Description
Object description
British civilian served as Women's District Leader with British Union of Fascists in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, GB, 1937-1940.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, GB, 1916-1937: difference between active members and adherents in British Union of Fascists; story of mother's membership of British Union of Fascists and joining local branch, 1934; branch meetings; location of HQ in Surbiton Road; story of meeting future husband at branch meeting; family background and education; employment as secretary in London. Aspects of period as Women's District Leader with British Union of Fascists in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, GB, 1937-1940: description of titles and duties; method of canvassing and distributing literature; reception on doorstep; opinion of district leaders; detention of members following outbreak of war; story of mother being questioned by police, 1940; locations of District HQ; various memories of district leaders including Bruce Tomkins; number of active members in Kingston branch; meeting places; reaction of local people; story of William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) addressing meeting; discussion of members in photograph.
REEL 2 Continues: further discussion of members in photograph; played bass drum in Women's Drum Corps; story of band practice at Oswald Mosley's home in Buckinghamshire; reaction to Cable Street march being called off; duties selling British Union of Fascists' newspaper at various locations in Kingston; question of meetings with other branches and problem of transport; story of allowing personal details to be published in newspaper; number of hours service given at branch; attended weekly band practices at national HQ in London.
REEL 3 Continues: reason for playing bass drum; story about Assistant District Officer Leslie Whitson; attitude to contact with other branches; opinion of District Leader Danby; description of Women's Drum Corps and British Union of Fascists uniforms; opinion of Jack Nickolls; attitude of locals to British Union of Fascists newspaper sellers; further comments on canvassing; memories of regular speakers from national HQ; home addresses in Kingston during war.
REEL 4 Continues: various locations of branch meetings in Kingston; effect of war on membership; branch dances; volunteered as blood donor; story of joining national HQ marches in London; opinion of support for British Union of Fascists in East London; story of playing bass drum with Women's Drum Corps at Earls Court Peace Rally, London, 16/Jul/1939; attitude to British Union of Fascists members standing in elections; opinion of Mosley and policies; attitude of Mosley to possible German invasion; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; took no further part in political activities following banning of British Union of Fascists, 5/1940; opinion of National Front.
REEL 5 Continues: Post-war life in GB: reasons for not continuing to support Mosley and maintain contacts with British Union of Fascists members; question of not having read Mosley's autobiography; attitude to pre-war support for British Union of Fascists; reflections on current state of GB (1992), including morals, young people and immigration.