Jeffrey Hamm
Encyclopedia
Edward Jeffrey Hamm was a leading British Fascist and supporter of Oswald Mosley
.
Born in Ebbw Vale
, Wales
, he came into contact with the British Union of Fascists
during a family trip to London
and joined in 1935 when he relocated to London although initially, due to his youth, his role in the movement was a minor one. In 1939 he moved to the Falkland Islands
to work as a teacher, and it was there that he was arrested in 1940 for his BUF membership under Defence Regulation 18B
. Transferred to a camp in South Africa
, he was released in 1941, and then was drafted into the Royal Armoured Corps
where he served until his discharge in 1944.
Following his discharge, Hamm took over the 'British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women
', which claimed to look after veterans interests, as well as keep Mosley's ideas current. Seeking to keep British fascism alive, Hamm organized a series of meetings in Hyde Park
from November 1944 onwards, later moving them to the traditional BUF areas of east London. Hamm's League rallies eventually began to attract thousands, convincing him that a proper political return was a distinct possibility. He soon began calling on Mosley to return to the leadership of British fascism and incorporated his own British League into the Union Movement
immediately upon its foundation in 1948. Hamm became a leading member of the new UM and stood as a candidate for them in the United Kingdom general election, 1966
in the Handsworth constituency
(polling 4%). Based in Notting Hill
, he organised the UM there, an area that was a significant base of UM operations.
In the later years of the UM, Hamm served as Mosley's personal secretary, and would go on to reluctantly agree to the changing of the UM name to Action Party, following the suggestion of some members, including Keith Thompson. However, soon afterward the name was changed back to Union Movement and Hamm remained the Secretary until his death from Parkinson's disease
in 1994. He published his autobiography, Action Replay, in 1983, and then in 1988 - shortly after the birth of his Grandson - his second book, "The Evil Good Men Do".
The Papers of Jeffrey Hamm are housed at the University of Birmingham
Special Collections.
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
.
Born in Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, he came into contact with the British Union of Fascists
British Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
during a family trip to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and joined in 1935 when he relocated to London although initially, due to his youth, his role in the movement was a minor one. In 1939 he moved to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
to work as a teacher, and it was there that he was arrested in 1940 for his BUF membership under Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B
Defence Regulation 18B, often referred to as simply 18B, was the most famous of the Defence Regulations used by the British Government during World War II. The complete technical reference name for this rule was: Regulation 18B of the Defence Regulations 1939. It allowed for the internment of...
. Transferred to a camp in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, he was released in 1941, and then was drafted into the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
where he served until his discharge in 1944.
Following his discharge, Hamm took over the 'British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women
British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women
The British League of Ex-Servicemen and Women was a British ex-service organisation that became associated with far right politics during and after the Second World War.-Origins:...
', which claimed to look after veterans interests, as well as keep Mosley's ideas current. Seeking to keep British fascism alive, Hamm organized a series of meetings in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
from November 1944 onwards, later moving them to the traditional BUF areas of east London. Hamm's League rallies eventually began to attract thousands, convincing him that a proper political return was a distinct possibility. He soon began calling on Mosley to return to the leadership of British fascism and incorporated his own British League into the Union Movement
Union Movement
The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism...
immediately upon its foundation in 1948. Hamm became a leading member of the new UM and stood as a candidate for them in the United Kingdom general election, 1966
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
in the Handsworth constituency
Birmingham Handsworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Birmingham Handsworth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Handsworth district of Birmingham. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
(polling 4%). Based in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, he organised the UM there, an area that was a significant base of UM operations.
In the later years of the UM, Hamm served as Mosley's personal secretary, and would go on to reluctantly agree to the changing of the UM name to Action Party, following the suggestion of some members, including Keith Thompson. However, soon afterward the name was changed back to Union Movement and Hamm remained the Secretary until his death from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
in 1994. He published his autobiography, Action Replay, in 1983, and then in 1988 - shortly after the birth of his Grandson - his second book, "The Evil Good Men Do".
The Papers of Jeffrey Hamm are housed at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
Special Collections.
Elections contested
| Date of election | Constituency | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 March 1962 Middlesbrough East by-election, 1962 A by-election to the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough East was held on 14 March 1962.The seat was a hold for the Labour Party.-See also:*List of United Kingdom by-elections*Middlesbrough... |
Middlesbrough East Middlesbrough East (UK Parliament constituency) Middlesbrough East was a parliamentary constituency in the town of Middlesbrough in North East England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.... |
UM Union Movement The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism... |
550 | 1.7 |
| 1966 United Kingdom general election, 1966 The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs... |
Birmingham Handsworth Birmingham Handsworth (UK Parliament constituency) Birmingham Handsworth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Handsworth district of Birmingham. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom... |
UM Union Movement The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism... |
1337 | 4.1 |