Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Obituary: Eva Torf Judd (1941)

Obituary from the September 1941 issue of the Socialist Standard

The Executive Committee of the Party deeply regret to announce the death of Comrade Eva Torf Judd, who was a victim of a recent air raid.

Comrade Judd had been a member of the Party since 1935 and was well known to the London membership.

Born in London of Lithuanian immigrants, her early childhood, which she remembered vividly, was spent in the dingy Metropolitan borough which bears the pleasant name of Bethnal Green. Later, Comrade Judd emigrated with her parents to the U.S.A., and it was there that her interest in Socialism was developed.

Before the last war; whilst living in Boston, Mass., she took part in the struggle for Trades Union rights for the garment workers of that city. But it was in San Francisco, during the post-war years, that she first played an active part on the political field by lecturing at the Labour College.

Although not agreeing entirely with the I.W.W., Comrade Judd gave lectures on Socialism for that organisation in San Francisco and Seattle. Also she addressed many meetings in other cities in the U.S.A.

Returning to London after a sojourn of nearly 25 years in the U.S.A., our late comrade made contact with the Socialist Party, whose members welcomed her valuable assistance in the work of spreading Socialist knowledge. During her residence in London she addressed many successful outdoor meetings for the Party and was a shrewd and lively contributor at Party Conferences.

From 1938 until the time of her death she was active in the Party's cause in Southampton, in which town she met her tragic end.

About two years ago the MSS. of her autobiography was completed, and, in the opinion of those who have read it, it deserves a niche in the records of working-class literature.

To her husband in Southampton, England, and her daughter Judith in Los Angeles, Calif., the Executive Committee, on behalf of her comrades and many friends in the Socialist Party, express their deepest sympathy. Comrade Judd was another good comrade we are sorry to lose.
H. G. H.

6 comments:

Imposs1904 said...

I remember Barltrop mentioning Eva Torf Judd's unpublished autobiography in The Monument. Oh, in the age of digital publishing, if only it was still knocking about today.

H.G.H was the initials of H.G. Holt.

joel@fentin.com said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Imposs1904 said...

Thanks for the link, Joel. A wonderful surprise, and very much appreciated.

Imposs1904 said...

Eva Torf Judd's memoir mentions that she knew of the SPGB before moving back to Britain in the 1930s. She knew ex-SPGBers in New York.

Howard said...

Max (I think that was his name) Judd who was in the SPGB for many years in the 60s, 70s & 80s (and maybe later) must surely have been a relative.

Imposs1904 said...

I don’t think they are related. Judd was her married name, and her husband, George Judd, was originally from Southampton. (He was also a member of the SPGB). They had originally met in Seattle at a Socialist Labor Party meeting.

The Judds you’re referring to anglicized their name from Yudt. The late academic Tony Judt was part of this family His father was a member of the SPGB in the 30s and 40s and remained a supporter of the SPGB for decades after he resigned. I only know this ‘cos peppered throughout Judt’s books are these occasional wee digs at the SPGB.