Worthing 1894 - A Skeleton Army Rampage.

The Rival Armies.

The Salvation Army began as the East London Christian Mission which was setup in Whitechapel, London in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth, after a reorganisation in 1878 it became The Salvation Army, with William Booth as it's first General. They built the organisation on quasi military lines with uniforms, a rank system and a flag, they also strictly adhered to the teachings of the protestant Bible.

The Salvation Army was to bring succour to the populace with the slogan Soup, Soap, Salvation! They soon gained support for their work and had several wealthy donors. Salvation Halls sprang up all over the country, spreading the word and helping the poor and destitute. They were very conspicuous in their uniforms, marching bands and outdoor gatherings.

The Skeleton Army began around 1881 in either Exeter or Weston Super Mare, in other parts of Britain they were known variously as The Unconverted Salvation Army or The Opposition Salvation Army, but by the end of 1882 the groups were commonly known as The Skeleton Army. 

In a parody of the Salvationist slogan "Soup, Soap, Salvation" the Skeletons put forth "Beef, Beer, 'Bacca." They also changed the Salvationist statement "Blood and Fire" to "Blood and Thunder."

Trouble Brewing.

The root of the trouble began a month prior to the riot, as the West Sussex County Times explains on the 12th July 1884;

"The usual quietude of our streets on Sundays has of late been sadly disturbed by the unwise determination on the part of The Salvation Army at Worthing to indulge in outdoor manifestations. When they first 'commenced business' here they refrained, at the urgent wish of the authorities, from parading, with noise and clamour, in our public thoroughfares; and their determination in this respect gained them considerable support and goodwill. 

Latterly however, we are sorry to say, other counsels have prevailed, and on Sundays and week days alike, a few misguided boys and girls have been the occasion of disgraceful scenes, which not unlikely may lead ere long to a serious breach of the peace. 

The result of a handful of persons marching through the streets carrying a banner, bawling at the top of their voices, has been the formation of a rival organisation, who also carry banners and bawl more lustily still. The police have set upon this latter body, and some who have taken no part whatever on either side have complained of being attacked by them.

For some hours last Sunday our streets were in a disgraceful state of disorder, and there were several encounters with the police. A meeting in regard to the matter was since held. A resolution was called to the Directors of Montague Hall to discontinue letting their hall to The Salvation Army. This was carried unanimously, as was also a further motion proposed by Mr Spinks, draper, that the Salvationists be respectfully requested to discontinue their Sunday processions. If this was done then the Skeleton Army would cease to exist."

A week later more trouble flared up when an outdoor Salvationist meeting was surrounded by Skeletons and a fight broke out, one man, a local tradesman and Salvationist, was roughed up and the Salvation Army flag was torn down and ripped.

Later that afternoon the Skeleton Army marched, in the front were two men carrying sticks, behind them a couple of banners were held up saying "Worthing Excelsior Skeleton Club," and "Long Live The Queen." They sang a song that went, "We'll fight beneath our colours till we die, And drop on old ..... (the name of the tradesman roughed up that morning) by and bye." The police did not interfere.

Just as the procession was breaking up a young Salvationist was seen leaving Montague Hall, he was quickly surrounded by the mob, he fell to his knees in prayer and was saved by an old man who took pity on him.

The roughed up Salvationist tradesman tried to take the Skeletons to task and a summons was applied for. Unfortunately for him the magistrates came to the conclusion that The Salvation Army brought the trouble on themselves, saying, "It is a desecration of the Sabbath, and you provoke this riotous behaviour." The tradesman left empty handed.

Riot!

And so it was for the next few weeks, an uneasy truce, with the Salvationists keeping to their barracks. But it couldn't last, the Salvation Army would not be silenced! A procession was planned for the next Sunday and the Skeletons were ready.

On the Sunday morning the Salvationists marched through the town singing hymns and making for Montague Hall, a large flag bearing the legend "Blood And Fire" led the way. Opposing them came the Skeletons with a banner showing a white skeleton on a black background, following the Skeletons was a huge crowd, their yelling and shouting drowned out the Salvationist hymns.

Turning into Montague Street the Salvationist procession encountered a vast dense crowd, the police were now out in great numbers and were trying to afford safe passage for the marchers. At his point the Skeletons surged forward and rushed the Salvationists, the police were caught off guard and pandemonium broke out.

The police faced a tide of violence, helmets were knocked off and officers punched and kicked, the Skeleton banner was almost taken by the police but it was wrested back with great force. But the Skeletons did not have it all their own way, truncheons found their mark and fists were flying on both sides.

The Salvation Army saw their chance and ran for Montague Hall, and thus escaped serious injury, leaving, as the Midhurst and Steyning Express (19th August) said, "the police to fight the battle they themselves provoked."

All of those arrested were taken to the police station to the great excitement of the crowd, it was generally believed that if the Salvationists carried on marching on a Sunday the trouble would get worse.

Following on from the fight on Sunday the Skeletons were out again on the Tuesday, at midnight. They assembled in front of the premises of George Head, who was an ironmonger of Montague Street and a leading member of the Salvation Army.

At first they threw stones and broke his windows, realising there was no police activity occurring they got bolder, smashing their way into the shop they destroyed everything they could find, almost all of the poor man's stock was damaged.

Eventually Mr Head made an appearance armed with a spade, but he was hopelessly outnumbered and he was driven back. Undeterred Head then reappeared armed with a revolver and proceeded to fire seve shots into the crowd wounding several men, one grazed a Mr Eldridge in the face, and another hit Zulu War veteran Arthur Read, who was shot through the hand. 

Head later said he fired over their heads to frighten them but a cry rang out and he realised he had hit someone, fortunately he didn't kill anyone, but one of those wounded was his own son who was shot in the arm, the bullet was extracted by a local surgeon. After the shots were fired the mob fell back, and a barrage of stones filled the air. Finally, two hours later the mob dispersed.

The handful of police feared for their own safety and did not leave the station, they believed they would be easily overwhelmed and the prisoners taken the previous Sunday would have been liberated by the mob.

The next day those prisoners found themselves in front of the local magistrates charged with assault on both the police and the Salvation Army. Six prisoners were sentenced to one months hard labour each and several were fined various sums. A large crowd assembled outside and threw stones at the two policemen standing guard outside, although the police had been re enforced there still wasn't enough of them to stop the Skeletons making a terrible din the whole time the magistrates were sitting. This was getting out of hand, with the escalation to firearms it was time to contact the army.

Soldiers.

The police could not move the prisoners to the railway station and thence off to Portsmouth Gaol as they were surrounded by Skeletons, the police station was being pelted with stones, one elderly gentleman was hit on the head with a stone and needed medical attention.

A party of Skeletons were parading around Worthing with their "Worthing Excelsior Skeleton Club" banner, and so many had come to see the spectacle that every thoroughfare was clogged up and at a standstill. Things looked desperate, at length a telegram was sent from Lt Col Wisden J.P. to Preston Barracks, Brighton.

Thirty six rank and file of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons set out for Worthing under the command of Captain Walton and Lieutenants Law and Shakespeare. According to the South Eastern Advertiser;

"When the detachment of the 4th Dragoon Guards had been drawn up before the Town Hall some time, Lt Col Wisden J.P., who was mounted, addressed the mass of people assembled, advising them to go home quietly, and stating that the military has arrived to disperse them unless they did so. 

He concluded with an observation which caused great dissatisfaction, and despite repeated appeals to the mob, the crowd lingered, cheering the soldiers and singing 'Rule Britannia,' 'We Won't Go Home Till Morning,' ect. At about half past eleven the Colonel called for silence, and the Riot Act was read.

The Dragoons soon cleared the street, the crowd would move on to occupy another area, the police moved them again with truncheons drawn, again the crowd appeared at another location, sometimes throwing stones and other missiles. After midnight the situation calmed and eventually fizzled out, the Dragoons and police patrolled for the rest of the night.

Carry On Regardless.

Once again Worthing was quiet, but not for long. Two weeks later an altercation took place by Montague Hall between a police constable and a member of the Skeleton Army.

It would seem that the man had been lingering outside the Salvation Army headquarters, a policeman told him to move on and pushed him forward, the man responded by punching the policeman whereupon a struggle ensued. Soon another policeman appeared and the pair of them subdued their assailant, the assaulted policeman had blood running down his face.

Later other members of the Skeleton Army attempted to rescue their comrade, three of them were arrested for their trouble. Soon a huge crowd had assembled, the banner was raised, and once again shouts and yells echoed around Worthing.

Police were rushed into the town from all over the county. Once again the windows of the police station were smashed, Mr Head's ironmonger shop was again targeted and damaged, as was Montague Hall, the headquarters of the Salvation Army.

The Skeletons paraded through the town with great excitement, the town was crowded with people, eventually they stopped near the beach, sang the National Anthem and dispersed.

The magistrates needed to retake the streets, their response was to swear in 120  special constables for the duration of 14 days. The Dragoons were returned to Preston Barracks with thanks for their aid and assistance. The Salvation Army had other plans.

The Salvation Army vowed to continue their processions, the Skeleton Army let them know they would be waiting. That Sunday all of the special constables were on duty from an early hour, the two magistrates were out mounted on horseback supervising deployment. More auxiliary police were guarding Montague Hall.

At ten o'clock the Salvationists marched from their headquarters, and were immediately followed by the Skeletons. The Salvationists sang hymns, the Skeletons bawled insults and sang baudy songs, when passing a church the Skeletons, at a signal from their leader, stopped making any noise and the Skeleton banner was lowered, the Salvationists were called out to show respect, but they carried on singing regardless.

The Skeletons then paraded down to the beach and broke up in good order, no arrests were made, and no more disorder was experienced.

By early September the riotous assemblies were a thing of the past, the Salvation Army carried on their Sunday parades and the Skeleton Army followed them yelling, hooting and kicking them if they got a chance. However, the violence was not over, even at the pleading with the Salvation Army headquarters in London to stop the Sunday parading, it fell on deaf ears.

In mid September the Salvationists had been turned out of their Montague Hall headquarters and now operated from their barracks, Sunday parades carried on and the dreadful din of counter parades assaulted the ears.

Skeletons in many other towns were now attacking Salvation Army premises and parades, Brighton, Hastings, St Leonards and Eastbourne to name a few were experiencing violent actions.

The first Sunday in October saw a lacklustre Salvationist parade, but this was enough for the Skeletons to launch soot bombs and eggshells filled with blue paint on the resilient soldiers. Loud hooting and singing drowned out the Salvationist hymns, but the violence was kept at a minimum, only one Salvationist lost his hat, it was never to be seen again.

Eight Skeletons put before the magistrates received fines, seven of them 10s and one chap who had a previous conviction had to pay 20s plus costs.

Two weeks later the Salvation Army were at it again, this time the parade started an hour early, so as to get "the drop" on the Skeletons. The procession was accompanied by the police, and around 500 Skeletons turned up to protest. The women of the Skeletons had adopted the colour yellow to show their allegiance, one lady had a captured Salvation Army bonnet with a yellow ribbon around it. 

On the route of the parade yellow ribbons were flying out of many households, which just shows the sympathy of a great many Worthing inhabitants. Some fireworks were set off, there was a lot of noise, but no violence.

An inhabitant of Worthing wrote in the Hastings and St. Leonards News; 

"....I am no opponent of the Salvation Army, if they will leave off annoying me. In fact I will subscribe to them with all my heart, if they will conduct only the worship of God. At the same time if they continue their noisy proceedings I shall uphold the Skeleton Army. No doubt remains in my mind I have a great deal to thank the Skeletons for. The man who was shouting or squalling on Sabbath morning last was in my opinion worse than a maniac."

In court that November for the attack on Mr George Head's establishment Arthur Reed, Edward Eldridge and E. Standen were found guilty of demolishing the premises, which was a felony and could have landed them in prison for seven years, however, the judge took pity and ruled it a misdemeanor, so they were sentenced to four months with hard labour.

George Head was indicted for unlawfully wounding Edmund Oliver with his revolver, without hearing any evidence, and in a very short time, he was acquitted "on the grounds that he had no malicious intent, and was justified in his conduct."

With that the Worthing Skeleton riot slipped into the history books, the Salvation Army, of course, still exists and carries on it's work. In Worthing they have not forgotten, in fact, it would seem that they are very proud of their Skeleton Army ancestors.

The Skeleton Army in East London 1880 - 1884.

The Salvation Army.

The East London Christian Mission was setup in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth, after a reorganisation in 1878 it became The Salvation Army, with William Booth as it's first General. They built the organisation on quasi military lines with uniforms, a rank system and a flag, they also strictly adhered to the teachings of the protestant Bible.

The Salvation Army was to bring the good word to the poor and wicked people of the East End with the slogan Soup, Soap, Salvation! They soon gained support for their work and had several wealthy donors. The crusade save the drink sodden, gambling, and fallen populace with few morals was on, but did they all want to be saved? As it turns out, not everyone.

According to a report in The Times from 1882, it was stated; "The Salvation Army is not altogether a pleasant phenomenon. Natural as it and it's success must be conceded to be, it is overbearing, conceited, and unreal.

Its solitary weapon for enticing recruits and subduing enemies is a series of gusts of spiritual intoxication. No fruitful ideas underlie its war cries. It has no laws by which to administer territory it has conquered, or rules for the correction and elevation of hearts and souls." Stern words indeed! 

The Unconverted Salvation Army and Other Travellers.

The first headquarters of the new movement was at 272, Whitechapel Road, this building would be the focus of local discontent. The East London Observer, Saturday 7th August 1880 reported;

"Robert Blandfield and Thomas Thorpe were charged with disorderly conduct at the headquarters of the Salvation Army, High Street, Whitechapel. They were further charged with assaulting George Gates, a gatekeeper at the place. After hearing the evidence Mr Saunders fined Thorpe 20s, or fourteen days; and Blandfield 5s, or five days."

Salvation Army HQ, Whitechapel.

According to the Salvation Army's own newspaper War Cry of the 21st August 1880; 

"We have got an opposition here, in the shape of a Devil's regiment, calling itself 'The Unconverted Salvation Army,' which they wear in printed characters on their hats and march in procession, and hold open air meetings in our fashion."

The proto Skeletons of the Unconverted Salvation Army were becoming more violent, in November 1880 a Salvation Army procession was attacked in West Ferry Road, Millwall by a gang, Captain John Richardson was struck in the face, all charges were dropped, the attackers faced fines and were bound over to keep the peace.

East London Observer - Saturday 17th September 1881;

"Police constable Samuel Dutch 328H, said that about 8.30 on Sunday night he was on duty in the Whitechapel Road, near the London Hospital, when he noticed a large crowd of persons, numbering over a thousand, in the road.

The traffic was completely stopped, there being no less than three tram cars and two omnibuses waiting to get by. On proceeding to the spot, he found the prisoner Arnold in front of a detachment of boys and young men, numbering four or five hundred. They were in ranks four deep, and Arnold was waving around a stick as if drilling them, the two other prisoners acting as lieutenants.

Arnold being addressed by the rest as 'Captain.' The whole of the detachment were singing ribald songs at the top of their voices, and witness was informed that they styled themselves 'The Opposition Salvation Army.' He spoke to the gang, and requested them to disperse, but, at the instigation of the prisoners, who were much the worse of the lot, they refused to go, and at last he took the prisoners into custody.

On the road to the station he and some other constables, who came to his assistance, were shouted at and pelted by the mob which followed them. There was a sense of great confusion all along the route until they reached the Arbour Square Station."

Various places were licenced to the Salvation Army for the purpose of preaching, in a railway arch one chap entered smoking a cigar, when he was asked to put it out he annoyed the congregation by shouting "yes, yes" several times. In this congregation some special constables were posted to look out for troublemakers, this chap was arrested after he was asked to leave but then commenced to dance "drunkenly".

It would appear that some policemen were not altogether unbiased, East London Observer - Saturday 8th October 1881;

"A young man came before his worship to make a complaint under the following circumstances :- He stated that about three months ago he was fined 40s, by Mr Lushington for annoying some members of the Salvation Army, whilst they were conducting their services. 

Since then, however, he had taken good care not to have anything to do with them, but, unfortunately, there was a constable who went about with detachments of the army, and who was known as the 'Hallelujah Policeman,'  who would not let him alone, but was constantly interfering with him and threatening to 'run him in' again if he had the chance, and he, therefore, wanted to know what he could do to put a stop to it. Mr Saunders referred the applicant to the police station."

In December 1881 the poor door keeper at the Whitechapel headquarters was assaulted by a Daniel Plansey. He was arrested by PC's 114H Pasco and 40H Haley, Plansey was sentenced to one month's hard labour.

Soon the Salvation Army marched on Limehouse, and with it came trouble, East London Observer - Saturday 18th March 1882;

"A Row At The Limehouse Salvation Hall.

Salvation Hall, Limehouse.

Thomas Bowser was charged with assaulting Cotterill, doorkeeper at the Salvation Hall, Commercial Road, Limehouse. The complainant said that he resided at 40, Northerly Street, and was a soldier of the Salvation Army. About 3.30 on Sunday afternoon he was standing at the door of the hall when a number of young men, who belonged to what was called the 'Opposition Army,' came up and wanted to enter.

As it was known that they only wanted to make a disturbance they were refused admission. Prisoner, who was with them, walked inside, and then the others made a rush to get in. At this moment prisoner struck witness a blow to the face, and he was knocked about by some others of the gang; besides this, the prisoner kicked him on the leg.

Police constable Cole, 208K, who was called to take prisoner into custody, said that there was a crowd outside the place when he got there. Mr Saunders fined the prisoner 20s, and 10s costs."

The Salvation Army At Limehouse.

Sometimes it was the Salvationists who were in trouble, in April 1882 a Captain James Fearless was charged with disorderly conduct and causing an obstruction outside Mr Mitchell's tool manufacturers on the corner of Commercial Road and Salmon Lane, Limehouse. 

A crowd of around 200 were singing loudly outside his shop, he asked them to go away, at this Fearless ordered his soldiers to "fall in" and he marched them round and round, when they passed Mr Mitchell's shop they "waved their banners and shouted louder than ever". The magistrate bound over Fearless to keep the peace for six months.

Another procession through Limehouse was pelted with rubbish, one Alfred Guy was struck in the face with a cabbage stalk thrown by Thomas Donovan, who also used threatening language and egged on the others to throw more rubbish. PC Cole, 208K, was on the scene and arrested Donovan, who got a choice of 5s fine or five days hard labour.

More trouble occurred during a march down Salmon Lane, the Salvationists were pelted with rubbish and stones, one of which hit the standard bearer. PC'S 338K Westerman and 446K Emery saw the three culprits and soon apprehended them, they were all fined.

Meanwhile back in Whitechapel John Russell launched an unprovoked attack on Salvation Army officer Hermann Leepes. Russell and another man had entered the Salvation Hall in Whitechapel Road, sitting down Russell then began to whistle and annoy people. Mr Leepes asked him to be quiet, when it became apparent that he was there for trouble Leepes sent the door keeper to fetch a constable.

In the meantime things became heated and Russell punched Leepes in the eye, blackening it. Soon PC 203H Jackson appeared and marched him off into custody, Russell received one month with hard labour.

One month later in August 1882, James Green was charged with assault and breaking a window at Salvation Hall, Whitechapel. The whole incident happened because Green was refused exit from Salvation Hall, according to Henry Simpson you couldn't leave until the singing had started.

Believing this to be nonsense Green went for the door, Simpson grabbed him and was pushed back by Green, he then fell against a window which broke, a policeman appeared and Green was taken into custody. Magistrate Mr Lushington was having none of it, the window was obviously not broken intentionally, and the Salvation Army had no authority to stop anyone leaving its premises, the prisoner was discharged.

In November 1882 Jacob Chapman was arrested in Berner's Street for throwing stones at a Salvation Army procession. Constable Symes, 167H, stated "on Sunday he was on duty in Berner's Street, when he saw a detachment of the Salvation Army marching along, and several persons throwing stones at them. Prisoner left the door of a public house, picked up a stone, and deliberately threw it amongst the army people." He received the choice of either a 5s fine or five days hard labour.

The Skeleton Army.

Towards the end of 1882 the name Skeleton Army was being mentioned in the East End press. The Skeletons are known to have originated in either Exeter or Weston Super Mare around 1881, the name galvanised the anti Salvation Army elements, they were now all Skeletons. In a parody of the Salvationist slogan "Soup, Soap, Salvation" the Skeletons put forth "Beef, Beer, 'Bacca." They also changed the Salvationist statement "Blood and Fire" to "Blood and Thunder."

East London Observer - Saturday 13th January 1883;

"John Old, 26, labourer and member of the Skeleton Army, was charged with unlawfully wounding Robert McCartney, by stabbing him in the back with a knife. He was also charged with assaulting Alfred Wares. Inspector Shaw, H Division, prosecuted.

Wares stated on Sunday night last he was in Cable Street along with McCartney, when a lot of the Skeleton Army came by. He and McCartney stood for a moment at the corner of Mercer Street, when about twenty or thirty of the Skeletons came round and stared them in the face. McCartney moved away, on which some of the Skeletons called out, 'on to him chaps,' and about a dozen of them ran after McCartney, whilst the others, among whom was the prisoner, came to him and knocked him about, striking him with their belts and kicking him.

Mercer Street no longer exists.

They then ran off, and he afterwards saw that McCartney had been stabbed in the back. He assisted to take him to the London Hospital. He knew the prisoner well, and had seen him before with the army. Sergeant Nathan Lee, 17H, said that on Wednesday night he saw prisoner in the Mile End Road, marching at the head of a detachment of the Skeleton Army."

Old was remanded in custody for the assault, but the stabbing charge was dropped as McCartney would not identify Old as his assailant. Two weeks later Old was sentenced for the assault on Wares, he received two years imprisonment with hard labour.

There was more trouble outside the Salvation Hall, Whitechapel Road on the 20th January, three men were arrested for throwing stones into the porch and pushing people around, they proudly declared their allegiance to The Skeleton Army.

East London Observer - Saturday 27th January 1883;

"The Poplar Branch of The Skeleton Army.

Five young men named Saunders, McGuiness, Peel, Sayes and Meredith, all under twenty years of age, were charged with disorderly conduct and causing an obstruction in the public streets.

The prisoner Saunders, who is a dwarf, was dressed in the uniform of the drummer of a line regiment. He was stated to hold the rank of Captain, whilst the others were privates in the Poplar Skeletons. Considerable amusement was caused in court by the production by the police of a number of 'trophies' which had been captured from the ranks of the 'Army.'

They consisted of about a dozen helmets of various descriptions, some being heavy metal ones with the plume of a dragoon still sticking in them, whilst others were of the kind used by our troops in the late Egyptian campaign. Besides these there were some half dozen flags, of bright colours, and two 'standards,' these latter being of the rudest description; both were ornamented with skulls and crossbones, and bore various devices such as 'Ready, aye Ready,' ect."

Inspector Stephen Chandler of K Division said the boys belonged to a gang who walked out in imitation of the Skeletons, wearing helmets and waving flags like those produced and causing a nuisance. They pushed people off the pavement, blocked traffic and harrassed businesses. 

A crowd of up to a thousand followed the police taking the five young men into custody, shouts and threats to "corpse" anyone giving evidence was heard. When in from of the magistrate they were told that their behaviour was not acceptable, they were all bound over to keep the peace.

The Skeletons seemed to be getting younger! East London Observer - Saturday 3rd February 1883;

"John Kennedy, 10, was charged with disorderly conduct, and throwing missiles in the public streets.

Police constable George Cole, 208K, said that on Sunday afternoon he saw the prisoner pelting a detachment of the Salvation Army with cabbage stalks as they were marching through Limehouse. Some of the members of the army were struck by the rubbish. In reply to the charge, the prisoner said that he was 'werry sorry, but it wasn't him.' Mr Saunders fined Johnny 1s."

With the promise of some active service and some Salvationists to annoy, a large detachment of Skeletons formed up in Islington, this just shows how chaotic and frightening a Skeleton Army march could be.

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 9th February 1883;

"During the afternoon three bands of loathsome blackguards, whose faces alone would almost compel a jury to find them guilty of any crime, kept the City Road and the side streets in a shameful hubbub. We were informed that they were not the regulars of the Skeleton Army, nothing more than ambitious recruits, acting without orders. Anyhow, they were a peril and an outrage.

They marched in a solid column, six or eight abreast, and each band consisted of about 150 roughs and roughlets, varying from 20 to 12 years of age. A few dirty handkerchiefs were waved, parodies of Salvation songs were howled, and in a rude fashion the disturbers imitated the dancing and gesticulations of Salvationists on the march.

The crowd fell aside to allow these lusty scamps to pass, and often cheered them on. The neighbourhood was thus kept in a deafening din and unbroken suspense till nightfall, and annoyance by the marching roughs were added to by fruit hawkers disposing of their wares by auction; lads and hoydens clambering, screeching, and fighting; the bonneting of respectable looking men, and the insulting of respectable looking women and girls anxious to pass through.

Sometimes a cab, carriage, gig, or omnibus cleft the mob in twain and then arose a diabolical chorus of blasphemy and abuse. The more active roughs, finding that the Salvation Army was not forthcoming, and getting tired of having the field to themselves, betook themselves off shortly after dusk. What they were prepared to do was indicated by the behaviour of a mob of lads who lingered later.

Three persons wearing the peaked caps with scarlet bands of the Salvation Army came out at the close of the afternoon service escorted by policemen, amongst whom were two inspectors, and they were followed up City Road by the roughs, who groaned and hooted, and pelted them with orange refuse, old shoes, and whatever else they could find.

Two 'Hallelujah lasses,' known for their peculiar bonnets of their order, were brutally set upon by a knot of skirmishing vagabonds, and driven for refuge in a shop with their clothes torn. A young man wearing a Salvation cap was surrounded and hustled, the cap was snatched from his head and tossed into the air over the heads of the crowd, amongst boisterous cheering, and having thus furnished amusement for half an hour it was torn to shreds."

By six o'clock it was all over save for a few shouts and yells, the bulk of the Salvationists left the area unmolested.

The beginning of the end?

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Tuesday 13th February 1883;

"An extraordinary religious service was held on Thursday night, at St. Philip's Church, Mount Street, Bethnal Green; the vicar, the Rev. Robert Loveridge, having invited the leaders and members of the local branches of the Skeleton Army to attend, 'to reason with them before God.' About 600 attended, headed by their band and flag, and wearing their military accoutrements.

St. Philips as shown on the 1875 map of the Old Nichol

Their conduct during the service was very orderly, and they listened with great attention to the expostulations of the vicar, in his sermon, against the habit of swearing, which was proving infectious even to the children of the parish. He dealt with the various reasons they had given, during the interviews he had had with their leaders, for their street demonstrations against the Salvation Army, and assured them that the result of his investigations had been to disprove  the statement that the Salvationists were underselling them in the labour market.

He argued that General Booth's movement was entitled to some respect on the grounds of the labour question, for it's leader had found work for hundreds of men and women who would otherwise have remained a drag on the labour market; and thus a better chance in the battle of life had been given to the members of the Skeleton Army, who could not do better than cease their hostility and join the ranks of Mr Booth.

The service over, the Skeletons retired, without disorder. It is stated that, as one result of Mr Loveridge's intervention, one detachment, the colours, helmets and arms having been handed to the vicar, and the other companies have intimated their willingness to follow the same example."

A Salvation Army March, Ratcliff Highway.

East London Observer - Saturday 31st March 1883;

"Defeating The Skeleton Army.

An amusing scene was witnessed on Monday afternoon on the waste ground in the Mile End Road, when a regiment of the Skeleton Army was put to flight by a detachment of police.

It appears that on Sunday last 'The Army' held a meeting at Victoria Park, when bills were issued announcing a meeting in Mile End Road on the following day. At the appointed hour the 'Skeletons' began to assemble in force, some of them carrying flags, banners, big drums ect.

No sooner, however, had they begun to form into column for marching than a small party of the K Division of police, under Chief Inspector Steed and Inspector Guigley (?) hove in sight, advancing at the double. No sooner did the valiant 'Skeletons' catch sight of the approaching police than they halted, wavered, and then broke up in confusion, running away as fast as they could.

They were followed by the derisive cheers of some thousands of persons, who had assembled to witness what the 'Skeletons' had asserted was to be 'a conflict for the right of public meeting, and a protest against police tyranny.' The constables pursued the retreating army for a few hundred yards, and then gave up the chase."

War Cry - Saturday 26th December 1891.

The Skeleton Army in East London had peaked, stories of their antics in the area decreased dramatically, the thuggery associated with the Skeletons lived on in memory for quite a while, by 1891 the Salvationists were asking 'Where are the Skeletons?" In 1884 a huge riot erupted in Worthing, however, in the East End the police had gained control.

East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Tuesday 23rd September 1884;

"Thomas Saint, described as having lately been leader of the Skeleton Army, Poplar, was charged, at the Thames Police Court, with assaulting William De Banks, landlord of the Mariners' Arms beer house, Grundy Street, Poplar, and also assaulting Mrs Sarah De Banks.

Grundy Street, Poplar.

Between eight and nine o'clock on Tuesday night the prisoner entered the Mariners' Arms and created a disturbance. He was requested several times to quit, but refused, and struck the landlord a violent blow in the neck. He then hurled a pot at Mrs De Banks's head, but it fortunately missed her.

The prisoner was known as a most violent ruffian. Mr Lushington fined the prisoner 40s or a month for the assault on Mrs De Banks, and 21 days' hard labour for the assault on the landlord."

The author, Gordon and his wife Julia bring you a radio show called Cogwebs and Strange, their show specialises in music from the genres Goth, Punk, Psychedelia, Darkwave.

Communists versus Fascists: London Street Fighting Volume Four - 1938 to 1940

              Streets Paved With Blood.

                       Volume four 1938 - 1940.

During the 1930's political street fighting in London reached epidemic proportions, battles between various left wing groups and the British Union Of Fascists were frequently vicious. These are their stories, gleaned from contemporary newspapers, the events that left the capital with streets paved with blood.

                 East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 14th January 1938.

Differences between Limehouse Fascists and Condor Street, where their headquarters are situated, were ventilated at Thames Police Court, when Mrs Emily Hughes, of Condor Street, who stated that she had had 20 children, was summoned for assaulting Annie Hagaty of Burdett Road, Bow and for wilfully damaging Miss Hagaty's glasses.

Mr C Hay Reckitt appeared for Mrs Hughes and entered a plea of not guilty to both summonses.

Mr Edward Fail, prosecuting, said that, if the story of Miss Hagaty and her witness were to be believed, Miss Hagaty was the victim of an entirely unprovoked assault. 

On New Year's Eve, Miss Hagaty and her sister, Mrs Peters, went to a meeting of the BUF at their premises in Condor Street, which were practically opposite Mrs Hughes' house.

Violently Attacked.

Whether Mrs Hughes had any interest in Fascism or politics of any sort, he did not know, but when Miss Hagaty left the meeting between 12 midnight and 12.12 am she had just got through the gate on to the pavement and she was violently attacked by Mrs Hughes. She did not know Mrs Hughes and had never seen her before. Miss Hagaty said she was grabbed by Mrs Hughes, who punched her in the face, breaking her glasses. She fell to the ground and was kicked. As a result she was away from work for two and a half days and lost 15s wages and her glasses cost 31s to repair.

Case dismissed due to lack of evidence.

                            South Western Star - Friday 8th April 1938.

Mosley Comes To Battersea, Disorder At Clapham Junction, Many Arrests.

Some weeks ago Battersea Town Hall was engaged for a Fascist meeting which was to be addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley. Fearing disorder, the Town Hall committee cancelled the letting of the hall. That, however, did not daunt the Fascists. "Mosley will speak in Battersea," they boldly chalked on the roads and later gave the date, "April 4." Still later the meeting place was chalked, namely Comyn Road.

Comyn Road

This road is a quiet residential thoroughfare heading from St. John's Road towards Wandsworth Common. The St. John's end has for some time been a pitch for a variety of organisations anxious to reform or instruct the public and ranging from religious bodies to Trotskyites. As the date fixed for the Mosley meeting approached, Comyn Road began to attract strangers, principally groups of young men who looked as though they needed occupation.

By Saturday the number of apparent idlers had considerably increased. It was suspected that people had a design on the pitch. The Fascists, therefore, took formal possession and in token thereof they placed a portable rostrum near the end of the road and guarded it day and night, the Captain of the guard being a sturdy young man who spoke with a scotch accent.

Attack On The Pitch.

During Saturday an attempt to carry the position was made by non-Fascists, but it was beaten off. Monday, the fateful fourth of April, saw considerable additions to the groups of young men in the neighbourhood. Handbill distributors multiplied themselves also. One handbill read: "People of Battersea! On Monday Mosley is to attempt a march into your borough." What many people considered a provocative paragraph followed and then came the invitation or command: "All out then to our mass meeting at Comyn Road, Monday, 7pm."

Saturday's "Daily Worker" published the following advertisement: "Battersea out against Mosley! All Comrades rally 115 Lavender Hill for leaflet distribution, today and Sunday. All to Comyns Road, Monday, 7.30." Battersea was being put on the map, despite the fact that topographical knowledge on the part of some folk was not perfect. There is no "Comyns" road in Battersea.

Comyn Road "upper end."

The authorities had decided that the meeting should be held at the upper end of Comyn Road, furthest from the main thoroughfare. The Communists prepared to hold a meeting in Aliwal Road, where they installed a loud speaker van. Before 8 o'clock everybody seemed to be "all out" for the meeting. Comyn Road was packed almost end to end, the throngs being dense around the loud speaker van. Sir Oswald arrived by car, he was greeted with tremendous cheering and booing. Sir Oswald boldly faced the music. He endeavoured to address the turbulent assembly from the top of a covered van which was fitted with two microphones and six loud speakers. For over two hours booing , jeering and yelling were almost deafening.

"Horsey, Put Your Tail Up."

At the junction of Comyn Road and St. John's Road, while mounted police were clearing the road, someone ran up to one of the police horses and pulled its tail. The horse reared and it's rider was nearly thrown. He drew his sword stick and struck out left and right as people surged round him. Several fell and rolled almost under the horse's hoofs. One woman was struck on the head and rendered unconscious. An ambulance took her to hospital.

St. John's Road and Comyn Road junction

A "South Western Star" reporter was pushed towards a horse and was dragged to the ground. While he was lying in the gutter he was kicked on the thigh by a horse. Communists continued to shout and jeer at the police and several arrests were made. One man, after giving the Communist salute, struck a Fascist. Blows followed, but for the alertness of the police there might have been a free fight.

Up and down Comyn Road and St. John's Road Communists sang the "Internationale" and "The Red Flag," while Fascists countered with the National Anthem. Shortly afterwards when Comyn Road was being cleared, there was a rush towards one of the windows of Messers. Hawes's drapery store. A large sheet of plate glass was smashed and fragments were flung over several people, "we've done it," someone shouted. During the Fascist meeting, Communists were holding a meeting of their own in Aliwal road, there was no disorder there, but afterwards the whole assembly marched into Comyn Road. Police reinforcements were brought up to deal with the rush.

Left Bookshop Window Smashed.

115 Lavender Hill

One of the plate glass windows of the People's Book Shop, 115 Lavender Hill, was broken after the meeting in Comyn Road. "Soon after 10 o'clock I was standing in the doorway of the shop, watching the crowd going by," said Mr Pritchard, the proprietor of the shop to one of our reporters. "A group of men crossed over from the other side of the road and started making insulting and threatening remarks to me about the shop. 

As they seemed to be spoiling for a row, I closed and bolted the door and went to the rear of the shop to telephone to the police.While I was phoning I heard the crash of glass and then found that the window had been smashed." On a board covering the window is pasted the announcement, "This is Fascism."

    East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 10th June 1938.

Trouble between a young Communist and a young Fascist, after a Fascist meeting at St. Peter's Road, Mile End, was described at Thames Police Court, when Benjamin Becow, alias Beckoff, of Mile End Road, Stepney and William Liddiard, of Duckett Street, Stepney were charged before Mr Harris with using insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace was likely to have been occasioned in White Horse Lane, Stepney.

Becow pleaded not guilty, but Liddiard pleaded "guilty under provocation."

Inspector Smyth said that a meeting was held in St Peter's Road, Mile End and there was considerable heckling and after the meeting a large crowd proceeded along Mile End Road and turned into White Horse Lane, Becow and Liddiard being among them.

The corner of Skidmore Street c1937.

Upon reaching the corner of Skidmore Street, the defendants started to fight with each other and he saw Becow hit Liddiard on the face with his fist. They refused to stop and he took Becow into custody and PC Duling arrested Liddiard. When charged at Arbour Square police station, neither of the the defendants made any reply.

When searched, Becow had on him a membership card of the Young Communists and Liddiard had a membership card for the BUF. PC Duling, who gave corroborative evidence, said, in reply to the magistrate, that the meeting was a Fascist meeting.

In the witness box, Becow said he was at the meeting and afterwards the Fascists left in a body. He walked to Skidmore Street with a friend who lived there and in White Horse Lane the Fascists stopped and one of them said something to him that he did not like, so he went over and spoke to him. He was then struck a blow by someone and was staggered. As he stepped back, PC Duling rushed past him and arrested Liddiard. Then the inspector arrested him. He denied he struck anyone.

In reply to Liddiard, Becow denied he was selling a party newspaper

David Reback, of White Horse Lane, who was with Becow, said that a man hit Becow in the face. When Becow went to find out why the man had struck him he was arrested.

Liddiard declined to give evidence, Mr Harris gave Becow the benefit of the doubt as he was not satisfied  he had struck a blow, Liddiard was fined 10s.

                        Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 14th June 1938.

A peace meeting held on Saturday evening at Limes Grove, Lewisham, ended in a fight.

Douglas Henry Coleman was charged with assaulting Donald Carruthers by striking him on the face at High Street, Lewisham.

Limes Grove and Lewisham High Street

Donald Carruthers: "I was selling newspapers for a political movement as I have been for the last two years. I saw defendant speaking at a meeting across the road about 500 yards from where I was standing and he got away from the meeting and started selling papers. I passed in front of him and he snatched some papers out of my pocket and threw them in the gutter. I turned round to get them back and he struck me. I retaliated. A police lady came across the road and he ran away. I was taken to hospital to have my nose looked at."

Ronald Dyke said, "I was selling the paper 'Action,' of the BUF. I was about 10 yards away from Carruthers and I saw defendant snatch the papers out of his coat. Then punch Carruthers and ran. He tried to get on a bus but the lady officer caught him at the Prince of Wales cinema."

When defendant took the papers out of Carruthers coat, Carruthers gave him a slight push.

Ronald Baxter said he was himself selling newspapers and he saw Coleman make a grab at Carruthers. Soon there was a free fight and Coleman ran down the road.

Prosecutor went into a fighting attitude and Coleman defended himself. He snatched the papers from the other man's pocket.

Mr Powell to prosecutor: It seems to me that you were the aggressor in this matter and you started the trouble. You will be bound over to keep the peace for the next six months in the sum of 40s. Defendant was discharged.

                          East London Observer - Saturday 18th June 1938.

Five men appeared at Old Street Police Court on Thursday following disturbances at a Fascist meeting held at Club Row the previous evening. They were Sidney Fireman, Reuben Doctors, Edward Cotter, Harry Parsons and Philip Abrahams. 

Club Row

Fireman pleaded not guilty to using threatening words and behaviour at Club Row and a constable said about 9 pm on Wednesday he was on duty in Club Row where a Fascist meeting was in progress. A police cordon had been drawn across Club Row to protect a loudspeaker van from a hostile crowd and Fireman broke through the cordon, used bad language to Blackshirts standing round the van and struck a man in the face.

Fireman: I didn't fight. There were six officers there. If I wanted to fight I did not have a chance.

PC Anserr said as a result of the disturbance a free fight broke out. Fireman said he was looking for his brother and when he crossed the road was "grabbed by two police." The magistrate found him guilty and imposed a fine of 20s.

Doctors, who was fined 30s for using threatening behaviour said he was not asked to go away and alleged he was attacked "from all sides by police."

Car Turned Over.

Turin Street

PS Heather said he was escorting Fascists away from the meeting. At the corner of Turin Street a motor car was on its side, having been pushed over and Cotter, who was with 20 or 30 people, had his hands upraised and tried to push the second car over. Bits of paper with German writing were found in his possession. Cotter said he was not a Fascist, but a sympathiser. He was remanded for a week.

Parsons pleaded not guilty to throwing a stone and was remanded on bail for a week.

A fine of £5 was inflicted on Abrahams, who denied a charge of wilfully obstructing a constable.

                            East London Observer - Saturday 18th June 1938.

Disturbance during a Fascist meeting on Sunday morning in Philpot Street, Stepney, had a sequel at Thames Police Court on Monday, when Nathan Jager was charged under the Public Order Act of 1936 with using insulting behaviour in Philpot Street. He pleaded guilty.

A police sergeant gave evidence that he saw Jager among a crowd of persons assembled at a Fascist meeting in Philpot Street at 12 noon on the previous day. Jager was standing about 5 or 10 yards away from the meeting itself, when he suddenly rushed into the crowd and started striking a man. The man defended himself but Jager still kept on trying to strike him.

Witness went up to arrest Jager. He said: "I was indoors reading a book when I heard a noise and came out and saw the Blackshirts, I lost my head then." He was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.

                               Eastern Post - Saturday 25th June 1938.

Disorder at an open air meeting in Ridley Road, Dalston resulted in the appearance at North London Police Court of Kenneth Gold (20) of Weaver Street, Stepney on a charge of using threatening words and behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. He pleaded not guilty.

Ridley Road, Dalston

PC Leathley 514G stated that at 9.45pm one meeting was breaking up and another was forming at Ridley Road. As the first meeting marched off he saw Gold rush across the road and attack a man shouting "Get him! He's a Blackshirt." 

Witness told him he was a police officer and would take him into custody. He replied "I know, why don't you arrest the Blackshirts?" he went on "Can't you see the bastards who take your bread and butter have got me? Get me away from them." The situation got ugly and only the timely arrival of other officers in uniform saved him.

When charged Gold said "I never had a chance to say anything". A fine of 40s was imposed.

 

    East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 1st july 1938.

Disturbances at a Fascist meeting held at Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green, on 16th June, were recalled at Old Street Police Court on Monday when five men appeared on remand before Mr FO Langley.

Harry Zussman, charged with using insulting behaviour and wilful obstruction of Inspector Gordon. Maurice Silver, charged with obstructing PS Emms.

Harry Mills, charged with wilfully obstructing PC Brown with intent to resist the lawful apprehension of another man.

Maurice Lebovitch, charged with wilfully obstructing PC Smith and assaulting PC Brown.

Barnet Bercow, charged with assaulting PC Smith and PC Clarke.

Mr EA Hawke appeared for the Commissioner of police and Zussman, Lebovitch and Becow were represented by Mr Platts Mills.

Trying To Assist.

Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green

With regard to Mills, Mr Hawke said that he intervened at a time when PC Brown was having a certain amount of trouble with Lebovitch. There was a considerable amount of disturbance going on and when Mills was seen by two police officers to go up to PC Brown and intervene, he was taken into custody. As soon as PC Brown was able to make a statement about the matter he said his view was that Mills was trying to assist him. In those circumstances he was not proposing to offer any evidence against him as it was clear that a mistake had been made.

Mills was accordingly discharged.

People From Whitechapel.

Outlining the case for the prosecution against the remaining four men, Mr Hawke said the charges arose out of a meeting held under the auspices of the BUF. The meeting started at 8 pm and apparently there was no disorder until 9.20, when a large number of people approached from the direction of Whitechapel.

From their conduct it seemed that they did not altogether approve of the meeting, there was a probability of trouble and consequently the police formed a cordon between the meeting and the people who were approaching, with a view to preventing any trouble.

Attempts To Break Through Cordon.

There were a number of attempts by the new arrivals to break through the police cordon and it was in connection with those attempts to breakthrough that Zussman became prominent, and it became necessary to arrest him and take him to Bethnal Green station.

There was some considerable difficulty in getting him there and it was while he was on the way that Bercow came on the scene, and tried to release him. He first attacked Inspector Gordon and then PC Smith.

Bethnal Green Police Station

The inspector managed to get Zussman into the station but the constable had to deal with Bercow. He was doing so when Lebovitch appeared on the scene and jumped on his back.

PC Brown went to PC Smith's assistance and pulled Lebovitch off. The latter became violent and threw PC Brown against some railings in front of the police station and also punched him on the body. As a result of being thrown against the railings the officer had to go on the sick list.

At The Head Of The Crowd.

With regard to Silver it was alleged that he was at the head of the crowd which came from the direction of Whitechapel and that when the police were trying with difficulty to prevent disorder, he obstructed them, making things generally difficult and telling the crowd to stand their ground.

Mr Hawke added that Zussman was a young man under the age of 18 and it was quite obvious that he was thoroughly over excited. With regard to Lebovitch he was very violent and caused injury to a police officer. Bercow appeared to be in quite a different category to the others and it was alleged that he kicked one officer on the knee and bit him on the hand.

Cross Examination.

Inspector Gordon and PC Smith gave evidence.

Cross examined the inspector said he did not hear the Jews accused at the meeting of being responsible for "every evil in England."

Mr Platts Mills: It would be right to say that this class of meeting in particular is the occasion for foul abuse of the Jews who are standing around? - The inspector: I don't agree.

You say it never occurs? - It has occured, but not that night.

The accused were remanded on bail.

Bercow was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour and Maurice Lebovitch was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months with an order to pay 12 guineas in costs.

                                  St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 8th July 1938.

Appeals to their supporters by Communist and Labour speakers at the big rally at Castle Road on Sunday not to leave the meeting and "demonstrate" by shouting against the Fascists as they marched to Islip Street, where Sir Oswald Mosley addressed a crowded meeting and the fact that the marchers' route was changed by the police at the last moment, prevented any serious clashes between rival factions.

Castle Road looking towards the Fascist meeting area

Fascists marched through Camden Road and Sandall Road instead of by Kentish Town Road. There were nevertheless eight arrests.

The sound of bagpipes and drums heralded the approach of the Fascist procession, preceded by a police car and a police motorcyclist. The Fascist van with huge loudspeakers on the roof had appeared in Islip Street earlier.

The procession, about half a mile long, stopped when the van was reached and many of the women from the various London branches represented sat on the ground, weary from the march and gazed in rapt attention at their leader. Sir Oswald mounted the ladder and began his speech, which echoed through the loudspeakers, so that it could be heard distinctly at Kentish Town Road and even as far away as Leighton Road.

Several people in the crowd lining the footway gave the Fascist salute, occasionally there were bursts of cheering as the speaker emphasised his creed of Britain for the British and castigating Jews, financiers and press lords. After Sir Oswald had spoken for an hour the meeting dispersed quietly.

One man wearing a green hat and a broad grin, walked up and down before Sir Oswald was really launched on his speech and shouted "He's a baby killer!" but few took any notice of him.

It was after the meeting dispersed that most of the arrests were made, mainly for trivial offences. One serious case of alleged malicious wounding, when a young Fascist was stated to have been struck on the face with a glass and badly cut in a public house at the corner of Islip Street, led to an arrest. The young man was taken away in an ambulance to have four stitches put in his face.

The Oxford Tavern where Gregory was glassed

The following day Joseph James Rowe was remanded on a charge of maliciously wounding Charles William Gregory by striking him on the face with a drinking glass with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. PC Price said that he was on duty in Islip Street and saw Rowe in a heated argument with other people outside a public house. He dispersed them. A few minutes later Rowe ran out of the public house followed by Gregory, who was bleeding from the face. 

Gregory said that an argument started in the public house. Mrs Rowe said something about kids and kicking them downstairs. Mrs Rowe went after a young woman. Gregory alleged that Rowe who had entered with his wife, jabbed the glass from which he was drinking into his face, causing injury. A witness said that he and Gregory belonged to the BUF.

The magistrate said he would convict, Rowe was remanded for his fingerprints to be taken.

Francis Cecil Jacobs and a youth aged 16 were charged with obstruction and Jacobs further charged with assaulting an officer.

PC Taylor said that after a Fascist meeting at the corner of Islip Street terminated the Fascists formed a procession and went along Kentish Town Road towards Camden Town. A number of Communists and others went along the footway parallel to the Fascists and some sang the "Internationale" and shouted slogans. The attitude towards the Fascists was threatening and in view of the likelihood of trouble, the police drew a cordon across the road.

Witness alleged that Jacobs tried to break through and struck him on the chest, with the result that he lost his balance. While he was running to catch Jacobs the boy tried to trip him. Jacobs and the boy were bound over to keep the peace.

Knife Slashing Alleged At Kentish Town.

James Miller was charged with using insulting words and behaviour at Kentish Town Road after the meeting in Islip Street.

Police inspector Brice said that he saw Miller hanging onto the rail of a bus trying to kick a man who was at the bottom of the steps. Miller said the man tried to slash him with a knife. He denied that he tried to kick him.

Called as a witness by Miller, Robert Franklin said that he was slashed on the wrist and hand by the man with the knife. Franklin showed that his wrist and finger were plastered. "I think you got on the bus with a view to attacking the man and you should not have done it," said Mr Brodrick to Miller in binding him over to keep the peace.

Albany Street Scene.

Leslie Foster and Harry Walters were charged with insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been caused.

PS Oakenbee stated that at about 7.10 on Sunday night he was walking with the procession, when he saw Foster standing at the junction of Chester Gate and Albany Street selling the "Challenge" newspaper. Walters approached him, grabbed him by the neck, snatched the newspapers from under his arm and threw them to the ground.

The junction of Albany Street and Chester Gate

A fight then ensued between them and it was necessary to arrest them in order to stop it. Foster agreed with the officers evidence and said that the incident was entirely unprovoked.

Walters said that he attended the procession as a member of the BUF but he had to fall out because of a strained cartilage of the leg. While he was walking with his brother in law Foster came along shouting insulting remarks about "rats" and making other uncomplimentary remarks. Suddenly a boy dashed from behind and took his placard away and he dropped his papers. Foster then started lashing out at him (Walters) because he happened to be the nearest one to him. "I forgot myself and......."

Defendant did not finish the sentence. Mr Ivan Snell, the Magistrate, remarking that he was not going to take sides in the matter, fined each of the accused 1s with 7s costs.

                                    St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 8th July 1938.

Islip Street

A sequel to a Blackshirt meeting at Islip Street, Kentish Town, on Wednesday night was heard at Clerkenwell yesterday, when Horace George Franklin was charged with assaulting William Fairman by striking him in the mouth with his fist.

"I plead guilty purely in defence of myself" said Franklin, who was discharged.

Fairman, a fitters mate, said he was proceeding from the meeting when he saw Franklin and two other men standing on the kerb. When witness had passed him he came up and asked who he was looking at and then struck him on the face with his right fist.

Franklin said he was going from the meeting with his nephew, who was in the Air Force. While he was speaking to his nephew Fairman and a crowd of 15 to 20 young Communists surrounded him and barred his way. He tried to make way and Fairman struck a blow, which he dodged. Afterwards he struck a blow which Fairman could not dodge. He acted in self defence.

Defendant suggested that Fairman had been "pursuing" him for some time, at the meeting Fairman caused a lot of trouble. He was there with about 20 young Communists.

                           The Daily News - Monday 11th July 1938.

Whitechapel is getting a spate of speeches, Sunday is the big day, talking begins at 10am and goes well on into the night. The centre of Whitechapel oratory is Bloom's Corner, Osborn Street. Recently Fascist speakers, who previously confined their activities to Bethnal Green and Mile End have now raised their stand in the area between Whitechapel and Stepney Green.

Old Montague Street and Osborn Street

Last night 200 people listened to a young man in silvery grey flannels talking on behalf of the Jewish People's Council. The orator, using a loud speaker van, told the audience that the meetings were held to combat Fascism's entry into their district. Meanwhile people living in Old Montague Street sat in their doorways watching their children playing cricket. They cannot find much pleasure in the booming of the loud speaker throughout the day.

I was told that the recent increase in meetings held here is due solely to the Fascist invasion. Scarcely a night passes without a meeting for one or the other in the area. My informant said "Most affected by these meetings, perhaps, are the police. Each assembly makes demands on their tolerance and calm and they seem to be growing tired of listening to the same thing over and over again".

                      East London Observer - Saturday 16th July 1938.

Reply To Coun. Turpin.

Sir, As District Officer of the South West Bethnal Green Branch of the BUF, I wish to refute the statement of Coun. Albert Turpin in your issue of 9th July in reference to a meeting at the "Mount" on 15th June. 

Coun. Turpin knows perfectly well that the BUF did not hold a meeting there, but at Club Row, some two hundred yards away, as after we had advertised our meeting to take place at the Mount, the "lovers of free speech" jumped the pitch thinking it would stop us holding a meeting in that part of the district. So upset were they to think we were holding a meeting, that out went the call for the sub-men and razor gangs from the "Ghetto", who arrived in taxis, ect.

All came to beat up Britishers who dared to come on the street and give a policy of "Britain First." Eight Blackshirts were badly injured. The police tried to restore order on the streets and guard us from the alien methods of the so called "lovers of free speech" - so Coun. Turpin dares to accuse the police of taking sides and failing to do their duty.

In Eric Street the Communist Party took up the position which it had been announced Sir Oswald Mosley would occupy, while in Maplin Street there was another meeting.

Eric Street

Mosley spoke in Mossford Street for over an hour and during that time the police, who were present in large numbers, prevented people from moving from one meeting to the other. At the Fascist meeting two arrests were made and the window of Mr H. Cohen's hairdressers shop at the corner of Mossford Street and Solebay Street was smashed.

Sir Oswald's arrival was heralded with boos, cheers, the Fascist salute and the waving of the clenched fist. Throughout the speech there was angry movement in the crow, which surged around the platform.

Mosley declared "Our policy is British in character and method, born of Britain and comes from the blood and soil of Britain." At the end hundreds sung the "Internationale" and the police broke up the meeting shepherding the crowd out into Burdett Road and Mile End Road.

                      Westminster & Pimlico News - Friday 29th July 1938.

William Patten and George John Taylor were charged with insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been caused at Arthur Street, Chelsea. The pleaded guilty.

PC Smith 95B said that at 10.40 on Thursday night prisoners were fighting a man. He told them to go away. A few minutes later he saw them attack the man again and strike him down. 

Patten: The fellow took off his coat and started to fight. Taylor told the magistrate that he and Patten were challenged to a fight while they were listening to a Blackshirt meeting.

Prisoners were each fined 10s.

                                  Southern Blackshirt - September 1938.

British Union meetings are now a regular occurance in Bermondsey. A few weeks ago, as the loudspeaker van was drawing away at the close of a successful meeting, a half brick shattered the drivers window and two or three passengers were cut by flying glass. Needless to say, the missile thrower did not stop to witness the result of his cowardly action, which might have occasioned a serious accident.

Blinding Fluid Thrown.

The following week a bottle of Lysol was flung at the speaker. The bottle smashed on the side of the van and its dangerous contents splashed over members of the audience. Again it was only by sheer good fortune that no one lost their sight.

     East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 17th March 1939.

Ernest William Smith and William Cox pleaded not guilty to charges of using insulting behaviour at Clerkenwell Police Court.

PS James said that about 6.10 pm on Sunday, he saw a party of about 20 persons, including Cox and Smith, following four men "who were apparently of the Communist Party." They gradually closed round the four men and eventually attacked them. Cox and Smith, who were both fighting were arrested. Smith said: "They started it by hitting our women."

PC Burridge said he saw Cox and Smith make a rush at the four men and start punching them. It was Cox who struck the first blow.

Roy Henry Wen was brought into the dock on charges of insulting behaviour and of assaulting Caroline Slater. Cox and Smith were brought back and Miss Slater stated in reply to the magistrate, that she was insulted by four or five fellows, who were standing at a street corner and was struck on the right shoulder. She was in the company of other girls.

Asked whether the trouble was in connection with a meeting, PS James told Mr Hedley: "There was a large meeting of about 1,400 members of the BUF in Islip Street.

Cox and Smith were fined 20s each.

                              Hampstead News - Thursday 25th May 1939.

A violent scene at a Communist meeting at West Hampstead, during which the platform was rushed and the Communist speaker was brought to the ground by about 20 young men from a Fascist meeting in the next street, which was addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley, led to the arrest of four men and a young woman and their appearance before Mr Dunne at the Marylebone Police Court on Saturday.

The whole incident arose, it was said, from the mistaken impression that the police intended to arrest the Communist speaker, whereas their purpose was to protect him.

Some 20 or more men who had attended the Fascist meeting went along to the Communist meeting. Up to that point the Communist meeting had been perfectly orderly, but these twenty or so men tried to break it up. Fighting took place, there was a lot of bother on both sides and in the course of the struggle the Communist speaker was pulled from the platform, the platform was upset and the speaker was in danger of being trampled under foot.

PC Johns, seeing the man's danger, went to his assistance and tried to get him on his feet. PC Johns continuing the story, said that he was lifting the Communist speaker - Clifford M Wyndham - to his feet he felt a violent blow in the back, and turning round, saw Frederick Joshuah Wolmark and Miss Helen Rose standing behind him. Miss Rose was very excited and was throwing her arms about shouting "Come on boys, don't let him take him."

Wolmark then rushed towards him saying "Let him go," and at the same time struck him in the chest and the face with his fist. As he closed with Wolmark Miss Rose dragged him back by the arm. Wolmark again came for him and to protect himself he drew his truncheon and struck out at him with it. The blow caught him on the forehead.

Other officers assisted to arrest Wolmark, while Miss Rose hung onto witness's arm and tried to pull him away. She too was arrested and said "He is my friend, I was only helping him." Miss Rose was discharged under the Probation Act.

Wolmark, who called nine witnesses to support his statement that he did not strike or obstruct the constable and was struck without provocation was fined 40s for assault.

Jack Stanley Smith, who was said to have been found in the crowd striking at people with his fist and who had a knuckle duster concealed in his sock, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for having an offensive weapon at a public meeting.

Arthur Randall was acquitted on a charge of insulting behaviour, as was Noel Percival Whyborn.

         Wood Green And Southgate Weekly Herald - 26th May 1939.

Western Road Corner

A chase of a member of the British Union of Fascists off the Station Road Common, Wood Green, was witnessed on Wednesday evening following a meeting at Western Road corner addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley.

Sir Oswald who was mounted on a loud speaker van was given an orderly and attentive hearing by a crowd numbering between 2,000 and 3,000. At the end of his speech a gramophone played the National Anthem,and at the back of the crowd there was a sudden scuffle.

A member of the BUF was put to flight and followed by a crowd into Station Road where he was surrounded by a number of colleagues. There were allegations of kicking, but as to which party started it there was a conflict of opinion. Police in cars and on horses were about in large numbers, and broke up the antagonists.

At Spouters Corner a Labour meeting was held.

Broadway Mews, Green Lanes - The Local BUF Headquarters

The Mosley procession with banners, a band and many in motor cars and on foot walked along Barratt Avenue and Park Avenue to Green Lanes, Palmers Green, where the local Fascist headquarters are. Mr G.E. Thomas, the local prospective candidate also spoke.

                             East End Observer - Saturday 24th June 1939.

Alleged Knife Attack On Boxer.

John Sidney Rice, a boxer, described an alleged knife attack upon him at Old Street Police Court on Saturday. Before the court were William Robert Johnson and Charles Russell who pleaded not guilty to being concerned in wounding Rice by striking him on the head with a sharp instrument on 9th June.

Rice, who stated he had never seen the accused before, said he was accompanied by a Mr and Mrs Clark. As they approached No. 222 Green Street, the headquarters of the BUF, a car pulled up and Johnson jumped out and said "Here's some of those Blackshirt -----'s." Johnson, who had a knife in his hand, went to strike him. Witness received two blows in the back of his neck. Mr Clark went to witness's assistance and Russell, who had a razor in his hand, then came over and "was in the fight."

In reply to the magistrate, Johnson said: "My defence is that I never raised my hand or struck anyone, or used anything." Dr Parry, Divisional Surgeon said the wounds were not serious and had healed. A remand on bail until September was ordered.

                                Daily News - Tuesday 7th November 1939.

How the chief woman organiser of the BUF was arrested and put in a van after a disturbance at a meeting was related at Thames Police Court yesterday.

Shouts of "Dirty spies," "Dirty Germans" and "Go back to Hitler" were alleged to have been heard at the meeting, which was held in the East End.

The woman Fascist leader, Mrs Margaret Ellen Griggs was bound over for 12 months on charges of obstructing Inspector Munro and using insulting words at a public meeting. A further charge against her under the defence regulations, of endeavouring orally to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to the defence of the realm was not proceeded with.

Ernest William Smith was fined £5 for assaulting and 40s for obstructing the police and 1s with 5s costs for damaging the door of a police van.

Peter Gibbs was fined £5 for assault and 40s for obstructing the police.

Police Cordon In Crowd.

Mr Cussen, prosecuting said Mrs Griggs was chairman and speaker at a BUF meeting at Essian Street, Limehouse, at which about 150 people, mostly women, were present.

Essian Street

Mrs Griggs spoke on the reasons for the war and there were interruptions from the crowd. There were a number of people round the rostrum who were obviously supporters of the speaker and Inspector Munro put a cordon between them and the crowd.

Inspector Munro took notes in longhand of what Mrs Griggs said and among the remarks she was alleged to have made was: "If ever a country wants a revolution now it is Great Britain."

After Munro had warned Mrs Griggs she made some more remarks and a section of the crowd, which had become increasingly hostile, surged towards the rostrum. Mrs Griggs refused to close the meeting and demanded that the inspector should restore order under the Public Order Act.

The offences with which the men were charged were alleged to have been committed while Mrs Griggs was being put into the police van after her arrest.

              Bromley & West Kent Mercury - Friday 8th December 1939.

Sir,  I think it should be brought to the notice of yourself and the public, that once again Blackshirts are being subjected to acts of violence in the streets of Bromley.

On Tuesday night one of our members, whilst out delivering leaflets supporting our Peace campaign, was attacked and left lying in the gutter. But for the fortunate arrival of another member within a few minutes of this cowardly attack, the victim would have been left exposed to the dangers of the black out.

Yours ect.  EJ Fowler - District Leader.

                         Marylebone Mercury - Saturday 20th April 1940.

A policeman described at Willesden court on Monday how at a meeting at Tavistock Road, Harlesden, on Saturday, held by the BUF he saw a man force his way from outside the crowd to a place near the speaker.

Tavistock Road

He then heard the man shout "my brothers are fighting you, you ---- Fascist," after which he charged forward and grabbed hold of the rostrum, forcing the speaker to get down.

When arrested, the man shouted "Fascists in our country and we are fighting them."

Horace Walter Wilbraham was fined £1 for insulting behaviour.

                                      Daily Mirror - Tuesday 21st May 1940.

During the weekend, the Fascists, led by their chief coxcomb, were engaged in a near riot at a by-election meeting. The Blackshirt Baronet himself, with characteristic dignity, joined the brawl.

                                       Daily Herald - Saturday 25th May 1940.

Four of eight people arrested after a Fascist meeting at Dalston were, at North London, yesterday sent to jail.

John Spicer, an official of the BUF was given one months imprisonment for using insulting words and Behaviour.

George Grant, said to be an active member of the Fascist movement, was given three months on a similar charge.

Frederick H Poulton and his brother Richard Poulton, were each sent to prison for one month for assault.

Albert Polton was fined £5 for obstruction.

Thomas leach, charged with using insulting words and behaviour, was discharged and Evelyn White was bound over for a similar charge.

John Potter, a speaker at the meeting, who pleaded guilty to using insulting words, was remanded on bail for six weeks to see how he behaved.

On 23rd May 1940, the BUF was banned outright by the government.

                               Holloway Press - Friday 7th June 1940.

Hostile Crowd At Partly Wrecked Shop.

That the defendant, George Charles Arnold, a grocer of Blundell Street, Holloway, a local Fascist party organiser, fainted when he saw the hostile crowd which had gathered round his shop door, was stated at Clerkenwell Criminal Court on a charge alleging that he had caused grievous bodily harm to Harry Samuel Alley, also of Blundell Street, on 25th May by cutting him on the hand with a knife. The prosecution did not proceed with a charge alleging that the defendant had had in his possession a Webley revolver without a firearms certificate.

Blundell Street

Mr Walton, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was a demonstration outside the shop. It was nothing whatever to do with the case or with his character, but Arnold was an organiser of the BUF. That was probably the reason for the disturbance. In the course of the disturbance a man went into the shop and found the defendant brandishing a revolver and a knife. The man went to get the revolver away from the defendant and would say that he was cut by the knife.

PC Soames, who gave evidence of arrest, stated in cross examination that a showcase had been pushed behind the shop counter and was smashed. He could not say that the doors of the shop had been forced - they were open when he got there. The prisoner had an injury to his head.

Mr Ricketts: Would you describe it as an extremely hostile crowd?

PC Soames: They were extremely hostile towards the prisoner.

Mr Ricketts: The attitude of the crowd was such that it might terrify a person?

PC Soames: Yes. As a matter of fact, he fainted when he saw the crowd in the doorway.

Harry Samuel Alley, a motor driver of Blundell Street, said that at about 10.40 pm he was on his way home, when he saw a crowd outside the shop. The door was open and the lights of the shop were on. He looked in and saw Arnold, who had a revolver in his right hand and a knife in the left. "I rushed up to the counter and tried to disarm him," said Alley. "I laid across the counter and tried to knock the revolver from his hand. I felt a pain in my right hand, I found my hand was bleeding."

Replying to Mr Ricketts, he said that he could not say whether the door was forced open. He had no idea why the crowd were outside the shop. Witness heard shouts of "Blackshirt!" from the crowd. He knew that the defendant was a member of the Fascist party, because he had seen him selling "Action" and also because Arnold had had meetings in the street. He did not notice another man there.

Mr Ricketts: I suggest that you went into the shop, caught hold of a man and pushed him through the gap which had been made among the crowd?

Mr Alley: That is a lie, sir. - He denied having released the bolts on the shop door.

Mr Ricketts: And as a result of that the crowd rushed in and commenced to break up the shop?

Mr Alley: Definitely no, sir. I first went into the shop and said "George, why don't you be an Englishman and put that revolver and knife away? - He did not at any time see members of the crowd throwing the goods about in the shop.

Mr Ricketts: Do you agree that the prisoner might have unintentionally inflicted this injury?

Mr Alley: I quite agree.

The evidence disclosed that Mr Alley, possibly foolishly, did go into this shop and that the defendant was in a state of frenzy because there was an infuriated crowd outside the premises and had a useless firearm and a knife. 

Magistrate ordered a trial by jury so both sides could be heard in court.