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The General Strike - Sphere emergency number
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The General Strike - Sphere emergency number
Front cover of The Sphere emergency number issued during the General Strike. Photograph shows mounted police controlling crowds at Elephant and Castle in South London. The road was cleared by a detatchment of mounted constables with drawn batons. The crowd soon dispersed when the police appeared and despite alarmist reports, there were no serious casualties. 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 14111261
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Batons Cleared Constables Controlling Crowds Drawn Elephant Emergency Issued Mounted Sphere Strike Strikes Support 1926
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This evocative photograph captures the tense atmosphere during the General Strike of May 1926, as mounted police control a crowd at Elephant and Castle in South London. The road had been cleared by a detachment of mounted constables, who appeared with drawn batons, dispersing the crowd with relative ease. Contrary to alarmist reports, there were no serious casualties during this confrontation. The General Strike was called by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in support of coal miners who were facing threatened wage cuts. While the strike primarily affected key industrial sectors such as docks, electricity, gas, and railways, it ultimately collapsed after just nine days due to a lack of real public support and well-organized government emergency measures. This image, which graced the front cover of The Sphere emergency number during that period, offers a glimpse into the historical significance of this event. The 1920s, also known as the 'Roaring Twenties,' were marked by social and political upheaval, with labor disputes and strikes becoming increasingly common. This photograph serves as a powerful reminder of the tensions that existed during that era and the role that law enforcement played in maintaining order during times of civil unrest.
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