Jessey Wade and Ernest Bell Animal Rights Militants?

Fact Check: Did The Times refer to Ernest Bell and Jessey Wade as the “Grandparents of Today’s Animal Rights Militants”?

Claim: A blog post on HappyCow.net¹ claims that The Times² described Ernest Bell and Jessey Wade as founders of the Performing and Captive Animals Defence League (PCADL) and referred to them as “the grandparents of today’s animal rights militants.”

Verdict: False. The Times article does not mention Ernest Bell or Jessey Wade. It also does not substantiate claims of militancy in the League’s activism or describe specific individuals as “grandparents of today’s animal rights militants.”

Examination of the Claim

1. The HappyCow Blog Post:
   The claim originates from an article on HappyCow.net titled So who exactly were Jessey Wade & Ernest Bell? The post asserts that The Times described Ernest Bell and Jessey Wade as founders of the PCADL and called them “the grandparents of today’s animal rights militants.” The blog post misrepresents the Times article, using it to bolster a narrative that connects these two historical figures to the foundation of the PCADL and militant activism. However, the Times article does not provide any basis for this connection.
2. Content of the Times Article (March 22, 2008):
   The Times article outlines the history of the PCADL but does not name Ernest Bell or Jessey Wade. The only individuals mentioned in connection with the League’s history are:
   • Mrs Kathleen Hanchett-Stamford, the last surviving member.
   • Captain Edmund Tillotson MacMichael, a former director.
   • Derek Hanchett-Stamford, her husband and former leader of the League.
   The article’s statement that the League’s members were the “grandparents of today’s animal rights militants” is figurative and general, referencing the League’s historical legacy. The League’s documented activities were non-violent and characteristic of middle-class campaigning, not militant action.
3. Performing and Captive Animals Defence League History:
   The PCADL was founded in 1914 by Mrs Albert Bradshaw (Isabella Bradshaw) and Ernest Bell. Jessey Wade, while active in the animal rights movement, is not documented as a founder of the League. The League’s activism focused on opposing performing animals in circuses and films, primarily through public protests, letter-writing campaigns, and legal challenges—methods far removed from militancy.
4. Mischaracterisation of Activism as Militancy:
   The Times article highlights assertive but lawful actions, such as:
   • Picketing circuses and licensing authorities.
   • Writing letters to MPs and organising public meetings.
   • Offering rewards for cruelty-free animal training methods.
   Describing such actions as militant misrepresents their nature and risks distorting the historical record.

Analysis of the Dispute

The HappyCow blog post misrepresents the content of The Times article, attributing claims about Bell and Wade that the article does not make. The blog appears to connect Bell and Wade to a militant legacy to sensationalise their historical significance, but this is not supported by the evidence.

Instead, the League’s legacy, as described in the Times, reflects middle-class, non-violent campaigning—actions consistent with its founding principles.

Conclusion

The claim that The Times described Ernest Bell and Jessey Wade as founders of the PCADL or associated them with militant activism is false. The Times article does not name either individual and instead characterises the League’s activism as assertive but lawful.

The misrepresentation likely stems from the HappyCow blog post, which appears to sensationalise the League’s history and its connection to Bell and Wade. Researchers should rely on primary sources and verified accounts to preserve the integrity of historical records.

1. So who exactly were Jessey Wade & Ernest Bell?, HappyCow Blog ↩︎
2. Nemesis of the circus gives away Pounds 2m, The Times, March 22 2008 ↩︎