and Research Company Ltd (MARCO), was closely linked to a Swiss based firm with German connections. Kendall attracted the notice of the British security service because of his Fascist sympathies, suspected German links, possible involvement in arms trafficking, and his notorious indiscretion.

1942 by-election

The security service files describe him as a 'larger than life' figure. He retained the seat he won in the 1942 by-election, when he defeated the National Government candidate, at the General Election of 1945 with a 1,513 majority and kept it until 1950. When he won the by-election, he merited a lengthy interview in the magazine "Picture Post" with accompanying action pictures and the eye-catching quote "I won´t sit down and I won´t shut up". As the Managing Director for the British Manufacturing and Research Company in Grantham, he had controversial views on war production, which he took every opportunity to publicise. He learnt his engineering skills at car factories in the US and France. His factory was highly productive, where workers were well paid and provided with endless music and dance parties. He hired an organ and cinema organist to entertain them.

National Archive files

Three files available in the Nation Archives [cite web|title = British National Archives|url = http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7839876|accessdate = 2008-03-04] reveal that Kendall had come to the attention of the Security Service well before his election. Shortly after his election, a reporter visiting his office saw that he had letters pinned up from Winston Churchill, King George VI and Lord Beaverbrook commending him for his part in the rescue of four people from a bombed house. However, the security files show how Beaverbrook (then Minister for Aircraft Production) had raised concerns about Kendall's activities, and the file investigates the real fears that he was planning to smuggle secret plans for a new 20mm aircraft cannon out of the UK to America.

As a result of Beaverbrook's intervention, all Kendall's letters were intercepted as were those of his wife, Virginia. She depaired of his lavish lifestyle and in one letter to a friend in the US wrote that: "... [he] has completely lost his head... has one woman friend after another... spends thousands on silver and diamonds... some day the British people will want to know what is happening".

The Secret Intelligence Service (MI5) continued to watch his activities, and expressed concerns that he was carelessly revealing wartime production figures in his election hustings speeches in a way that breached the Official Secrets and the Defence of the Realm Acts. Kendall's popularity however, thwarted any attempt to arrest him.

The files cover Kendall's election in 1942, including copies and summaries of his speeches. His victory was a surprise. He had initially been supported by the local Labour Party, which then withdrew support on orders from headquarters. A file minute of 14 September 1944 summarises the low opinion in which the Service held him: " 'The not very satisfactory Member of Parliament is said to boast that he can get his own way on everything.' " A copy of the "Picture Post" featuring the interview is included in the National Archives files.

The files go on to record speculation about his presumed post-war gun running and smuggling activities in India, Holland and Palestine, involving Kendall's boat, which had a double hull for concealing illicit items.

In 1949 a court ordered him to repay £15,000 provided by a private donor as an investment, but which he tried to use to pay off creditors. The security files also disclose that MI5 also kept close eyes on another company, Russian Oil Products, which was suspected of being a cover for Soviet espionage though Kendall's involvement, if any, is unclear. The company was sold to Regent Oil Company [cite web|title = Chevron's history in the UK|url = http://www.texaco.co.uk/History.htm |accessdate = 2008-03-18] in 1948, the forebear of Texaco in the UK.

Kendall ceased to be an MP at the 1950 election. Interest in him appears to have declined after 1953. The files contain summary reports of his ongoing activities, and a career summary from 1950 concludes that "during the war he was involved in the Black Market and there is in fact little doubt that he is a currency smuggler". The files record his close association with leading right-wing extremists throughout.

References