Today I commemorate the Battle of Stockton when over 2000 anti-fascist demonstrators drove out of this town members of the British Union of fascists.
In the 1930's Oswald Mosley's party saw deprived areas experiencing mass unemployment and acute poverty, their planned march was an early attempt to rally support and recruits in depressed areas. Stockton was an ideal town for the BUF to target as it was particularly hard hit by the 1930 Great Depression.In Germany, similar towns had fallen under the sway of the Nazis so the BUF had expected to be greeted with a warm welcome.
In Stockton, the first attempts by the local BUF Branch to begin organised street propaganda and open air soapbox meetings had hit determined opposition from local leftwingers. The footsoldiers of this opposition was supplied by members of the local Branch of the National Unemployed Workers Movement, with the active support of both local supporters and members of the Labour Party and the relatively small Teesside Communist Party.
On this day on Sunday 10th September 1933, the blackshirts arrived at Thornaby Town Hall and marched in formation over Victoria Bridge and into Stockton town centre. They were heading for the market cross in Stockton High Street, with the view of galvanising support and encouraging locals to join their ranks.
But as their leader, Captain Vincent Collier, tried to speak from the steps of the Market Cross, outside the grand town hall, he and his fellow fascists numbering around 100 were met with a wave of resistance, their leaders voice was drowned out and spat at, greeted by more than two thousand local people who had been waiting for them.
As sticks and stones rained down on the fascists and fighting between the BUF and the people of Stockton ensued, as the Northern Echo and other local press. reported at the time the use of weapons being wielded by both sides. Wooden staves and pickaxe handles, and more lethally, potatoes into which razor blades had been studded to be thrown at the fascists.The end result being that the fascists were forced to flee and driven out of town, and never returned.
But as their leader, Captain Vincent Collier, tried to speak from the steps of the Market Cross, outside the grand town hall, he and his fellow fascists numbering around 100 were met with a wave of resistance, their leaders voice was drowned out and spat at, greeted by more than two thousand local people who had been waiting for them.
As sticks and stones rained down on the fascists and fighting between the BUF and the people of Stockton ensued, as the Northern Echo and other local press. reported at the time the use of weapons being wielded by both sides. Wooden staves and pickaxe handles, and more lethally, potatoes into which razor blades had been studded to be thrown at the fascists.The end result being that the fascists were forced to flee and driven out of town, and never returned.
No arrests were made but a number of the Fascists were injured, some so seriously they required treatment in local hospitals. The Battle of Stockton was over; the Fascists were denied their ‘Conquest of the streets”. Losing credibility and their wealthy backers the BUF declined into a violent, London-based grouping of thugs and misfits.
Local people had nor been to slow to see the analogies between what had happened on the streets of Stockton and what was occurring in the towns and cities of Germany. The Stockton events had occurred after all had occurred a mere eight months after Hitler had seized the German Chancerllorship, and at the same time as the trial and execution of the hapless Van Lubbe, the man accused of starting the Reichstag fire, an event which conveniently allowed Hitler to put into law draconian emergency decrees which effectively turned Germany into a armed dictatorship, and fascist state.
Stockton was by no means unique in attracting the attention of fascist forces during the pre-war years. But unlike the now legendary Battle of Cable Street in London https://teifidancer-teifidancer.blogspot.com/2015/10/they-shall-not-pass-battle-for-cable.htm
which took place 3 years later it is now largely forgotten. But as fascism and fascists, and their forces of darkness are still unfortunately with us, and are on the rise, let us proudly remember the people of Stockton who stopped them in their paths. Together united we can repel them again. We will continue what our Grandfathers did, a fight that has never finished. They shall not pass / No Pasaran..
The Young 'uns - The Battle of Stockton
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Local people had nor been to slow to see the analogies between what had happened on the streets of Stockton and what was occurring in the towns and cities of Germany. The Stockton events had occurred after all had occurred a mere eight months after Hitler had seized the German Chancerllorship, and at the same time as the trial and execution of the hapless Van Lubbe, the man accused of starting the Reichstag fire, an event which conveniently allowed Hitler to put into law draconian emergency decrees which effectively turned Germany into a armed dictatorship, and fascist state.
Stockton was by no means unique in attracting the attention of fascist forces during the pre-war years. But unlike the now legendary Battle of Cable Street in London https://teifidancer-teifidancer.blogspot.com/2015/10/they-shall-not-pass-battle-for-cable.htm
which took place 3 years later it is now largely forgotten. But as fascism and fascists, and their forces of darkness are still unfortunately with us, and are on the rise, let us proudly remember the people of Stockton who stopped them in their paths. Together united we can repel them again. We will continue what our Grandfathers did, a fight that has never finished. They shall not pass / No Pasaran..
The Young 'uns - The Battle of Stockton
