National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
Encyclopedia
The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers (NFDDSS) was a British
veteran
s organisation.
The organisation was founded in January 1917 by various London-based veterans groups opposed to the Review of Exceptions Act, which made it possible for people invalided out of the armed forces to be re-conscripted. It adopted the slogans "Every man once before any man twice" and "Justice before charity".
Although the Federation initially invited senior military figures to its meetings, they refused. The leadership was assumed by the left-wing Liberal Party
MPs James Hogge and William Pringle
, who fought for improved pensions and representation on relevant government committees. Frederick Lister
later took over the presidency. The Federation's politics were thus broadly liberal, although there was a wide diversity of opinion.
In 1919, the Woolwich
branch organised a march on Parliament Square
, which was baton charged by police. Other branches worked closely with the trade union
movement, and some set up soup kitchen
s.
F.B. Hughes, a member of the NFDDSS, stood on behalf of the group at the Liverpool Abercromby by-election, 1917
, against Edward Stanley of the Conservative Party
but was unsuccessful, taking only a quarter of the votes cast. This intervention persuaded the Earl of Derby
to found Comrades of the Great War
as a right-wing alternative veterans group. The NFDDSS then sponsored a considerable number of candidates at the 1918 UK general election, some jointly with the rival National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers
(NADSS) in what was termed the "Silver Badge Party
", although none were successful.
In 1920, the Federation invited NADSS, Comrades of the Great War and the Officers' Association to a meeting to discuss a potential merger, and this was achieved in 1921, establishing the Royal British Legion.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s organisation.
The organisation was founded in January 1917 by various London-based veterans groups opposed to the Review of Exceptions Act, which made it possible for people invalided out of the armed forces to be re-conscripted. It adopted the slogans "Every man once before any man twice" and "Justice before charity".
Although the Federation initially invited senior military figures to its meetings, they refused. The leadership was assumed by the left-wing Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
MPs James Hogge and William Pringle
William Pringle (Liberal politician)
William Mather Rutherford Pringle was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as a Member of Parliament from 1910 to 1918 and again from 1922 to 1924....
, who fought for improved pensions and representation on relevant government committees. Frederick Lister
Frederick Lister
Sir Thomas Frederick Lister CBE was the first chairman of the British Legion. Along with Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, Lister was a leading advocate for the foundation of the British Legion in the aftermath of the First World War.-Early life:Lister was born in Manchester...
later took over the presidency. The Federation's politics were thus broadly liberal, although there was a wide diversity of opinion.
In 1919, the Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
branch organised a march on Parliament Square
Parliament Square
Parliament Square is a square outside the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in London. It features a large open green area in the middle, with a group of trees to its west. It contains statues of famous statesmen and is the scene of rallies and protests, as well as being a tourist...
, which was baton charged by police. Other branches worked closely with the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement, and some set up soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
s.
F.B. Hughes, a member of the NFDDSS, stood on behalf of the group at the Liverpool Abercromby by-election, 1917
Liverpool Abercromby by-election, 1917
The Liverpool Abercromby by-election, 1917 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 June 1917 for the British House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Abercromby. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament Richard Chaloner had taken the post of Steward of the...
, against Edward Stanley of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
but was unsuccessful, taking only a quarter of the votes cast. This intervention persuaded the Earl of Derby
Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC, KGStJ, JP , known as Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat and racehorse owner. He was twice Secretary of State for War and also served as British Ambassador to...
to found Comrades of the Great War
Comrades of the Great War
The Comrades of The Great War were formed in 1917 as a non-political association to represent the rights of ex-service men and women who had served or had been discharged from service during World War I. Comrades of The Great War was one of the original four ex-service associations that amalgamated...
as a right-wing alternative veterans group. The NFDDSS then sponsored a considerable number of candidates at the 1918 UK general election, some jointly with the rival National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers
National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers
The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers was a British veterans' organisation.The group was founded in early 1917 at a conference in Blackburn, drawing together various local groups representing working men who had served in World War I but had since been discharged. It...
(NADSS) in what was termed the "Silver Badge Party
Silver Badge Party
The Silver Badge Party was the unofficial title for a political movement existing in the United Kingdom during and immediately after World War I. The unofficial party consisted of several groups representing the political interests of former service personnel who had fought in the war...
", although none were successful.
In 1920, the Federation invited NADSS, Comrades of the Great War and the Officers' Association to a meeting to discuss a potential merger, and this was achieved in 1921, establishing the Royal British Legion.