British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women
Encyclopedia
The British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women (BLESMAW) was a British
ex-service organisation
that became associated with far right
politics during and after the Second World War.
and Victor Burgess, both members of the British Union of Fascists
who had been interned under Defence Regulation 18B
, had taken control of the group. The League held its first meeting in Hyde Park
on the 4th November 1944 where it promoted itself as a fascist
organisation that endorsed racial purity and "Britain for the British", inspiring a hostile reaction from the crowd. Under Hamm and Burgess the group became active in East London, where it was involved in street violence.
In June 1945 the League was represented at a meeting of the National Front After Victory, an A. K. Chesterton
-led initiative aimed at forming a united post-war party, although this group quickly floundered. By 1946 Hamm was in full control, having expelled Propaganda Director Burgess, whom he viewed as a rival for the leadership, as well as John Marston Gaster, the League's public relations officer, whose public displays of Nazism
were proving an embarrassment and damaging the League's chances of gaining a following. Nonetheless the League, along with other more minor fascist groups in Britain at the time, worked closely with German POWs held in camps in and around London.
. As a result of the group's antisemitism it came into regular conflict with the militant 43 Group
, although individual members of this movement such as James Cotter
also managed to infiltrate the League. Ultimately the 43 Group proved successful in forcing the League to abandon many of its street parades. However, the League also won support due its antisemitism as anti-Jewish sentiments became widespread around 1947 in response to the situation in the British Mandate for Palestine, with the battle there between the British Army
and Zionist groups. Such a growth in antisemitism not only boosted the league but gave renewed impetus for a refoundation of a wider fascist movement.
's Farringdon Road where Mosely announced his intention to return to politics. Four main movements were represented at this gathering i.e. Anthony Gannon's Imperial Defence League, Burgess's Union of British Freedom, Horace Gowing's Sons of St George and the League itself. Hamm and the League reacted favourably to this development although some, such as former BUF member Robert Saunders of the Rural Reconstruction Association
, were less than enthusiastic about admitting BLESMAW, feeling that they represented the brawling, vulgar, anti-Semitic tendency of the BUF that should be kept out of any new movement. Nevertheless BLESMAW was one of the constituent groups of the Union Movement
upon that groups foundation in 1948, marking the end of the movement.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ex-service organisation
Ex-service organisation
In the United Kingdom and its former colonies, an ex-service organisation is a voluntary organisation dedicated to the welfare of ex-service personnel...
that became associated with far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
politics during and after the Second World War.
Origins
BLESMAW had its origins in 1937 when James Taylor set up the group as an alternative to the Royal British Legion. Its main area of concern was the right of military veterans to receive a good pension.Fascism
By 1944 Jeffrey HammJeffrey Hamm
Edward Jeffrey Hamm was a leading British Fascist and supporter of Oswald Mosley.Born in Ebbw Vale, Wales, he came into contact with the British Union of Fascists during a family trip to London and joined in 1935 when he relocated to London although initially, due to his youth, his role in the...
and Victor Burgess, both members of the British Union of Fascists
British Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
who had been interned under Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B, often referred to as simply 18B, was the most famous of the Defence Regulations used by the British Government during World War II. The complete technical reference name for this rule was: Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations 1939. It allowed for the internment of...
, had taken control of the group. The League held its first meeting in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
on the 4th November 1944 where it promoted itself as a fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
organisation that endorsed racial purity and "Britain for the British", inspiring a hostile reaction from the crowd. Under Hamm and Burgess the group became active in East London, where it was involved in street violence.
In June 1945 the League was represented at a meeting of the National Front After Victory, an A. K. Chesterton
A. K. Chesterton
Arthur Kenneth Chesterton MC was a far right-wing politician and journalist who helped found right-wing organisations in Britain, primarily in opposition to the break-up of the British Empire, and later adopting a broader anti-immigration stance. His cousin, the author G. K...
-led initiative aimed at forming a united post-war party, although this group quickly floundered. By 1946 Hamm was in full control, having expelled Propaganda Director Burgess, whom he viewed as a rival for the leadership, as well as John Marston Gaster, the League's public relations officer, whose public displays of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
were proving an embarrassment and damaging the League's chances of gaining a following. Nonetheless the League, along with other more minor fascist groups in Britain at the time, worked closely with German POWs held in camps in and around London.
Antisemitism
The group was noted for its virulent antisemitism and immediately after the war this policy was publicly criticised by Oswald MosleyOswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
. As a result of the group's antisemitism it came into regular conflict with the militant 43 Group
43 Group
The 43 Group was an English anti-fascist group set up by Jewish ex-servicemen after World War II. They did this when, upon returning to London, they encountered British fascist organisations such as Jeffrey Hamm's "British League of Ex-Servicemen" and later Oswald Mosley's reformed fascist party,...
, although individual members of this movement such as James Cotter
James Cotter
James Cotter was a farmer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in New York state in 1772, the son of a United Empire Loyalist. He settled in Adolphustown Township in 1794 and, around 1817, moved to Sophiasburgh Township. He served as captain in the local militia during the War...
also managed to infiltrate the League. Ultimately the 43 Group proved successful in forcing the League to abandon many of its street parades. However, the League also won support due its antisemitism as anti-Jewish sentiments became widespread around 1947 in response to the situation in the British Mandate for Palestine, with the battle there between the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Zionist groups. Such a growth in antisemitism not only boosted the league but gave renewed impetus for a refoundation of a wider fascist movement.
Union Movement
On 15 November 1947 a meeting was held at the Memorial Hall in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Farringdon Road where Mosely announced his intention to return to politics. Four main movements were represented at this gathering i.e. Anthony Gannon's Imperial Defence League, Burgess's Union of British Freedom, Horace Gowing's Sons of St George and the League itself. Hamm and the League reacted favourably to this development although some, such as former BUF member Robert Saunders of the Rural Reconstruction Association
Rural Reconstruction Association
The Rural Reconstruction Association was a British agricultural reform movement established in 1926 with Montague Fordham as its Council Secretary, a post he held for 20 years....
, were less than enthusiastic about admitting BLESMAW, feeling that they represented the brawling, vulgar, anti-Semitic tendency of the BUF that should be kept out of any new movement. Nevertheless BLESMAW was one of the constituent groups of the Union Movement
Union Movement
The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism...
upon that groups foundation in 1948, marking the end of the movement.