The Battle of De Winton Field was a clash between the
British Union of Fascists
The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a British fascist political party formed in 1932 by Oswald Mosley. Mosley changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and, in 1937, to the British Union. In 1939, fo ...
and various
anti-fascist
Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...
demonstrators that took place in
Tonypandy
Tonypandy is a town, community and electoral ward located in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, the town was ...
,
Wales, on 11 June 1936. It was the BUF's last attempt to hold a rally in Wales.
BUF propaganda officer
Tommy Moran
Thomas P. Moran was a leading member of the British Union of Fascists and a close associate of Oswald Mosley. Initially a miner, Moran later became a qualified engineer. He joined the Royal Air Force at 17 and later served in the Royal Naval Reserv ...
, accompanied by a small group of Blackshirts and a small black van fitted with loudspeakers, scheduled a rally to be held in a field near the Tonypandy town centre. Despite not advertising the rally, due to the hostile socialist reputation of the Valleys, the local left-wing and anti-fascist groups quickly learned of the rally. Annie Powell, who later became mayor of
Penygraig and the first communist mayor in the UK, has stated that the anti-fascist organisers swore that "not even one Welsh sheep will hear the Mosley message."
When the rally was due to be held, around 6000 anti-fascist demonstrators showed up to protest. Protected by police, the fascists attempted to hold their speeches, but were drowned out by jeers from the protestors. The situation soon turned violent, with stones being hurled at the fascists who attempted to continue their speeches. After just half an hour, the fascists were forced to give up the rally and flee.
37 participants in the battle, including several women, would be charged by police on 187 counts of riot, incitement to riot, unlawful assembly, breach of the peace, and disturbing a public meeting. Several of those demonstrators were given six-month prison sentences.
Some of the anti-fascist participants in the battle would later volunteer for the
International Brigades
The International Brigades ( es, Brigadas Internacionales) were military units set up by the Communist International to assist the Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. The organization existed f ...
, helping fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War. Welsh volunteers would end up representing the largest regional industrial grouping within the British Battalion of the International Brigades.
[Francis, Hywel (1970-01-01). Welsh Miners and the Spanish Civil War. Journal of contemporary history, Vol.5 (3), p.177-191]
See also
*
Battle of Stockton
The Battle of Stockton, took place on 10 September 1933 at the Market Cross in the High Street of Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England. It was a clash between members of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) and anti-fascism, anti-fascist dem ...
– an earlier incident between BUF members and anti-fascists in
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees, often simply referred to as Stockton, is a market town in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. It is on the northern banks of the River Tees, part of the Teesside built-up area. The town had an estimated ...
on 10 September 1933
*
Battle of South Street
The Battle of South Street was a riot that took place on 9 October 1934 in Worthing, Sussex, England. The riot took place as members of the British Union of Fascists and various anti-fascist protesters clashed following a meeting of Fascists a ...
– a clash between BUF members and anti-fascists in
Worthing on 9 October 1934
*
Battle of Holbeck Moor
The Battle of Holbeck Moor was a clash between the British Union of Fascists and various anti-fascist demonstrators that took place in Holbeck, Leeds, on 27 September 1936.
Led by Oswald Mosley, around 1,000 fascists planned to lead a march thr ...
– a clash between BUF members and anti-fascists in
Leeds on 27 September 1936
*
Battle of Cable Street – a clash between BUF members and anti-fascists in the
East End of London
The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...
on 4 October 1936
References
{{reflist
Anti-fascism in the United Kingdom
June 1936 events
Political riots
Antisemitic attacks and incidents in Europe
Fascism in Wales
1936 in Wales
History of Rhondda Cynon Taf
International Brigades