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November 1922: when Mussolini's fascists marched through London
ALFIO BERNABEI looks back to when emigrant Blackshirts openly paraded through London to Westminster Abbey, tolerated by the Tory government and accepted by much of the mainstream press as a legitimate political movement in power in Italy
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THE March on Rome on October 28 1922 by Mussolini’s armed militia was followed a few days later by another fascist march, this time in London.
On the afternoon of Saturday November 4 1922, Italian Blackshirts gathered outside 25 Noel Street in Soho. “Hundreds” were expected, according to a report in the Daily Herald. Among those present were members of the “squadre d’azione del fascio” or “action squads.” They belonged to Mussolini’s National Fascist Party’s London branch, set up in November 1921 with offices at 13 Store Street.
The Blackshirts prepared to march across Piccadilly all the way to Westminster Abbey under the command of Captain Gelmetti.
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