The Battle of Cable Street and Beyond Quiz

Answer: British Union of Fascists

The British Union of Fascists was founded by Mosley in 1932. By the late 1930s it had become the British Union of Fascist and National Socialists, and was often simply referred to as the British Union or as the BUF.
In 1940 the party, and membership of it, were made illegal in Britain, with several prominent members being interned for their Nazi sympathies during World War II.

Answer: False

In actual fact, the Government refused to ban Mosley's march, and instead deployed thousands of police officers along the planned route, in an attempt to prevent the anti-Fascist objectors from approaching the Fascists. Over a hundred people were injured during the subsequent clashes between the police, the marchers, and the protestors, and up to one hundred and fifty arrests were made. (Sources quote varying figures for arrests ranging from 80-150).

Answer: The Communist Party of Great Britain

The Communist Party of Great Britain denounced the Fascist march and issued leaflets to advertise their planned rally in Trafalgar Square. One man, named Joe Jacobs, is said to have actually been expelled from the Party after getting into a public brawl with a member of the Blackshirts.

Answer: Royal Mint

In 1936 the Royal Mint was still situated in Royal Mint Street just to the east of the Tower of London, and it was there that the Fascists planned to assemble and begin their march through the East End, along Cable Street. The area had a large Jewish and Irish population, many of whom turned out in protest at the march.

In 1968 the Royal Mint was moved from London to Llantrisant in Wales.

Answer: Mosely himself called it off to prevent further bloodshed

The anti-Fascist opponents of the march had placed roadblocks to prevent the Blackshirts getting through, and a series of running battles were fought along the route. The police had attempted to stop the protesters and marchers coming together, and themselves came under attack from local residents who objected to the police protection of the Fascists. Eventually even Mosley realised that things were getting out of control, and, after consulting with the Commissioner of Police, he called off the march and attempted to divert his people to the Victoria Embankment, where he could address them en masse.

The clashes between police and protestors continued for some time afterwards, and culminated in eighty four arrests being made. (Arrest figure quoted from "The Manchester Guardian" newspaper, 7 October 1936). "The Manchester Guardian" newspaper for the following day reported that both the Fascists and the Communists had held large meetings in the East End that night, both of which were well attended and had a large police presence.

Answer: Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

Sir Philip was the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and was at the scene of the march when the violence and public disorder began to escalate. Many people, in the police, in politics and the media, had appealed to Sir John Simon, the Home Secretary, to ban the march at the planning stage, but he had refused to do so.
On the day, Mosley met with Sir Philip Game, and agreed with him that the march should be called off in the interests of public safety and order.

Answer: Three months' hard labour

Most of those arrested were charged with minor offences such as obstructing a police officer, and fined five pounds, which was up to a month's wages, depending on their age and trade.
Several men whom policemen considered had been more seriously involved were convicted of affray and sentenced to three months' hard labour. (In English Law, affray is "the fighting of two or more people in a public place to the distress of ordinary people")
Mosley himself was not arrested or charged with anything relating to the march.

Answer: Wearing a political uniform in a public place or meeting

The Act was aimed at the British Union of Fascists in particular, and forbade the wearing of political uniform in public, or at a public meeting, anywhere on the British mainland. It did not extend to Northern Ireland at the time, but was later used against members of Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army in the 1970s.
The Act was updated with the passing of the Public Order Act 1986.

Answer: Norah Elam

Norah Elam had been imprisoned during World War I for her "acts of terrorism" when she was a suffragette. She had shared a cell with Mrs. Pankhurst, and was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal by her. In 1940 she was again sentenced to jail, this time for her membership of the now illegal Fascist movement, and was imprisoned with Diana Mosley.
Mosley and the other British Union leaders wanted to draw women into their movement, and divert attention from the extremes of antisemitism which had characterised the party and were seen to be causing membership to drop and public opinion to turn against them.
The other options in this question were all involved with women's suffrage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Answer: Defence Regulation 18B

The first arrests under "18B," as it was known, took place in May 1940, and Mosley was one of the first detainees. His wife Diana was also arrested and imprisoned. After the Battle of Britain the detainees were gradually released, and by VE Day only one person was still being held. Mosley himself was released in 1943.