Blackshirts in Devon

By Todd Gray
A detailed study which opens up a surprising aspect of the history of Devon. Sir Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts arrived in Devon at Plymouth in the Summer of 1933 and quickly became a vibrant political force in the city. Activity spread throughout the county, particularly amongst the farmers in North Devon, and within six months branches of the British Union of Fascists were established in a number of towns. A disastrous meeting at Plymouth late in 1934 impeded the party's momentum but the fascists regrouped at Exeter, the new regional capital, and from there they continued to promote the movement until June 1940 when leading members were arrested and imprisoned without charge or trial.
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