BUF Blackshirt Rallies – November Past Pavilion

The October issue featured a snapshot of the role played by the Pavilion in the recruitment process during the early months of World War One. Sir Archibald Hamilton was the recruiting officer in Selsey at the time. He was a well known figure in Selsey residing in Paisley Cottage. He was often accompanied by his Rob Roy Pipers. In 1923 he converted to Islam and took the name Abdullah.

Sir Archibald also became associated with the British Union of Fascists led by Oswald Mosley. In July 1934 he held a meeting at the Pavilion at which Stewart Simpson explained, in great detail, the policy of “Britain Awake”. The event was preceded by a march led by Hamilton’s Rob Roy Pipers. The event was concluded with a post meeting dance that lasted into the early hours of the following day.

You can read the whole Chichester Observer article here.

Throughout July and August 1937 Selsey hosted one of a number of camps held in the district which also included Pagham and Bognor. The campsite was near to Medmerry Windmill. It was believed to have been the largest gathering at a Blackshirt Camp in 1937.

Sir Oswald Mosley attended this camp and swam in the sea. He was also presented with a new sports car by money raised by members.

The Blackshirts attended a show put on by the “Selsey Follies” at the Pavilion.

The following short film on YouTube depicts the Selsey Camp of 1937.

With the Second World War outbreak two years later, the 1937 Blackshirt rally was never repeated. Growing British hostility towards Nazi Germany, with which the British press associated the BUF, drastically affected membership. It was finally banned after the start of the Second World War amid suspicion that its remaining supporters might form a pro-Nazi "fifth column".

The Blackshirt camps of the 1930s were one of the darker parts of the Manhood Peninsula’s past but an important part nonetheless.

The December issue of “Past Pavilion” will focus on the traditional pantomime theme of “Heroes and Villains”. However, there will be a twist…