Streets Paved With Blood.
Volume two 1934 - 1935.
The Blackshirt - 19th to 25th January 1934.
Bill Jones is a member of NHQ Defence Force, and this is the night on which he reports for duty. After finishing his work he repairs to headquarters where members of his unit are assembled in the Defence Force Control.
A meeting is being held tonight in Islington, so Bill is going north. Boarding a lorry the ten Blackshirts in his unit are soon on their way. Dodging traffic they pass along Piccadilly, up Shaftesbury Avenue and on to the Angel. En route they exchange good natured badinage with taxi men, bus drivers and traffic "cops". One or two scowls are directed towards them, but more often they receive a friendly smile and occasionally a salute.
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| NHQ Defence Force. |
Everything is going smoothly when comes an interruption. Around the back of the crowd have gathered some well known faces of a well known type. About fifty of the rougher element in the neighbourhood have been formed into an anti-Fascist band under the leadership of a particularly nasty piece of work.
These hooligans have broken up our last two meetings in this locality and have accounted for several casualties in the local Defence Force. Hence the reason for NHQ support.
The speaker has warmed to his task when, "Wat abaht 'Itler?" comes the interruption. Suddenly a stone flung from the rear hits the speaker on the side of the head. A slight movement runs through the ring of Blackshirts, but the speaker holds up his hand and they remain still. A few seconds later a milk bottle sails through the air and catches Bill on the neck, fortunately without breaking.
Things have now gone far enough and at a sign from the P/O several stewards suddenly make their way to the back of the crowd. The "Reds" have turned to run, but too late. Three apparently uninterested spectators have seized the ringleaders of the band and have commenced well merited chastisement.
These seeming spectators are 'plain clothes' men of the Defence Force. Their job is to single out the dangerous element in a crowd so that no innocent bystanders will be hurt. A charge is made after the retreating "Reds", many of whom receive powerful uppercuts and well directed straight lefts, before the stewards are recalled. The meeting is then resumed and ends peacefully with the singing of the National Anthem.
Daily News - Monday 29th January 1934.
Men attack a girl Blackshirt.
Black pepper was thrown into the eyes of a girl Blackshirt, Miss Joan Evans, after she had attended an open air Fascist meeting at Kilburn on Saturday.
Miss Evans said that she " had just got off a bus when two men, apparently foreigners, approached me with the remark 'here's one of them', they then threw the pepper into my eyes".
Although practically blinded Miss Evans reached the local Fascist offices and was later taken to hospital, after treatment she was allowed to go home.
Daily Herald - Monday 19th February 1934.
Sir Oswald Mosley's Blackshirted Fascists were involved in a disturbance near Edgware Road yesterday morning.
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| Salisbury Road and Church Street |
After a few Blackshirts had bugun an open air meeting at the junction of Salisbury Road and Church Street, an argument between a Fascist and a member of the audience developed into a fight, in which the Blackshirt John Sutcliffe was knocked unconscious.
Then there was a general mix up, in which the crowd rushed the platform. The Fascists fought until a motor van drove up and in this way they hurried away.
Although the police arrived , no arrests were made.
Daily News - Tuesday 20th February 1934.
A dispute between Greenshirts and Blackshirts was described at Westminster Police Court yesterday when two men were charged with being suspected persons loitering with intent outside the women's branch of the BUF, Lower Grosvenor Place.
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| 12 Lower Grosvenor Place |
The men were Frederick Thomas North and Richard Wyndham Gray.
K. Fredericks, a music hall artist, said that on Sunday, in response to a telephone call, he and several others went to the women's branch in a van. They seized the two men and put them in the van.
North declared that there were at least 20 Fascists with rubber truncheons on the scene. While he was held on the ground he was kicked all over the body.
Discharging both men the magistrate said it was unwise for private individuals, except in a case of absolute necessity, to take the law into their own hands and make arrests of this kind.
Daily Mirror - Thursday 22nd February 1934.
Attacked by six men last night, John Reginald Rawley, a uniformed Blackshirt of Lea Bridge Road, Leytonstone, was seriously injured and was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital.
"After receiving his injuries Rawley seems to have managed to struggle to the local headquarters of the BUF', an official stated. "He was at once taken to hospital".
Early today it was stated at the hospital that Rawley, who is twenty three, was suffering from severe internal injuries and was on the danger list.
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| Knotts Green, Leyton |
He was knocked to the ground and then he was kicked, no attempt was made to molest Rawlet's companions, who shouted for help.. By the time the police arrived his assailants had escaped.
On previous occasions when Rawley had addressed meetings in the district he had been severely heckled.
Daily News - Tuesday 24th April 1934.
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| Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush |
The Blackshirts arrived in a motor van and one of their number was addressing a crowd when supporters of the Communist meeting began to assemble. Suddenly there was a rush and a good deal of free fighting broke out. A message was sent for police reinforcements and several Flying Squad cars drove up.
After some time the police restored order and later the Communist meeting was held.
The Blackshirt - 27th April to 3rd May 1934.
Fascist Attacked At Hammersmith Meeting.
Ugly scenes were witnessed at Coverdale Road, Hammersmith on Monday evening. Blackshirts set up their platform and all the people from nearby meetings promptly came over to hear our case.
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| Coverdale Road |
After about ten minutes the Blackshirts gained the upper hand and order was restored before the arrival of police reinforcements.
West London Observer - Friday 4th May 1934.
John Ernest Camken, 19, was charged with causing an affray by fighting in a public place on 23rd April.
PC Burns, 624F, said that while a meeting of Fascists was being held at Uxbridge Road a fight arose between them and some Communists in the crowd. Defendant and a Blackshirt came to blows and after he separated them the defendant continued to adopt a fighting attitude.
Defendant said that the Fascists charged the crowd and he got mixed up in it. He was not a Communist but when one of the Blackshirts attacked him he tried to defend himself.
The magistrate accepted the explanation and dismissed the case.
Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 8th May 1934.
At Greenwich Police Court on Monday William Samuel Bogle, Arthur Ernest Mills and John Crossby were charged with using threatening behaviour at Greenwich.
Inspector Gerhold said that soon after 8 o'clock on Thursday evening he went to Stockwell Street and found a meeting being held by the BUF. There were 24 men and 9 women wearing Blackshirts standing round a van and there was about 450 at the meeting.
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| Stockwell Street, Greenwich |
There was a considerable amount of heckling and after witness had been present about 10 minutes Mills turned to his companions and exclaimed "come on boys let's have a go!" With that he ran towards the crowd followed by Crossby and began to strike out right and left. Witness arrested Mills and another constable took Crossby into custody. The meeting went on quietly.
PC Baker said the crowd were calling out "we don't want the blacks here, send them back to Chelsea"' Bogel shouted "let's have a go!" and rushed into the crowd. Witness arrested him for his own safety.
PC Jones deposed that the crowd started singing the Internationale, the Blackshirts and some of the crowd began to fight and as there were only two constables and himself on duty at the spot he phoned for assistance.
Crossby told the magistrate that certain members of the crowd persistently insulted them, calling them "Blackshirt -------s". They took no notice until the girl Blackshirts present were called "Blackshirt prostitutes", then I considered it my duty not as a Blackshirt but as an Englishman to try and stop it.
The accused were bound over.
The Blackshirt - 18th to 24th May 1934.
Organised Hooliganism In North London.
Organised hooligans attempted to break up our meeting in Finsbury Park on Sunday morning.
Almost as soon as the speakers' van entered the park several Communists snatched the Union Jack down, and but for a brilliant sortie by Baskerville, would have trampled and spat upon it. Baskerville just rescued it in time, but in the process was very roughly handled by an obviously imported gang of roughs.
From the moment the meeting opened the "Reds" kept up a continuous booing and chanting, and was noticeable that the ringleader was a man who gained moral support from a child he supported in his arms.
The Defence Force were ordered to remove the noisy element - then trouble started. The Communists refused to go and struck our men, who promptly lashed out right and left, driving the Communists before them. For several minutes the fighting was brisk.
One man alleged to be an imported German Communist was seen to be dragging something from a holster under his left arm. Quick as lightning Thompson jumped on him and wrenched the truncheon from him. Unfortunately he had another truncheon tucked under the other arm and he was not totally disarmed until he had hit one of our lads across the face.
He was overpowered and received his due punishment for his misdeeds.
Things had quietened down by the time the police arrived. But the Communists with renewed courage took up their stance behind the police and began again their singing tactics. Another melee followed and mounted police were called upon to clear the pitch. Our speakers were requested to close the meeting.
Accompanied by a large crowd they marched back to the headquarters of the Islington branch, headed by the van carrying the Union Jack and the Blackshirt flag, battered but undefeated.
Daily News - Friday 8th June 1934.
Blackshirt Rioting In London - Violent Scenes At Olympia.
150 Injured and 12 Arrests Last Night - Baton Charges By Police.
But when I left the building three hours later, I knew it was I who was mistaken, not they.
The much boomed Olympia mass meeting was one of the greatest fiascos of the century. It had been killed stone dead by the carefully organised demonstrations of English men and women who hate Fascism and all it's works.
Fight For A Banner.
It was clear from the crowds and the behaviour outside the building before the meeting began that here was going to be trouble. For three quarters of an hour before the meeting traffic in Hammersmith Road was almost at a standstill owing to the crowds that had collected and before it was over mounted police with drawn batons had charged several times and twelve arrests, including a woman, had been made.
In all 400 police were on duty. Some of them had been concealed in warehouses and were rushed from point to point as fighting broke out, under the direction of a high official, who flashed messages by torch from the roof of Olympia.
Glass Shattered.
Inside Olympia, immediately Sir Oswald Mosley began to speak, interrupters shouted from the balcony. Blackshirts rushed to the spot and there was hand to hand fighting for a few minutes. Eventually, amid the screams of women, the interrupters were ejected. Throughout the meeting there was constant disorder.
One objector shinned up one of the iron girders inside the hall and delivered an harangue out of reach of the Blackshirts. A little later there came the sound of shattering glass. Pandemonium broke out again.
Ten To One.
So great was the shindy that Sir Oswald was able to talk for only two or three minutes at a time. His remarks were constantly interrupted while the stewards threw somebody out. Many were ejected with great violence.
Mosley made the best play he could with the "menace of free speech," it was not very effective because it was so wildly exaggerated. "Free speech in this country has been abolished," he said, "by hordes subsidised from Moscow gold and carrying weapons never seen in England until the ghettoes were emptied onto our shore."
To such hysterical anti-Semitism was the British Fascist leader reduced before probably the largest audience that has ever gathered under one roof in England. "The great red areas of this country" was another of his impromtus. There could not be plainer proof that the monster rally was a flop.
Enjoyed The Job.
The interrupters showed both courage and resource. From some of the remarks I overheard by mingling with the Blackshirts I should say the ejectors enjoyed their job. Here are some typical remarks:
"Last time I saw Johnny he was socking someone like hell."
"One's style is cramped by having so many women in the place."
"Hit 'em hard, I say. I can't stand this grandmotherly stuff. Don't spare 'em. We never did out East, did we?" To which his collegue replied "Not 'arf."
Your Papers.
When I went into the building I saw 10 or 20 attendants in black shirts hobbling about nursing injured feet and hands. One of them with some of his teeth knocked out was leaning against a wall with a bag of ice on his head.
When I was about to leave Olympia to go into the street a burly Fascist gripped me by the arm, asked me if I was from the News Chronicle and told me that I should be detained. I asked on what grounds. He said "I have orders to keep you here so that we can see your papers." I said "what papers?" He replied "The papers you have written about this meeting." I told him I propose to walk through the main entrance and invited home to accompany me. "If you go," he said, "I shall stop you." I walked out and left the Fascist standing.
Daily Herald - Saturday 9th June 1934.
Mounted police, a dozen squad cars and more than 100 constables tried to stop a Fascist riot, in which 3,000 people took part, at Hackney last night. Four arrests were made. There was a baton charge. Several people were taken to hospital injured in fierce hand to hand fighting.
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| Hackney Town Hall |
A barrier of 30 policemen, with joined arms was formed across the road, scuffles began and truncheons were drawn.
Mr J Blestowe told the Daily Herald last night: "I saw the most terrible incidents of rough treatment I have ever seen in any riot. The crowd got so angry, I think, because many had read of the treatment people received at Olympia the previous evening and were determined to show their opposition to the Fascists." More police were rushed to the scene and after a short battle broke up the struggling crowds.
Weekly Dispatch - Sunday 10th June 1934.
Olympia "Brutality" Charge - The Facts
No Communists Badly Injured But Blackshirts Still In Hospital.
What is the truth about the disturbances at the great Blackshirt meeting at Olympia? The allegation is that the Communist interrupters were ejected with unnecessary force and violence and severely injured. These criticisms have been for the most part inspired by political prejudice and the desire to discredit the Blackshirts.
In any case, here are the facts:
There are no known cases of Communists suffering from abdominal injuries such as have been described. But there are cases of Blackshirts in hospital with serious injuries.
Mr G Price, who has witnessed such scenes all over the world and is a trained observer, has collected the facts and reveals the nature and extent of the Communist plot to wreck the rally, showing how mistaken is the sympathy which has been lavished on dangerous rowdies and hooligans. By Mr G Ward Price.
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| A booklet on Fascist violence |
Organised Communist violence in Britain has found support in an unexpected quarter. By statements communicated to the press, a number of Conservative MP's have come forward in defence of Red rowdies who made a planned attempt to turn Sir Oswald Mosley's great meeting at Olympia on Thursday night into a Bolshevist riot.
With uniformity, that suggests concerted action, Mr Geoffrey Lloyd, who is Mr Baldwin's Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr TJ O'Connor, Mr WJ Anstruther Gray and Mr HJ Scrymgeour Wedderburn have denounced the Blackshirt stewards for "unmerciful brutality" in ejecting the hooligans mobilised at Olympia by the Daily Worker and the Communist Party to wreck an orderly public meeting by what was announced in advance as a "Communist counter demonstration."
Unfounded.
In terms of emotional vehemence, Mr Anstruther Gray and Mr Geoffrey Lloyd assert that they saw helpless Communists being kicked in the body by Blackshirts
The same statement was made by Mr Gerald Barry, whom the BBC permitted on Friday night to renew these unfounded charges, without giving Sir Oswald Mosley, who had been invited to speak first, an opportunity to reply to him.
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| A booklet on Communist violence |
Blackshirt Victims.
The only cases in hospital are two Blackshirts, one of them damaged in the very way that it is asserted the Communists were treated - by heavy kicks in the stomach - the other savagely slashed by a piece of glass used as a dagger.
These two men are in the West London Hospital, which is the nearest to Olympia and the only one to which casualties were taken. Nine other Blackshirts are laid up in bed at their headquarters under medical treatment, some of them also suffering from kicks in the stomach or groin.
Having knowledge of the Communist plans to organise riot, the Blackshirts had set up four first aid posts inside Olympia. All cases of injury within the hall were treated there.
Daily News - Monday 11th June 1934.
Hostile receptions followed by police intervention were the outcome of attempts by Fascists to organise open air meetings in London during the weekend.
The most serious disturbance was at the Rag Fair, Notting Dale yesterday, where four people were arrested, three of them Fascists. When a Communist meeting in the adjoining street was over the crowd drifted into Mortimer Street where the Blackshirts had the platform.
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| Mortimer Street |
The street was quickly in disorder and extra police had to be called to disperse an angry crowd. Blackshirts in the centre of the disturbance were protected by the police.
In Finsbury Park an angry crowd of about 200 surrounded the Fascists who were protected by park keepers and later were asked by the police to leave.
Another Blackshirt meeting in Regents Park, near the Zoological Gardens, was ended when park attendants were obliged to give the Fascists protection. Several were taken under escort to Albany Street Police Station for their own safety.
Police reserves were called out at Tottenham last night to protect a party of about 30 Fascists who were threatened by a large crowd when they held a meeting on the public meeting ground at the junction of High Road and West Green Road.
They were pulled for a box which they were using as a platform and were driven towards some iron railings. They were in danger of being crushed when the police arrived and dispersed the crowd.
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| High Road and West Green Road, Tottenham |
Holloway Press - Saturday 16th June 1934.
I scoffed the idea of your correspondent last week, that there is no free speech in Islington. So last Sunday I went along to Finsbury Park to see for myself and I was amazed at the scene I saw. Several thousand people were congregated about the Finsbury Park Gate in groups of forty or fifty, just standing, waiting. I too, stood and waited.
After a few minutes I mingled with some of the groups to see what they were waiting for. A closely cropped dark haired youth with open neck khaki shirt told me he had come from Edmonton with "some of the boys" to beat up Blackshirts.
"But" I interrupted, "supposing they beat you up?"
"They won't" he replied significantly and drew from his pocket a sort of chain plate arrangement that fits over the knuckles. I must have been startled for he grinned sheepishly and assured me that he didn't think he would have to use it, for as he said "I only used it once on a fellow's face last Sunday", I thanked him and moved away.
I learned that these foul minded blackguards had come from Kilburn, Edmonton, Bethnal Green, Stepney and Tottenham and their respective districts. Many were members of the Communist Party of Great Britain, some Labour organisers and members, while others had come just for the sport of breaking up a meeting.
They all vowed that they would prevent the Fascists from ever holding another meeting; that the recent incitement made by the National press to the public over the Blackshirts Olympia meeting was a plum they had all been waiting for and they were greatly amused when they smashed up a Blackshirt meeting, to see it described as "Fascist Scenes", or "Fascist Riots"!
A small group of local Blackshirts did venture into the park, but they were easily ejected by 400 ruffians from some other borough. One of the women Blackshirts was struck in the face, because she insisted on taking her own time in walking out of the park. She probably thought she had the right, because her father had paid his rates in advance.
As I was leaving a man of the cap and choker variety grabbed me by the lapels of my coat and said "are you a Blackshirt?"
When I replied by asking what it had to do with him, he said "I'll show you b------ quick if you don't get out of this joint".
Eastern Post - Saturday 16th June 1934.
Barnet Rigrotsky (21), a tailor of Fleet Street Hill, Bethnal Green was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment by Mr Basil Watson for assaulting Detective Sergeant East of Scotland Yard. He was also fined 40s for insulting behaviour at Finsbury Park.
It was said that Rigrotsky boarded a tramcar in Seven Sisters Road and punched and kicked Blackshirts who were in a procession. Sergeant East jumped on the tramcar and arrested Rigrotsky, who struggled and hit him in the face.
Rigrotsky said that all he did was to shout "Down with the Fascists". He denied that he had committed any assault. It was said that the Fascist procession was quite orderly.
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| Hackney Town Hall looking towards Reading Lane |
On a charge of assaulting a woman and her son at Reading Lane, Hackney, during the dispersal by police of a crowd after a Fascist meeting, Michael Goldberg (31) of Fulbourne Road, Bethnal Green was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.
Sergeant Wilkins said the prisoner, who had been singing the Red Flag, pushed a woman in the back. She turned to remonstrate and he gripped her by the arm and struck her several times on the shoulders. Her son went to her assistance and the prisoner punched him on the face and head, he then ran away.
The magistrate said to Goldberg "Your councel has referred to you as a gentleman. I will tell you what you are. You are not only a cad, but you are a coward.
The Blackshirt - 22nd June 1934.
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| Beresford Square, Woolwich |
The Blackshirts had no Defence Force present, only the two speakers and two supporters from the Eltham Branch attending. A hostile section of the audience, therefore, took the opportunity of breaking up the meeting with physical violence and eventually the police intervened and stopped the meeting.
The Blackshirt - 22nd June 1934.
More Disorder In Finsbury Park.
Finsbury Park was again the scene of thuggery and violence when a small body of Blackshirts were attacked by alien "Reds" recently. Mr Moir, of NHQ, was the speaker, and notwithstanding the fact that a large number of people were anxious to hear the Fascist case, a mass of about 1,000 "Reds" attempted to break the meeting up.
Mr Moir addressed his remarks to those who were obviously interested, but increasing interruption rendered his task difficult. After about twenty minutes of this sort of thing, a Blackshirt was struck. Ten stewards who were on duty held off the rush and valiantly defended the speaker. Fighting became general and after several of our men had been seriously hurt the police interfered and the meeting closed.
St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 22nd June 1934.
At Marylebone on Monday, Arthur Cattell and Robert Flaming were charged with using insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have occasioned.
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| Junction of Park Street and Arlington Road |
PC Brookfield said that on Sunday evening a parade of Fascists were being escorted by the police to their headquarters in Arlington Road, Camden Town. A hostile crowd were following. At the junction of Park Street and Arlington Road two Fascists got detached from the main body and were surrounded and set upon by a crowd.
Witness pushed his way through the crowd and got the Fascists away. Cattell incited the mob to further attack by shouting "down with the Blackshirts, kick the dirty dogs out of it!". Witness got hold hold of the two Fascists and was rushing them down the road towards their headquarters when Cattell rushed forward and attempted to strike one of them. Witness pushed Cattell away and as he refused to move on witness arrested him.
Cattell was fined 40s.
PC Bunker, who arrested Fleming, said he saw Fleming fighting with another man. Witness pushed them apart and told Fleming to go away. Fleming walked a few yards and then took off his jacket and placed himself in a fighting attitude. He was arrested to avoid a further breach of the peace.
Fleming was bound over to keep the peace.
The Blackshirt - 6th July 1934.
A Communist mob, armed with sticks and stones, attacked the St. Pancras branch of the BUF last Monday. Some 300 strong, the mob came from an anti-Fascist meeting held nearby in Camden Town.
As they rushed the branch premises, the Blackshirt orderlies on duty at the entrance gave the alarm and bolted the doors. One section of the mob began throwing stones through the windows, while another attempted to force open the doors. They succeeded in breaking off the bolts, but the Blackshirts managed to keep the doors shut.
Meanwhile Blackshirts used dustbin lids as shields against the stones, stopped the Communists from entering through the windows. Finally the police dispersed the crowd. No Blackshirts were injured, but there was considerable damage to the property.
The Blackshirt - 13th July 1934.
One case of concussion, a man kicked on the arm and in the face while senseless on the ground, and two others with severe head injuries from heavy life preservers, used by our opponents, were the injuries sustained by Fascists at West Green during a riot the police showed themselves helpless to control.
Throughout a meeting held on this pitch, assembled Reds created uproar and the police ordered the Blackshirts to close down. Showing admirable discipline and restraint, Blackshirts marched off followed by a jeering mob employing the filthiest language and numbering close to six hundred.
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| Turnpike Lane Station, West Green |
There, as Blackshirts were entering the station, they were set upon from behind, and it was not until Fascist Haslam had received a life preserver blow that produced concussion, Riley been felled and kicked and the other injuries sustained that police reinforcements came to clear the streets.
West Green has been the scene of similar outbreaks, in one of which Fascist Westcott, newly recovered from appendicitis, was kicked in the stomach and also sustained head injuries which rendered him unconscious for several days.
Fascist Waylaid, Knocked Down And Kicked.
While passing Chelsea Town Hall on the way home Fascist Buckley was set upon by several men, kicked in the stomach at the outset of their assault and trampled to the ground. His condition was serious enough to necessitate his detention in the headquarters sick room for a number of days.
Communists Attack Paper Sellers - Blackshirt's Narrow Escape.
Fascists selling The Blackshirt in King's Road, Chelsea, were again attacked by Communists last week.
Seeing the Fascists carrying out an orderly sales drive, the Communists set upon them, and in the ensuing scuffle one Fascist, Mr J Humphreys, who was going to the assistance of a Blackshirt girl, was slashed on the neck with a sharp instrument which narrowly missed his jugular vein. Several other Blackshirts received slight injuries caused by offensive weapons.
The Communists came from World's End, Chelsea, where a few Blackshirts had been holding a meeting.
Croydon Times - Saturday 21st July 1934.
Remarkable scenes marked the termination of a meeting at Croydon Public Hall on Wednesday evening, when interruptors and Fascists indulged in a wild battle, several of the participants being injured.
The meeting was organised by the Croydon branch of the BUF and the speaker was Mr William Joyce, area administrative officer and director of research at Fascist headquarters.
As is usual at these meetings Mr Joyce was the sole figure on the platform. He merely walked to the centre of the stage and without any preliminaries spoke for two hours without reference to a note of any kind. Then he answered questions for another hour and it was not until the audience commenced to sing the National Anthem that serious trouble arose.
Blackshirt stewards, male and female, were present in large numbers, arriving in vans from various London areas. Outside the Public Hall large crowds assembled to witness the arrivals, but any hint of a disturbance was quickly quelled by a large contingent of police present.
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| Public Hall, Croydon |
Inside the hall, however, the police were conspicuous by their absence, the Blackshirts undertaking to control their own meeting and keep order. They were placed in all parts of the hall, two or three to a row and also lined the walls. That trouble was anticipated was apparent by the manner in which all members of the audience regarded by the stewards as likely disturbers were placed in a corner under the gallery, with all means of escape cut off by a bodyguard of Blackshirts.
During the actual speech, the interruptions were mild in nature, consisting of ironic and derisive laughter at some of the speakers observations. A woman in the centre of the hall was another frequent interruptor, but Mr Joyce treated her with good humour. There were frequent gibesat Socialists and Pacifists but these were accepted by the audience without much comment, although at one time several voices shouted "you are provoking us", Mr Joyce replied "there is nothing more provoking than the truth".
Questions were confined to those written and handed up, which Mr Joyce replied to at some length. Then he called upon the audience to join in the singing of the National Anthem. A member of the audience started the singing, but before the second line had been reached the interruptors under the gallery started to sing the Internationale.
Immediately Blackshirts crowded round the singers and in a few seconds confusion reigned. Chairs were overturned and there was a struggling mass of figures punching each other for all they were worth. Blood flowed freely, clothes were torn and at one time it appeared as if the fighting would spread to other parts of the hall. The rest of the audience, however, stood immovable singing the National Anthem and completely ignoring the wild scenes behind them.
When the singing had finished, Mr Joyce shouted "steady Blackshirts!" but the fighting went on. Men were trampled on in the struggle and a section of the audience made a dash for the rear exit.
One man sought escape through an open window, apparently unconscious of the fact that he faced a 20 foot drop into the well of the basement. His face was bleeding profusely as he jumped through the window followed by Blackshirts and although he limped badly and had several bruises, he managed to struggle up some steps and so out into the street.
The wild rush of people to escape from the hall attracted the attention of the police, who were waiting in large numbers outside and when they entered, the fighting stopped. About two dozen men showed signs of this short battle. One man's jaw appeared a mass of pulp, another's hand was badly battered, whilst black eyes, swollen noses and bruised mouths were a familiar sight. Several had their coats stripped from them. One interruptor, holding a bleeding eye moaned "I was singing the Red Flag, they were singing the National Anthem and this is what I got".
Inside the hall the Blackshirts were celebrating their victory by triumphant shouts and loud cries of "MOSLEY", followed by the spelling of his name letter by letter in loud voices. The there were cheers and Fascist salutes. One Blackshirt told the Croydon Times that the trouble arose through the singing of the Red Flag, "we won't have it at our meetings".
The Blackshirt - 3rd August 1934.
Seven Blackshirts were besieged by hooligans for more than two hours in the newly opened Bow branch. Early in the evening, a strong gang of hooligans, led by local Communists, swooped down on the headquarters and tried to force their way in.
Only seven Blackshirts were on the premises, but they repulsed the attackers and closed the doors. The hooligans gathered reinforcements and made further attempts to break in, but each time they were warded off by the plucky Blackshirts.
East London Observer - Saturday 4th August 1934.
A disturbance after a Blackshirt meeting in Bow on Sunday, had a sequel on Monday when at Thames Police Court Sidney Winston was charged with using insulting words and behaviour, he pleaded not guilty.
PC King said that at noon on Sunday he was in High Street Bow, when he saw four Fascists boarding a bus. The rear one was on the bus step and he saw Winston and a dozen others making a rush for the bus. Winston caught hold of one of the Fascists, pulled him round and punched him on the left side of the face.
The other men also rushed to the entrance of the bus, witness went forward and arrested Winston, who said "I only went to tell them to keep out of Bow". At the police station where he was charged Winston said "I am sorry I struck him, I lost my temper".
On oath Winston said he saw a Blackshirt meeting in Devon Road, there was a certain amount of heckling and he heckled once or twice. A constable told him not to heckle but to wait until the end and ask questions. He did so and received one or two answers. Then it started raining and he went home, on the way he saw four Blackshirts waiting for a bus and one of them tried to provoke him by saying "there's that dirty swine of a heckler".
He said to them "I can't keep you out of Bow, but I can stop you insulting me". He tapped one on the shoulder and asked him what right he had to insult him, the man put his arm up, but whether it was to strike him or to reach for the rail of the bus he did not know, he struck out to defend himself.
Winston was fined 7s 6d.
Daily News - Friday 31st August 1934.
A crippled Blackshirt was set upon by a gang of men near the Fascist headquarters in Kings Road, Chelsea, last night and severely injured.
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| Kings Road, Chelsea, where BUF HQ was. |
The attacked man, Mr Kay Fredericks, who is chief photographer at the Fascist headquarters, gave evidence recently in connection with Trunk mystery no.2. He was previously a music hall artist and appeared in an act known as Kay and Kay, in which his partner was Miss Violet Kay, the victim of Trunk mystery no.2.
Mr Fredericks was leaving a cafe alone when six men suddenly attacked him. Eye witnesses stated that they beat him with sticks and that while two men held him down others kicked him. Two other Blackshirts in the vicinity rushed to his aid, but they too were set upon, one receiving a cut on the face and the other being knocked senseless.
Other Fascists got lifts in cars and taxis from the headquarters and found Mr Fredericks and another Blackshirt lying on the ground, their assailants had escaped. Mr Fredericks was taken to hospital suffering from concussion.
Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 4th September 1934.
Disorderly scenes after a Blackshirt meeting at Lewisham on Wednesday evening were described at Greenwich Police Court on Thursday morning.
Patrick Cox and Harold Cort of Kings Road, Chelsea, and Harry Allan of Reigate Road were charged with using insulting behaviour in Avenue Road and Cox was further charged with assaulting Arthur Carpenter of Molesworth Street, Lewisham.
PC Freeland said that at 8.15 on Wednesday evening he was on duty in Avenue Road where a Greenshirt meeting was in progress, when a covered van, containing 20 Blackshirts, arrived. They opened a meeting about 30 yards from the Greenshirts and within a few minutes there were scenes of disorder and one or two blows were exchanged. The crowd swelled to three or four hundred and owing to their attitude Sergeant Watkins was eventually obliged to ask the speaker to stop. He did so and the Blackshirts lined up in two ranks ready to march off through a passage made in the crowd by the police.
Then somebody in the crowd made a remark and instantly there was a general melee. Cox struck out with both fists at members of the crowd and struck Carpenter on the jaw. He was arrested and when the charge was read over to him he made no reply.
The constable added that Carpenter was making no attempt to fight. After the meeting several people called at Lewisham police station and complained of assault, but they were unable to identify any of the Blackshirts. Carpenter said that as the Fascists began to march away the crowd appeared to "go to them" and he got a "smack in the jaw" from Cox.
Cox was fined 15s
Giving evidence against Cort and Allan, PC Davison said that several remarks were made as the Blackshirts started to march away and suddenly one of the Blackshirts lashed out at somebody on the ground. Immediately a general fight ensued and witness saw Cort and Allan grappling. Both used their fists and it was only after great difficulty that they were separated.
Allan told the court that he was an ordinary listener at the meeting and was not with any particular organisation. When the scuffle occurred he got mixed up with the Fascists and he remembered no more until he found himself walking along with Cort and police officers on the way to the station.
Cort said that the rear of the Blackshirt ranks was attacked by hooligans, Allan "socked" him behind the ear and he struck out in defence.
Cort was fined 10s and the charge against Allan was dismissed.
St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 7th September 1934.
On Tuesday a disturbance broke out in Holloway Road, near the Nag's Head, after a Fascist meeting at Highgate. The meeting, which had been attended by about a score of Blackshirts, including several girl Fascists, had just begun, when anti-Fascists in the crowd set off a firework, which exploded.
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| The Nag's Head, Holloway |
The meeting broke up and there was excitement as the Fascists marched back to their local headquarters at the Nag's Head, Holloway. More fireworks were set off. When the marchers arrived at Marlborough Road, Holloway, there was a fight in which three Blackshirts were said to have been slightly injured.
The police arrived in motorcars and one man, who is alleged to have attacked Blackshirts, was chased by a policeman, who leapt from a car, but the man got away.
Daily News - Monday 10th September 1934.
Minor Disorder In Hyde Park - 2,550 Fascists - 7,000 Constables.
Never in English police history have precautions against disorder at a political demonstration been so elaborate as the Metropolitan Police mobilisation in Hyde Park last night. The Fascist official estimate of the number on parade was 5,000. A methodical count by several observers in collaboration, however, showed that the real number was 2,550.
Eighteen arrests were made, 13 in the park and the only serious casualty was a woman who was taken to St. George's Hospital suffering from concussion. There were about a score of people treated at the ambulance tent.
7,000 On Special Duty.
Nearly 7,000 police officers - the total police strength in London is 20,000 - were on emergency duty in and around Hyde Park. Specials took their place in the suburbs. All leave was also stopped for the Cameron Highlanders on guard duty at Buckingham Palace.
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In side streets grey police wireless vans were stationed unobtrusively, and mobile police patrols carried instructions received in the vans to the police chiefs. In quiet streets off Park Lane and Knightsbridge forces were held in reserve.
A Critical Moment.
There was only one critical period, when Sir Oswald Mosley mounted one of the seven Fascist platforms in the triangular space filled with Blackshirts, officially estimated to number 5,000, to make his speech. Thousands of people who had been at the opposition meeting dashed across the grass and pressed inwards a line of police specially stationed to keep the rival groups apart.
Five Blackshirts who had become isolated were involved in an unpleasant experience near Marble Arch when a hostile crowd of about 100 people surrounded them. Two mounted police and half a dozen foot police rescued them.
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Blackshirt Strikes Spectator.
As Sir Oswald and his army marched off there were several disturbances. Walking close to Sir Oswald on two occasions a Blackshirt broke his rank to strike a jeering spectator.
Several times from the crowd small balls of paper came over and struck Sir Oswald about the shoulders and chest, but he ignored them. At least a score of police cars, each containing five constables, drove along the side of the Fascist ranks scattering the crowd right and left.
A Final Rush.
When the columns reached Kings Road mounted and foot police held back a huge crowd of people while Sir Oswald surrounded by a bodyguard of 50, stood in Walpole Street and took the salute. There was a last rush from the crowd and busses and taxis in Kings Road stood out like islands in a sea of surging people, who clamoured and shouted "Down with Mosley."
Daily Herald - Friday 21st September 1934.
Scores of policemen were sent in cars and lorries and three men were arrested when a clash between Blackshirts and Communists broke out at Poplar last night.
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| Newby Place, Poplar |
Communists at a meeting in Piggott Street, nearby, marched to Newby Place and a clash followed.
Norwood News - Friday 5th October 1934.
Following a clash between Fascists and Labour supporters at Penge on Friday night, Mr Robert Norman was struck on the head with a missile and received a severe wound. He was taken into the local Fascist headquarters and was attended by Dr Davies.
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| Venner Road and Penge East Station |
The trouble began when the Fascists held a meeting at the junction of Penge High Street and Arpley Road. The large crowd was very hostile and finally the meeting had to be abandoned, a Labour gathering immediately following. Afterwards there was a lively scene at Venner Road, near Penge East Railway Station, and it was during a scuffle the Mr Norman was struck.
Mr W. Northdale, who was chairman of the Fascist meeting said he closed the gathering because the crowd refused to give them a hearing. He said that when he went away a section of the crowd followed and Mr Norman was hit by a missile as he was walking along. "The Blackshirts do not look for trouble, but try and avoid it", Mr Northdale told a reporter. "At this meeting several of our people were kicked in the darkness".
East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 19th October 1934.
Maurice Levitus was charged on remand at Thames Police Court, with having obstructed the police in connection with a Fascist open air meeting recently held in Stepney Green.
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| Stepney Green |
Mr Sanders , who appears for the police said that after the meeting Sub-divisional Inspector Jones had been to one of the speakers to obtain the names and addresses of those who had addressed the the meeting. Defendant was chairman of the meeting and whilst the Inspector was getting the particulars the crowd surged around him. Levitus was one of the foremost of the crowd, the constable asked him to go away two or three times, but he refused to do so and he was arrested and charged. A remand was ordered.
Emanuel Zalzberg of Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, was charged on remand, with using insulting behaviour.
It was stated that after the Fascist meeting, at which there had been a great deal of confusion and noise, a procession was formed by the Fascists. Accompanied by the police, it went down White Horse Lane. A policeman saw Zalzberg running backwards and forwards, he was told to behave himself. Another man was arrested and the crowd followed. Zalzberg said the charge was a ridiculous one.
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| White Horse Lane |
Assistant Gaoler Chapman said that defendant was recently fined for obstruction of the highway at Whitechapel. He was now fined 20s or 4 days.
Barnett Becow was charged on remand with using insulting words and behaviour under similar circumstances and causing grievous bodily harm by throwing missiles.
Mr Sanders said that Becow was seen to be accompanying a contingent and calling out "dirty Blackshirts!" to the Fascists, and was arrested by two officers. A Mr Poplett, a member of the BUF was struck by a stone on the leg and turning saw a man just lowering his arm. Two other members of the party actually saw a man throw something and at an identification parade they picked out Becow out as the man.
The injury was sufficiently serious for the man to be taken to hospital, where he remained for a day or two. One of the officers heard Becow say "I have got you this time, you dirty Blackshirt scum".
Lawrence William Poplett, of Pelham Buildings, Whitechapel said he was a member of the BUF and marched with other members of the party to a meeting in Stepney Green. Whilst marching away from the meeting down White Horse Lane there was a fairly large crowd. "Sticks and stones and bottles were being flung quite freely" said the witness.
Assistant Gaoler Chapman said that Becow had refused to have his fingerprints taken.
He was remanded until 19th October, the Magistrate said "you had better have your fingerprints taken or I shall order them to be taken." Becow thereupon consented.
The Blackshirt - 26th October 1934.
An Ilford Fascist, returning home from the local branch recently, was waylaid and brutally attacked by a gang of Jews. He was badly injured about the face, and sustained dislocation of the jaw, but was able to beat off his assailants.
The fascist who was assaulted was seen by his Jewish employers at the Hyde Park rally and as a result was dismissed from his employment.
Daily News - Friday 23rd November 1934.
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| The London Hospital, Whitechapel |
Six uniformed members of the BUF, chased by a crowd of excited young men, dashed for safety into the London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, early this morning.
One of the Fascists had severe face wounds. Extra police were called out to disperse the crowd of over 200 waiting outside the hospital for the Fascists to emerge.
A hospital officer told the News Chronicle "the front doors were pushed open violently and six Blackshirts dashed in breathless. 'Keep them out! Keep them out!' they cried. Porters went outside and asked the pursuers to keep calm".
The Blackshirts remained at the hospital until a police officer had taken a statement from them. They were taken to their homes in a police van.
Kensington Post - Friday 30th November 1934.
Scenes in Kilburn High Road after a Fascist meeting resulted in the appearance at Willesden Police Court on Monday of Edward Llewellyn Ashton and John Stevens, charged with using threatening behaviour.
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| Willesden Lane looking towards Kilburn High Road |
PC Darby said he saw a crowd at the top of Willesden Lane. There was shouting and booing and Ashton and Stevens were fighting and had their arms round each other's neck.
Dr Crone: Putting arms round another man's neck is not fighting.
Kenneth Harry Paul said he was with Ashton behind the Fascist procession and the fighting started apparently in the middle of the procession and within "two shakes of a lamb's tail" Stevens was pushed into Ashton's arms, Ashton did not hit him.
Margaret Gabb said one of the Blackshirts pushed her and she next saw Ashton catching Stevens round the neck.
Stevens denied any assault or disturbance, he admitted attending an anti-Fascist meeting and was an anti-Fascist.
A previous conviction for defacing walls was cited and Stevens was fined £1 and Ashton 10s.
West Middlesex Gazette - Saturday 2nd February 1935.
Scenes when Fascists marched past a Communist meeting were described to Ealing magistrates on Tuesday. James Thomas Eldridge was bound over to be of good behaviour for a year and had to pay £1 costs for insulting words and behaviour.
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| South Road looking towards Avenue Road |
Mr C M Melville (for the police) said on the night of January 21st a number of young men belonging to the Fascist party left the Beaconsfield Road School, where they had held a meeting and, escorted by police, marched back towards their headquarters. At the junction of South Road and Avenue Road, a meeting was being held by the Communist party. There was a good deal of "cat calling" and Eldridge detached himself from the crowd and rushed at one of the Fascists, trying to strike him. The Fascist warded off the blow and Eldridge again tried to strike him.
PC Wybrew 721T said Eldridge shouted at the Fascists "you woman beaters, you dirty Blackshirts". He attempted to strike one of the Fascists and was arrested. At no time did any of the Fascists interfere with the Communists. Eldridge said the Fascists were shouting "Hail mosley", as the procession passed one of the Fascists attempted to strike him.
The charge against Sidney Berg, of Cambridge Road, Southall, was dismissed and that against Frederick Ian Green, of Sunnycroft Road, Southall, was adjourned for a week for him to be legally represented (later fined £1).
A police constable said the two men were fighting in St George's Avenue and Berg knocked Green to the ground, both were arrested.
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| St Georges Avenue, Southall |
Berg said two Fascists were selling copies of the "Blackshirt" outside his shop on Saturday night and they shouted "don't buy from the Jews, I resented that'" said Berg, "and I asked them to move on. After a few words we agreed to go round the corner and fight it out. This we did, I have two witnesses".
Mr Walter Davies (chairman): You say the attitude of the Blackshirt was insulting to you? - He ignored my advice to go away.
Mr Davies: You must not take the law into your own hands. We accept your statement and you will be warned and discharged.
Daily Mirror - Friday 17th May 1935.
Police officers had to intervene in a scene in Ridley Road, Dalston, last night when a meeting of Blackshirts was being held. A number of Greenshirts were in the crowd and, following a disorder, one man was arrested.
Hendon & Finchley Times - Friday 14th June 1935.
The BUF held an outdoor meeting on Saturday in Watling Avenue, Burnt Oak, where about 200 people assembled. During the meeting a scuffle broke out between a few members of the audience, but the Blackshirt stewards intervened to part the combatants and order was restored.
Hendon & Finchley Times - Friday 28th June 1935.
The Finchley and Hendon branch of the BUF held their usual meeting at Burnt Oak on Saturday evening. The customary pitches had been taken by the local Communists and the Blackshirts therefore moved on to "The Highlands".
For over an hour about a hundred people listened quietly to an explanation of the Fascist policy, but later in the evening there was an outbreak of heckling, howls and cat calls. In spite of the general pandemonium Mr A D Burton and Mr A Bloomfield took questions.
After attempting to drown out the speaker's concluding remarks by a rendering of the "Internationale", a crowd of about 100 followed the Blackshirts to Burnt Oak Tube Station with howls of "no free speech for Fascism and Nationalism in Burnt Oak".
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| Burnt Oak Tube Station |
The Blackshirt - 5th July 1935.
Cowardly And Unprovoked Assault By Jews And Reds.
Serious injuries, at first thought sufficient to prove fatal, were sustained by a young Islington Blackshirt when he was brutally attacked and maltreated by a crowd of Jews and Communist hooligans outside the Hackney Headquarters on Thursday evening of last week.
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| 1, Bodney Road, Hackney |
The Blackshirt was Francis Charles Claud Wells, who attended a meeting held by the Hackney District that evening. The meeting, which took place at Tottenham Road, Dalston, was quiet and orderly. The members went back to the Hackney Headquarters at 1, Bodney Road, and after the main body had entered, a crowd estimated by the police to comprise forty to fifty people attacked a small party, of which Wells was a member.
Wells was struck on the head and felled. While he lay on the ground he was repeatedly and violently kicked. Blackshirts and police were successful in driving the hooligans, who are believed to have intended wrecking the headquarters, and Wells was carried inside, and after examination was sent to the Hackney Hospital.
Five of his ribs were broken, and he was suffering from severe internal injuries. Fascist Murphy was also admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractured thumb. The police have the matter in hand, and Inspector Barrett, of the CID, is in charge of the investigations.
Daily Herald - Thursday 18th July 1935.
Assaulted by an angry crowd, a number of Blackshirts had to run for shelter into a garage in Camden Road, last night. Bottles of motor oil taken from the door of the garage were flung at them.
Fifty police were rushed to the scene in response to an urgent message from the owner of the garage. They dispersed the crowd and the Blackshirts, many of them with slight injuries, escaped by jumping on a tramcar.
Daily Herald - Thursday 25th July 1935.
More than 300 police, 40 mounted police and dozens of mobile patrols in cars and on motorcycles were drafted to West Ham last night, when Sir Oswald Mosley held his first meeting in the East End of London.
For days past entrances to streets in all parts of the area had been chalked with notices "keep Mosley out of West Ham". When the meeting started at Stratford Town Hall more than 5000 people were outside. Inside the hall several people who interrupted were ejected.
As detachments of Blackshirts left after the meeting either on foot or in lorries, they were followed by strong forces of police but at Bow two of the Fascists were seen on a tramcar. When a crowd boarded the tramcar one of the Blackshirts left by the driver's cab, but the other was caught and efforts were made to drag him off.
He clung to the doorway as the driver started up. In the struggle his trousers came off and when the conductor and passengers went to his assistance he jumped off the tram. He succeeded in regaining his trousers.
A detachment of about 30 Blackshirts marching home to the headquarters at Green Street, Bethnal Green, were attacked as they turned into Grove Road, Bow. They took to their heels with the crowd in close pursuit. Six persons were detained by the police.
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| The turning into Grove Road, Bow |
The Blackshirt - 26th July 1935.
Israel Becow, twenty one, an upholsterer, of Mile End, Stepney, was charged before Old Street magistrate last week with using insulting words and behaviour at Victoria Park, Bethnal Green.
PC Stretton, 525H, said he was on duty in connection with a meeting of Fascists, and, following an incident which caused the crowd to break up, he told prisoner, who was fighting, to go away. Prisoner did not say anything, but persisted in fighting.
The Magistrate, Mr Dickson: Having started a fight, I suppose he did not want to break it off in the middle!
The constable mentioned that when prisoner was searched some jumping cracker fireworks were found.
Mr Dickson (to prisoner): I shall discharge you, but it is foolish to be involved in this sort of thing.
West Ham and South Essex Mail - Friday 26th July 1935.
Free fighting was largely the order of the day at the Fascist meeting organised by Sir Oswald Mosley, held at Stratford Town Hall on Wednesday night. Tension ran high and the police, ready for trouble, experienced considerable difficulty in maintaining order.
Some time before the meeting was due to take place crowds of people could be seen making their way towards the town hall. West Ham Lane, Stratford Broadway and other streets in the immediate vicinity were being patrolled by the police.
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| Stratford Town Hall |
As the Fascists left the hall after the meeting in motorcars which had solid bodies, except for windows about a foot deep and stretching the length of the car, crowds started to shout and sing the Internationale and the Red Flag. Another portion of Blackshirts left the building on foot and as they walked four abreast down West Ham Lane, a detachment of policemen walked on either side of them headed by mounted men.
During the meeting when Sir Oswald commenced his speech there was a disturbance, but this abated with no serious injury. He had been speaking for just over a quarter of an hour when another interruption was heard in the form of heckling from the back of the hall.
A woman's voice could be heard shouting above the rest, after several remarks she called out "you want to wash your shirt!" Sir Oswald asked for order and addressing the quarter in which the girl was, said that if she did not keep quiet, there were several Fascist women in the hall who were quite capable of dealing with her.
Another disturbance broke out at the back of the hall, it was around the quarter which had been in the main responsible for the heckling throughout. Members of the Fascists were seen to be entreating a man to sit down and then they took hold of him. It was like putting a match to gunpowder, for no sooner had they laid hands on him than anti-Fascists joined in the fray and a fight ensued.
This spread quickly, and a large portion of the audience at the rear of the hall were soon engaged in the melee. People stood on chairs and on the shelves which surrounded the side of the hall. Except for those who were engaged in the scuffle and others who were within a few yards, nothing was clearly seen.
Women's screams could be heard above the clatter and shouts. It was not until several men and two women had been ejected that order was restored. Even then at the slightest sound from that part of the hall was a sign for the attention of the rest of the audience to be diverted from the speaker.
The police did not interfere throughout the whole proceedings except to effect the release of a woman who was surrounded by woman members of the Fascist party.
Another incident occurred when the meeting was declared closed and Sir Oswald Mosley asked for the audience to rise and sing the National Anthem. One man did not get up and he was helped up by a member of the Fascist party. A short, sharp scuffle ensued between the two men and two or three Fascists went over to separate them.
Eastern Post - Saturday 27th July 1935.
Mile End Red Goes To Prison.
On Tuesday Barnett Becow (25) of 201, Mile End Road, Stepney, appeared before the Old Street magistrate charged with using insulting words and behaviour at Green Street and assaulting PC Clarke 715H and James Charles Taylor.
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| Victoria Park Square |
Mr Raphael, prosecution, said there had been a Fascist meeting at Victoria Park Square on the 15th July when about 400 people were present. The proceedings were quite orderly until prisoner arrived and began shouting abusive remarks at the speaker.
Alexander Brandon stated that he was a member of the Fascist party and was present at the meeting, he was distributing handbills to the public and prisoner was cautioned by a police officer. Witness saw him catch hold of Taylor by the back of his coat, force him down and scratch his face.
He also struck witness on the mouth, making it bleed. A police officer arrested prisoner, who struck the officer on the face. Witness alleged that prisoner was shouting "Blackshirt, dirty filthy Blackshirt!".
The Blackshirt - 5th August 1935.
Vicious Outbreaks Of Red Violence.
Red violence is breaking out again with even greater venom than the last outburst. From all parts of the country we are receiving reports of cowardly attacks by Jews and Communists on isolated Blackshirts.
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| Grove Road looking towards Mile End Station |
After the Leader's meeting at West Ham on Wednesday last week the Bethnal Green members alighted at Mile End Station to journey to their homes. As soon as the fifteen Blackshirts appeared in Grove Road they were surrounded by a yelling mob of 300 Jews. One of the Blackshirts was forced to the ground, and the mob kicked and buffeted him while he was on the ground. The rest of the Blackshirts were powerless to assist him. Eventually, after being kicked unconscious he was rescued by a friendly Britisher in a car. Fortunately, his injuries were not serious.
Knife Thrown At Speaker.
Fascist Keen was badly cut between the eyes while selling "The Blackshirt" at a Hounslow meeting on Saturday, 20th July, when a large clasp knife with the blade open was thrown at the speaker APO Lewis.
The knife missed its objective, but struck Keen, who, after having the wound dressed, pluckily returned to the meeting and continued selling. Had the members of the audience been able to locate the thrower of the knife, it was obvious that he would have received rough treatment
Fascist Speaker Thrown From Platform In Bethnal Green.
Nathan Cohen, 91, Bedford Street, Stepney, was convicted by the Old Street magistrate on Thursday last week of using insulting words and behaviour at a Fascist meeting at Bethnal Green, on the evening of 10th July. It was stated that the meeting was proceeding peacefully, and no disturbances had taken place until the prisoner dived between the legs of the police and, catching the speaker by the leg, pulled him and the platform to the ground.
PC Herd stated that it took three officers to arrest Cohen, as he was so violent. In reply to Mr Dickson, the magistrate, prisoner admitted that on the way to the police station he said "That is the way to break them up."
Mr Dickson: "I am going to convict - is anything known about him?
A Sub Divisional Inspector said that prisoner had been bound over for obstruction and assaulting police.
A sentence of twenty one days imprisonment was imposed.
Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 13th August 1935.
Trouble at a Blackshirt meeting, at Ringstead Road, Catford, on Saturday evening, resulted in the appearance at Greenwich Police Court on Monday of Richard Henry Holmes and Harry Charles Wallace, on a charge of insulting behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Holmes pleaded not guilty and Wallace guilty, Wallace declared that he was a Fascist.
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| Ringstead Road, Catford |
PC Southam said that at 9.35 pm he went to Ringstead Road, where a meeting was held under the auspices of the BUF. There were about 250 people present and the meeting was orderly until question time. Then there was some heckling and suddenly the crowd surged forward. Holmes and Wallace were fighting in the centre and with the assistance of another constable, PC Southam arrested them.
Holmes declared that there were half a dozen men fighting and Wallace said that there was a general "scrimmage". PC Williams said that while helping to arrest the two men his helmet was struck off. Holmes on oath said that he was strolling out with a friend. They stopped to listen and began to ask questions. A "scrimmage" broke out and two or three Fascists went for him. "And the next thing I knew I was in the hands of two policemen", he concluded.
Wallace, who said that he was in Blackshirt uniform, added that the crowd began to get hostile and some people at the back of the platform started pushing. They resisted them, as they were afraid the platform would be pushed over. Then fighting broke out at the front and when he went round someone struck him on the back of the ear. He turned round and saw Holmes "with his fists up", "I lost my temper and hit him back", he said.
"I'm not going to make any difference between you" said the magistrate, "in fining you both 20s".
The Blackshirt - 16th August 1935.
Fascist Robinson, a member of East Lewisham District, living in Deptford, was walking home alone at midnight on Wednesday, 7th August, and stopped at a coffee stall to have a cup of tea, when one of two men who were standing there recognised him as a Fascist and turned round and struck him.
While Robinson engaged this man, his comrade grabbed a glass and struck at Robinson with it, inflicting three or four severe cuts near the jugular vein, and left him senseless on the ground, running away when the police arrived on the scene. When questioned the proprietor of the coffee stall denied all knowledge of Fascist Robinson's cowardly assailants.
Camberwell Fascist Injured.
Fascist Fisher, who sells "The Blackshirt" regularly at Victoria, was attacked by four men while walking to his home in Camberwell last Saturday evening.
He was approached by one of the men, who asked him a question on Fascism, and engaged him in conversation until his three companions came up. Fisher was then brutally attacked and left almost senseless and in great pain, he was back at his usual selling spot on Monday.
Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 20th August 1935.
George Fenton and Leonard Jones were each fined 20s for using insulting behaviour at Avenue Road, Lewisham. PC Simpson, 469P, said that a Communist meeting at Avenue Road was quite orderly until the two defendants started fighting and he was obliged to take them into custody.
Fenton told the magistrate that a remark was made about a lady in the audience and he merely said that it was uncalled for, when an aggressive attitude against him was taken up. Jones declared that Fenton had continuously interrupted the speakers.
Henry George Pound, Fred Grant Hughs and Don Henry Kelly were charged with using insulting behaviour at High Street, Lewisham. Kelly was also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Fred Kersey by striking and fracturing his jaw.
Inspector Tidmarsh said the disturbance followed a quite orderly meeting. The injured man, Kersey, was detained in St Alfege Hospital, Greenwich.
Kelly asked for legal aid and the charges against him were adjourned until September. PC Simpson said that a party of 16 or 17 members of the BUF went along High Street with a crowd of 50 or 60 following. Several people were on the footpath, among them being the prisoners. There was considerable heckling and great disorder. Each of the prisoners adopted a fighting attitude and several blows were struck.
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| Lewisham High Street and Lime Grove |
Several people walking from Lime Grove and the Catholic Church had to step off the path into the roadway and it was necessary to take the men now charged into custody to prevent a serious breach of the peace.
He saw Pound in a crouching attitude, attempting to kick Hughes. Hughes was in a fighting attitude, attempting to hit Pound. When taken into custody Hughes said "What would you do if a man called you a ----?".
Pound said that he was walking down the road road quietly when Kelly came along and "all of a sudden" grabbed the man who now has a broken jaw. Pound said he fell and then saw Hughes striking out.
Hughes stated that he was asking Kelly about the Blackshirt movement when he heard an obscene remark and then he received a kick on the leg and his back was bruised, so he struck out.
Pound declared that he was trying to reach a tramcar to get out of the squabble, he heard the tramcar conductor shout an obscene remark.
Hughes and Pound were each fined 20s.
Daily Herald - Wednesday 21st August 1935.
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| Shoreditch Labour Exchange, Kingsland Road |
Several Blackshirts were slightly hurt in a struggle outside Shoreditch Labour Exchange, Kingsland Road, yesterday.
A number of people were heckling when fighting broke out in a section of the crowd. It was the signal for a general battle, which police were unable to stop. When he attempted to make an arrest, one policeman was pushed into a barrow.
Kingsland Road is under repair and many of the combatants threw wooden blocks and pieces of concrete.
Hendon & Finchley Times - Friday 30th August 1935.
Police had to escort a number of young Fascists to Burnt Oak Tube Station on Saturday night following a meeting at the junction of Watling Avenue and Barnfield Road.
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| The junction od Watling Avenue and Barnfield Road |
A meeting is held here every Saturday night at this spot and without exception there is always a good deal of heckling and rivalry between various political parties. On Saturday the heckling was more heated than usual and at the close a section of the crowd became hostile and blows were exchanged. Police officers, who were in attendance, intervened and order was restored. Nevertheless the Fascists had to be escorted to the tube station in case further fighting commenced.
On arriving at Finchley one of their number, Mr Robert Farleigh complained of feeling unwell and was taken to Finchley Memorial Hospital, where he was detained with injuries to his eye and concussion. Mr D F Harding, district officer BUF said "A concerted rush was made upon the platform and a fight occurred in which the Blackshirts were hopelessly outnumbered, one Blackshirt was seriously injured over the eye and has had to be detained in hospital with head and stomach injuries. Two other members of the movement were injured in the stomach by brutal kicks, ect".
Mr J J Delaney said "I do not agree with Fascist policy, but nevertheless, as an Englishman who is proud of his country and it's traditions, I was ashamed to see the disgraceful attacks made on those Blackshirts." He adds: "I wish to congratulate those Fascists on their attitude in the face of the mob; it was both disciplined and restrained in spite of the threats and abuse hurled at them".
A letter from Edgware, signed by "Patriot" calls the attention of the authorities "to the atrocious behaviour of undesirable elements." He denounces those who are alleged to have attacked the Fascists and concludes by saying: "I consider it shameful and a disgrace to civilisation that British citizens are brutally set upon and half killed in their own country for daring to put their King and Empire first".
Hendon & Finchley Times - Friday 6th September 1935.
The presence of a large body of police, supplemented by plain clothed detectives, at a meeting of Fascists held at the junction of Watling Avenue and Barnfield Road on Saturday night acted as a timely deterrent to possible disturbances.
In view of the fighting which occurred the previous week the usual platform was dispensed with and in its place a large black motor van protected by wire meshing was used. On top of this Fascist speakers harangued the large crowd assembled. A strong bodyguard of Blackshirts accompanied the speakers and interruptions were incessant.
Promptly at 10 pm the meeting terminated with the speaker leading in singing the National Anthem. This, however, was soon drowned by opposing political supporters rendering the Red Flag. As the motor vans containing the Fascists drove away missiles were thrown and the air was rent with cat calls, it was answered by the Fascist salute and jeers.
Daily Herald - Friday 25th October 1935.
Scores of police were rushed to the spot in cars when trouble broke out at a Blackshirt meeting at the corner of Ridley Road and Stoke Newington Road, Dalston last night.
Three men were arrested and will appear at North London Police Court with using insulting words and behaviour. One will be charged, in addition, with obstructing the police.
West Ham and South Essex Mail - Friday 1st November 1935.
Before the meeting began Communists stood outside the gates selling the "Daily Worker" and distributing handbills enjoining residents to stop the Blackshirts having the use of the hall. Side by side with the Communists stood Fascists selling the "Blackshirt", there were no incidents.
Whilst the speaker was giving his address there was a line of Blackshirts at the back of the hall, altogether there were about fifty Blackshirts. Some of them arrived in an armoured car to the jeers of the onlookers, some of whom called "here come the boy scouts, don't they have nice uniforms." The only speaker was John Beckett, the hall was half empty and not once was he interrupted.
Acton Gazette - Friday 1st November 1935.
The Central Hall was packed at a British Union of Fascists meeting on Wednesday evening.
The speaker was Mr A. K. Chesterton, a high officer of the BUF. A man at the back of the hall who began heckling early in the proceedings rose to his feet and tried to create a disturbance. Two blackshirted stewards removed him from the hall amid angry cries from the audience.
Mr Chesterton denounced the Government and the Opposition and outlined the Fascist policy of isolation of the British Empire and the idea of the corporate state. Placards decorated the hall, among which were "Jews and Reds want war, Britain wants peace," and of course "Mind Britain's Business." The Nazi National Anthem, "The Horst Wessel Lied," was played twice and the column of Blackshirts whistled it loudly as they marched back to their headquarters in Horn Lane headed by two standard bearers, one with the Fascist Flag, the other with the Union Jack.
West London Observer - Friday 1st November 1935.
"This election is a sham and the real battle for Fascism will follow. However, on polling day, any Fascist will be free to vote for any candidate he cares to choose on his merits. Personally I don't know any candidate who merits my vote and I shall not register my vote at the election. Any Fascist, nevertheless, can do so if he chooses."
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| Porchester Hall and Queen's Road |
Sir Oswald Mosley, the Fascist leader, made that statement at a Paddington mass meeting on Monday, after explaining that because their election machinery was not ready, the Fascists would not be contesting the election.
Over 500 people paid for admission to the meeting at Porchester Hall. Communists occupied about six seats in the gallery and made many interruptions. After warning them five times to remain quiet, Sir Oswald ordered their ejection from the hall. There was a scrimmage as a band of Blackshirts advanced to remove them, but within five minutes they were taken struggling from the building and order was restored.
As the Fascists marched four deep from the building at the close of the meeting there was a rush by the Communists who followed them along Queen's Road, hurling cat calls and yelling Communist slogans. Mounted police kept the crowds on the move and there was no serious disorder.
South Western Star - Friday 8th November 1935.
Order was maintained till the close of Sir Oswald Mosley's meeting at the Plough Hotel, Clapham, on Friday. Afterwards there was a great deal of excitement.
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| The Plough Hotel, Clapham |
While people were leaving the hall a man who had been a persistent interruptor of Sir Oswald got into conflict with one or two people and was hustled out. During the scrimmage he received some damage to his face and after his ejectment he paraded outside the hall and along The Pavement, calling attention to his blood stained features and declaiming about his treatment.
Many police were in the neighbourhood of The Plough and for a while they were kept busy breaking up the crowds who gathered. Small parties of Blackshirts were followed by threatening groups of people. Four or five got into a car at The Pavement and as the car started off roughs smashed several of its windows.
For the most part the harriers of the Blackshirts did not go beyond shouting abuse and uttering threats. Two men who persisted in having noisy arguments with people were arrested and driven away in a police van.
During the meeting, in which Sir Oswald was the only speaker, several women began to interrupt "all these women think they're addressing their husbands," said Sir Oswald, "you are going to keep quiet or you will go out. This audience has come to listen to our case and not to listen to blather from you." To a man who said he had been "bashed" three times by Blackshirts he retorted "you look very well on it. You will not get bashed, but you must keep order or you will go out".
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