ARMY TRAINEES AND TEDDY BOYS SKIRMISH IN CITY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 8

ARMY TRAINEES AND TEDDY BOYS SKIRMISH IN CITY

A skirmish between large groups of military trainees and teddy boys occurred in and near the Cathedral Square last evening. Before anything more than several isolated individual fights started, the police and military police broke it up. Trouble started in several different places near the Square when threats were exchanged as to whether the trainees should “throw the teddy boys out of town.” A trainee’s hat was flicked off and feelings ran high. The main group moved gradually round from Colombo street past the Tivoli Theatre into Chancery lane. where the considerable volume of language attracted more partisans to augment the ranks. An egg was thrown but it smashed on a shop window without injuring anyone's feelings. Making a great deal of noise

they all moved out into Gloucester street and towards the river bank, where an open fight began to develop. Police cars had in the meantime been called by a taxi radio telephone, but they were anticipated by the arrival of two military policemen, who, quickly stopped the fighting. With six police present the crowd, among whom were a number of 14 or 15-year-old girls, was broken up into small groups. In the few cases where fighting continued it was done in quiet corners and soon ended. No arrests were made. The 72 trainees’ departure for Burnham was attended by a group of about 40 teddy boys and their adherents; but under the vigilant eye of two military policemen, six constables and two sergeants, there was nothing more than a little heckling. After the train’s departure at 9.50 p.m. the small crowd soon moved back into the centre of the city.