James Louis Crosland
James Louis Crosland, the son of Walter John Crosland, a woolen cloth dresser, was born on 23rd September 1867 in Lockwood, Huddersfield. At the age of 24 he began training to become a Church of England clergyman at St Bee's Theological College in Cumberland. In 1892 he became curate of All Souls Church in Halifax. (1)
Crosland became friends with William Rawson Shaw. He was a member of the Liberal Party and was Justice of Peace for West Riding. He won the seat of Halifax in 1893, but disliked the job and resigned in 1897 and moved to Rustington where he built a new house called Allangate, after the family home in Halifax. (2)
After the death of his first wife, Letitia, in 1904, James Crosland was invited by Rawson Shaw to join him in Sussex. He used his influence to have him appointed as curate of St Mary's Church in East Preston. The local newspaper stated that "like his predecessors for some forty years he will live in Roundstone." (3)
James Louis Crosland in Rustington
In 1908 Crosland became vicar of St Peter and St Paul Church in Rustington. It was an unpopular decision with the churchwardens. Representations were made to Charles Ridgeway, the Bishop of Chichester to have Crosland removed but this was rejected. In 1909 the Churchwarden's accused Crosland of misappropriating funds from the Parish Poor Relief Fund. (4)
One of the Churchwardens of the Church, Mr. E. G. P. Wyatt, who was also Chairman of Rustington Parish Council, decided to bring a charge against Crosland, stated that "between April 20th 1908 and April 12th 1909, did fraudulently use for his own purposes, cash collected for the benefit of the sick and poor of the village." (5)
It was reported in the newspaper that the "Rev. James Louis Crosland, vicar of Rustington, accused of converting to his own use £16. 19s. from the church sick and poor fund, again appeared before the magistrates at Arundel on Saturday. The accused gave a complete denial to the allegations of the witnesses, and the Bench dismissed the case amid applause." (6)
On 27th September, 1910, Crosland married Constance Davidson, the 32-year-old daughter of George Walter Davidson, a rich and successful businessman. The family's wealth came from trading in the East Indies and were great supporters of the Conservative Party. According to the The Brighton Gazette: "The reception was held on Monday, at 167, Queen's Gate, and a large number of guests including many of the principal inhabitants of Rustington and the neighbourhood, were present. The wedding gifts to both bride and bridegroom were numerous and valuable." (7)
Constance gave birth to John Sidney Crosland on 17th October, 1911. The couple were both very interested in music and together they trained the local choir. During the First World War numerous fundraising concerts and other activities. The Littlehampton Observer reported: "A patriotic evening concert in aid of the Rustington War Emergency Fund took place in the Lamb Hall on Tuesday, and proved to be one of the most enjoyable entertainments of its kind ever held in the village." (8)
British Union of Fascists
The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was formed by Oswald Mosley, on 1st October, 1932. It originally had only 32 members and included Cynthia Mosley, Robert Forgan, William E. Allen, and John Beckett. Mosley told them: "We ask those who join us... to be prepared to sacrifice all, but to do so for no small or unworthy ends. We ask them to dedicate their lives to building in the country a movement of the modern age... In return we can only offer them the deep belief that they are fighting that a great land may live." (9)
Attempts were made to keep the names of individual members a secret but supporters of the organization included Charles Bentinck Budd, Harold Harmsworth (Lord Rothermere), Major General John Fuller, Jorian Jenks, Commander Charles E. Hudson, Wing-Commander Louis Greig, A. K. Chesterton, David Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford (Lord Redesdale), Unity Mitford, Diana Mitford, Patrick Boyle (8th Earl of Glasgow), Malcolm Campbell and Tommy Moran. Mosley refused to publish the names or numbers of members but the press estimated a maximum number of 35,000. (10)
William Joyce was appointed as the BUF's full-time propaganda director. He was a close friend of the Crosland family and was often seen in Rustington: "John Sidney George Crosland and William Joyce were often to be seen, by very many local people, playing tennis together at one of the several tennis courts in Rustington, especially at the courts in Seafield Road... It seems that for some time none of the villagers knew we had one of the Blackshirt bases here in Rustington." (11)
James Louis Crosland and his son John Sydney Crosland established a branch of the BUF in Rustington. The headquarters was at 29 High Street. They held some of the meetings at Rustington Vicarage and John sold copies of The Blackshirt on the corner of Beach Road. One of John's early recruits was Commander Charles E. Hudson. According to Hudson's daughter. "In the early 1930's my father was already in his 60's when they met, John in his 20's... John was an enthusiastic Mosleyite and persuaded my father join and eventually became Leader for Sussex." (12)
It was claimed that Rev. Crosland, as head of Rustington Church School, tried to influence the children into understanding and believing that Adolf Hitler was "trying to do what he could to make Europe a much better place and he should be admired and respected as a wonderful leader". In some cases, parents arranged for their children to go to school outside the village. (13)
John Sidney Crosland became the leader of the BUF in Rustington. He was also his father's warden at the church and served on the Rustington Parish Council. The BUF was especially strong in Sussex. A MI5 report stated: "Throughout the country the movement was well organized, led by enthusiastic persons and persistently active until the time the principal members were arrested... The Chief Constable estimated the number of adherents in Bognor as about 300.... Worthing membership was estimated to be about 60...As to the amount of activity, we know that the area was of sufficient importance of Mosley himself to speak at four meetings in recent times." (14)
Riot in Worthing
Mosley had developed a large following in Sussex after the election of Charles Bentinck Budd, the fascists only councillor. Budd arranged for Mosley and William Joyce to address a meeting at the Worthing Pavilion Theatre on 9th October, 1934. James Louis Crosland and his son also went to the meeting. The BUF covered the town with posters with the words "Mosley Speaks", but during the night someone had altered the posters to read "Gasbag Mosley Speaks Tripe". It was later discovered that this had been done by Roy Nicholls, the chairman of the Young Socialists. (15)
The venue was packed with fascist supporters from Sussex. Surprisingly they were willing to pay between 1s.6d and 7s. for their tickets. According to Michael Payne: "Finally the curtain rose to reveal Sir Oswald himself standing alone on the stage. Clad entirely in black, the great silver belt buckle gleaming, the right arm raised in the Fascist salute, he was spell-bindingly illuminated in the hushed, almost reverential atmosphere by the glare of spotlights from right, left and centre. A forest of black-sleeved arms immediately shot up to hail him." (16)
The meeting was disrupted when a few hecklers were ejected by hefty East End bouncers. Mosley, however, continued his speech undaunted, telling his audience that Britain's enemies would have to be deported: "We were assaulted by the vilest mob you ever saw in the streets of London - little East End Jews, straight from Poland. Are you really going to blame us for throwing them out?" (17)
At the close of proceedings Mosley and Joyce, accompanied by a large body of blackshirts, marched along the Esplanade.They were protected by all nineteen available members of the Borough's police force. The crowd of protesters, estimated as around 2,000 people, attempted to block their path. A ninety-six-year-old woman, Doreen Hodgkins, was struck on the head by a Blackshirt before being escorted away. When the Blackshirts retreated inside, the crowd began to chant: "Poor old Mosley's got the wind up!" (18)
The Fascists went into Montague Street in an attempt to get to their headquarters in Anne Street. The author of Storm Tide: Worthing 1933-1939 (2008) has pointed out: "Sir Oswald, clearly out of countenance and feeling menaced, at once ordered his tough, battle-hardened bodyguards - all of imposing physique and, like their leader, towering over the policemen on duty - to close ranks and adopt their fighting stance which, unsurprisingly, as all were trained boxers, had been modelled on, and closely resembled, that of a prize fighter." (19)
Superintendent Clement Bristow later claimed that a crowd of about 400 people attempted to stop the Blackshirts from getting to their headquarters. Francis Skilton, a solicitor's clerk who had left his home at 30 Normandy Road to post a letter at the Central Post Office in Chapel Road, and got caught up in the fighting. A witness, John Birts, later told the police that Skilton had been "savagely attacked by at least three Blackshirts." (20)
According to The Evening Argus: "The fascists fought their way to Mitchell's Cafe and barricaded themselves inside as opponents smashed windows and threw tomatoes. As midnight loomed, they broke out and marched along South Street to Warwick Street. One woman bystander was punched in the face in what witnesses described as 'guerrilla warfare'. There were casualties on both sides as a 'seething, struggling mass of howling people' became engaged in running battles. People in nightclothes watched in amazement from bedroom windows overlooking the scene." (21)
The next day the police arrested Charles Bentinck Budd, Oswald Mosley, William Joyce and Bernard Mullans and accused them of "with others unknown they did riotously assemble together against the peace". The court case took place on 14th November 1934. Charles Budd claimed that he telephoned the police three times on the day of the rally to warn them that he believed "trouble" had been planned for the event. A member of the Anti-Fascist New World Fellowship had told him that "we'll get you tonight". Budd had pleaded for police protection but only four men had turned up that night. He argued that there had been a conspiracy against the BUF that involved both the police and the Town Council. (22)
James Louis Crosland gave evidence in support of Budd, Mosley, Joyce and Mullans. The Worthing Gazette reported: "The Rev. James Louis Crosland, Vicar of Rustington, said he was a non-active member of the British Union of Fascists. He described the crowd as acting in rather a threatening attitude and said he had to force his way through them." Eric Neve (the counsel for the prosecution) asked Crosland if he supported Fascist policy. He replied: "If it came to be a choice between that and something worse I should probably choose it." (23)
John Flowers, the prosecuting council told the jury that "if you come to the conclusion that there was an organised opposition by roughs and communists and others against the Fascists... that this brought about the violence and that the defendants and their followers were protecting themselves against violence, it will not be my duty to ask you to find them guilty." The jury agreed and all the men were found not guilty. (24)
Oswald Mosley Documentary
James Louis Crosland wrote to Adolf Hitler in April 1936. The staff of Rustington Church School were asked to sign the letter before it was sent to Germany: "In order that you may be able to fully understand the attitude of the British people towards the proposals put forward by the German Government, we the undersigned take this opportunity as representative of public opinion, to write and express our full approval of the proposals, and also our deep sympathy and understanding for the German people in their sincere effort to bring a lasting peace to the disturbed and troubled continent of Europe. We feel that the proposals contain in themselves the essence of a plan which could bring a new order of civilization undreamt of in the annals of history and which would once and for all establish the peace of Europe on a solid and lasting foundation."
The letter went on to say: "We sympathise with the German nation in their struggle for equal status with the other great nations of Europe, and we realise that a country with so high a culture, which has contributed so much in the field of music, science, and art, should find a worthy and honoured place in the community of nations. We realise the work that your Excellency has done for Germany in particular, and for Europe as a whole is driving the menace of Communism from our midst, and we desire above all a friendship with Germany and the German people. We firmly reject the proposed Staff talks as monstrous, they are entirely out of sympathy with the feelings of the British nation, and we accord our warmest approval action of the German Government in their re-militarisation of the Rhine zone as a counter measure to the Franco-Soviet Pact." (25)
Miss Boniface, headmistress of East Street Girls' School, in Littlehampton, and district representative to the County Education Board, later recalled that in 1936 she was contacted by a teacher at Rustington Church School that Rev. Crosland had been circulating this letter to Hitler to the staff and asking them to sign it. Miss Boniface told the teacher that on no account should the staff give their signatures to such a document. (26)
Rev. Crosland continued to be a supporter of the British Union of Fascists. In 1938 he arranged for his son, John Sidney Crosland, and William Joyce, wearing their blackshirt uniforms, to lecture to the children. "It seems the objective was to introduce the young minds and bodies to a militaristic routine at an early age, in order to prepare them for the struggle for power in the war which was to come." (27)
Retirement and Death
The Second World War began on 3rd September, 1939. The following year Winston Churchill became prime minister, and warned that a German invasion was imminent and announced the imposition of Defence Regulation 18B. This legislation, passed on 22nd May, 1940, gave the Home Secretary the right to imprison without trial anybody he believed likely to "endanger the safety of the realm". Over the next few weeks 1,769 British subjects were interned of whom 763 had been members of the British Union of Fascists. (28)
Of the fascists British fascists arrested over 600 came from Sussex. This included John Sidney Crosland, Charles Bentinck Budd, Charles E. Hudson and Norah Elam. (29) A government report pointed out: "The internment of the persons whose cases have come before the Committee or whose cases are sent herewith has done much to stamp out Fascist activity in West Sussex, but it is evident that there are still fascist sympathizers and that the return of any of their Leaders might well cause a recrudescence of their activities." (30)
Rev Crosland was not arrested but he was forced to resign. He left Rustington and went to live at The Priory in Cross-in-Hand. Crosland pleaded for his son's release: "My wide experience in life has taught me this fact - no accused person is able to defend himself adequately in a trial against lies which are in circulation about him. He may deny them, but that is not enough.... But I appeal on higher reasons than that. I put it to you. Here am I an old man broken in health physically incapable of looking after my son's farm of 16 acres, would it not be more advantageous to the State and welfare of our country's need in this time of great danger to release him so that he could do something towards the production of food, provided that he abstained from all politics during the war and that he was under the supervision of the East Sussex Police?" (31)
James Louis Crosland died in 1943.
Primary Sources
(1) The Chichester Observer (16th February, 1910)
There was much local interest displayed on Thursday at the Arundel Town Hall, in the hearing of the charge against the Vicar of Rustington (The Rev. James Louis Crosland). A great many rumours had been rife in the village for some months, and this had culminated in the vicar being summoned, with the charge that he, between April 20th 1908 and April 12th 1909, did fraudulently use for his own purposes, cash collected for the benefit of the sick and poor of the village. One of the Churchwardens of the Church, Mr. E. G. P. Wyatt, (Chairman of Rustington Parish Council), who lived at Rustington Hall, brought the charge against the vicar.