leader of defrauding the party out of funds and of dictatorial leadership. Eyres had brought a gang of cudgel-wielding supporters from Kensington to confront Rippon-Seymour whilst the leader's use of the Colt revolver, which actually belonged to "Victor Barker", saw him convicted of both possession of an illegal firearm and common assault at the Old Bailey. In 1927 a leading member was "Colonel Victor Barker", born Lillias Irma Valerie Barker and called Valerie Arkell-Smith. The National Fascisti members did not know he was assigned female at birth and treated him as a man; Barker became secretary to Rippon-Seymour as well as training members in the boxing and fencing clubs. A series of internal struggles saw them change their name to the British National Fascists on 19 July 1926, under the leadership of Rippon-Seymour. Meanwhile, leading members such as Colonel Ralph Bingham drifted from the group to become active instead in the Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies. Such a small group could not withstand internal wrangling and the movement faded from the scene fairly quickly after this. Significance Despite their general failure the National Fascisti remain significant for being the first group in British politics to attempt to develop fascism as a specifically British ideology. They also helped to launch the political careers of William Joyce and Arnold Leese, who had helped to instigate the split from the British Fascisti and who would go on to greater significance. See also List of British fascist parties References Bibliography Defunct political parties in the United Kingdom Fascist parties in the United Kingdom Political parties established in 1924 1924 establishments in the United Kingdom Anti-communist organizations