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The General Strike - demobilisation of volunteers 1926
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The General Strike - demobilisation of volunteers 1926
Colonel St. John Fox, Commandant of the Headquarters Central Division of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve, addressing the division (including regulars, in uniform and emergency men) before dismissing them in the quadrangle of the foreign office. In support of a strike by coal miners over the issue of threatened wage cuts, the Trades Union Congress called a General Strike in early May 1926. The strike only involved certain key industrial sectors (docks, electricity, gas, railways) but, in the face of well-organised government emergency measures and lack of real public support, it collapsed after nine days Date: May 1926
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Media ID 14114191
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Addressing Colonel Commandant Constabulary Demobilisation Division Emergency Foreign Headquarters Including Metropolitan Office Quadrangle Regulars Reserve Special Strike Volunteers 1926 Dismissing
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a pivotal moment during the General Strike of 1926, as Colonel St. John Fox, Commandant of the Headquarters Central Division of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve, addresses his volunteers before their demobilisation in the quadrangle of the Foreign Office. The General Strike, called by the Trades Union Congress in support of coal miners facing threatened wage cuts, began in early May 1926 and involved key industrial sectors such as docks, electricity, gas, and railways. However, the strike's collapse after just nine days was due in large part to well-organised government emergency measures and a lack of real public support. In the photograph, Colonel Fox stands atop a makeshift platform, surrounded by his uniformed volunteers, both regulars and emergency men. His stern expression and raised hand command the attention of the assembled troops, who listen intently to his words. The Foreign Office's grand quadrangle, with its ornate columns and statues, provides an ironic backdrop to the scene, highlighting the contrast between the order and stability of the government and the turmoil of the strike. The demobilisation of the Special Constabulary Reserve marked the end of the General Strike, and the return to normalcy for many British citizens. However, the event also served as a reminder of the power of organized labour and the government's ability to respond with force when necessary. This photograph is a poignant reminder of a significant moment in British history, capturing the tension and drama of a pivotal moment in the struggle between workers' rights and government control.
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