Not long after the end of the Second World War and the horrors of the Holocaust, fascists in Britain held frequent street meetings. They praised Hitler and Oswald Mosley, and ranted anti-Semitic propaganda, and often drew large audiences. They targeted Jewish areas, intimidating the local population. There were no laws against inciting racial hatred, and those who disrupted their meetings were more likely to be arrested than the speakers. Jewish ex-servicemen were angered and took action. At their first meeting 43 ex-servicemen and women were present and so the “43 Group” was formed. They found the most effective way to shut down the fascist meetings was to knock over the platform. The group attracted hundreds of members and shut down hundreds of meetings. The fascists defended their platforms and fought back viciously. Group members were frequently injured or arrested.

Ridley Road market in east London was a flashpoint. The fascists spoke there several times a week. During the day it was a busy market street. In the evenings street speakers would set up. In his account “The 43 Group”, Morris Beckman recounts a confrontation on June 1st, 1947. The British League set up a platform early in the day. By 7pm there was a crowd of over 400 around it and more bystanders lined the pavements of Kingsland High Street. Anti-fascists positioned themselves within the crowd ready to charge the platform in a wedge. As the speakers spoke of a “Great Jewish Plot” heckles came from the crowd, eventually unifying into one slogan, “Down with the fascists!” When the Group members pushed forward scuffles broke out throughout the crowd. The meeting had descended into chaos and was shut down with several injuries, and eight arrests.

Such clashes continued over the following years until the fascist groups declined and dissolved. By 1949 the 43 Group’s actions were happily no longer needed.