BATTLEGROUND PERTHSHIRE is a concise account of the battles and minor military events that have taken place within the county of Perthshire. Comprising two thousand years of battles, raids, rebellions, sieges, riots, feuds, ambushes and skirmishes, Battleground Perthshire shines the spotlight on the military history of Scotland’s big county. Drawn from extensive primary and secondary sources: archives, eyewitness accounts and official records, it tells the fascinating stories of struggles for wealth, power, freedom and the right to self-determination. This chronicle of Perthshire’s military history stands as an important reminder of some of the events that have marked the development of the Scottish people. It will appeal both to the reader interested in the history of Scotland and to those interested in military history.

Battleground Perthshire can be bought from most bookshops in the Perthshire area: The Watermill at Aberfeldy; Sweet Words at Dunkeld; Waterstones - various stores including Perth; WHSmith - Perth and Pitlochry. And, in Perth Museum, the AK Bell Library, Gloagburn Farm Shop, the Brig Farm Shop by Bridge of Earn. Alternatively, it may be purchased for £7.00 with FREE postage and packing to any UK address {Please email for postage costs for locations outside UK}. Send cheque or postal order (payable to Tippermuir Books) to Tippermuir Books, c/o 3 Graham's Place, King Street, Perth, Perth, PH2 8HZ. It can also be bought through most of the UK online (internet) booksellers.

Spanish Thermopylae: Cypriot Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 SPANISH THERMOPYLÆ is the story of the fifty-seven Cypriots who served in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39. It is also the story of a war that defined the lives of a generation and whose outcome decided the fate of hundreds of millions of people across the world. Drawing on recently released records from the Comintern Archive in Moscow, Spanish Thermopylae will appeal both to the reader interested in the experiences of the Cypriot volunteers, and to anyone looking for a concise history of the Spanish Civil War. 'This is the first book devoted solely to the contribution made by Cypriots to the cause of democracy and progress in the Spanish Civil War. It bears witness to the injustice committed against humanity by fascism in Spain and the inspirational sacrifices made by a small band of Cypriot volunteers. Spanish Thermopylae is a fitting tribute to them, and the International Brigades.' Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus 'True to the best traditions of their Greek forefathers, the heroes of the Greek War of Independence, the Cypriots rallied to the support of Spanish democracy and independence, realising that a defeat for the Spanish people would have meant world war. On the Spanish battlefields was being decided the fate of Europe and with it that of Cyprus. They recognised fascism as the greatest enemy of humanity and volunteered to help crush it... Many Cypriots lie buried in the Spanish soil fighting fascism. Cyprus is proud of her heroic sons who fell in the anti-fascist cause, but the fight is not over. We fight on until fascism is destroyed from the face of the earth.' Ezekias Papaioannou, Cypriot International Brigades volunteer and General Secretary of AKEL (1949-88) "Before many years have passed, their own countries will feel equally proud of the volunteers. That will be their best and highest reward." Juan Negrín, Prime Minister of the Spanish Republic (1937-39). It is available from www.amazon.co.uk

 

 


HISTORY

Oswald Mosely's Blackshirts

In 1936 the North Inch was the scene of a confrontation between members of the British Union of Fascists (BUF - Oswald Mosley’s Black-shirts) and thousands of people opposed to them. This event took place against the backdrop of the ascendancy of Nazism in Germany. The rally took place on the 16th of August, a Sunday afternoon. Perth Town Council after some protestation had given permission for the rally and the police both uniformed and non-uniformed were present in numbers.

About 20 fascists arrived for the open-air meeting in a ‘Black Maria’ type vehicle to hear their two speakers, a R.A. Plathe, the BUF National Inspecting Officer for Scotland and a C. Finucane. Despite BUF attempts and even with the introduction of a loud hailer, the four thousand people who gathered around the fascists succeeded in drowning out their voices. Slowly the crowd anxious to see off the Blackshirts moved forward against them. At this stage the non-uniformed police in the crowds surrounded the fascists. The police officer in charge of the event Chief Constable Stephen ordered the BUF to leave the Inch and abandon their rally.

This they did, but not before unveiling a Union Jack on top of their vehicle and giving a Nazi salute. Their retreat was made difficult by the crowds who followed them down the High Street and out of Perth. The anti-fascist groups which comprised members of the Labour Party, Independent Labour Party, Liberal Party, Trade Unions and other individuals held a counter demonstration in the then square outside the Museum. Amongst the speakers at this latter gathering called by the Perth Trades and Industrial Council was a young Manny Shinwell (1), then a councillor in Hamilton.

The British Union of Fascists had grown out of Oswald Mosley’s New Party, which had been active in Scotland for some years. It had held public meetings in Glasgow in as early as 1931. An open-air rally on Glasgow Green had led to pitch battles being fought with anti-fascists.

In Scotland the BUF was organised by a former Labour MP, Dr. Robert Forgen and a Captain Henry William Luttman-Johnson. Luttman-Johnson had been a member of the Indian Cavalry and lived at Black Park Lodge in Luncarty. He died February 13, 1983. Apart from being openly fascist the BUF supported policies of non-intervention in any potential war with Germany and abstained from the 1935 general elections.

The confrontation of the North Inch was a prelude to the events in October of that year when in Cable Street, Stepney in the East End of London, locals and political activists fought large scale battles with and prevented the BUF from marching. This event is historically popularised as ‘The Battle of Cable Street’.

Regulation 18b of the Defence Regulations introduced after Germany’s invasion of the Low Countries in 1940 put an end to overt fascist activity in Scotland and Britain. This legislation allowed for the arrest and detention without trial of BUF supporters, and some 750 of Mosley’s key personnel were imprisoned for the duration of the war at camps at Ascot and on the Isle of Man.

“We need no longer hesitate to create our trained and disciplined force. From today we are fascist.”

Oswald Mosley

 

1 Emanuel Shinwell elected to Parliament in 1931, has been described as one of the “wild men of Clydeside”. He chaired the drafting of the 1945 election manifesto and became the minister within the Atlee government responsible for the 1946 nationalisation of the coal industry.