Organization of the march:
Started 13 Oct 1938
200 men started
Supported by local Conservative and Labour councilors and MP's.
Mayor of Jarrow sent 200,000 letters to corporations, trade unions, co-operative societies and similar bodies using the march kitty to raise money and supplies for the march. He couldn't spend any government money.
Total distance about 300 miles. Averaged 12 miles a day stopping at a litany of depressed English industrial towns.
Journey took 25 days (in round numbers, a month).
Good boots supplied by the public. New soles and heels for other men.
When they stopped each night shelter and food was found by local people.
Marching barber - Ralphy Smith sometimes carried the banner, sometimes banged on the one kettledrum they had.
2 London medical students for blisters and sore stomachs.
Boxes of cigarettes, tobacco, biscuits, sweets and meat extracts from manufacturers all over the country.
A group of press went with them to report on the march.
Original 2 banners were calico fringed with indigo.
Marched like soldiers - heads held high; eyes straight ahead in a neat line.
At the start, crowded round the town hall with their kit bags and banners, kitted out in their Sunday best
In London they smartened up. Made 2 new banners and were issued with new cardboard badges
Their petition was carried all the way in an oak casket.
They established a kitty that was almost 1000 pounds when they set off.
2 tuppenny packets of cigarettes a day per man.
2 pairs of socks and 2 iodine insoles were issued to each man at the start.
Transport wagon - a bus bought for 20 pounds and converted - goes ahead with the sleeping kit.
Waterproofs were carried bandolier fashion by each man.
1s 6d pocket money and 2 penny stamps for each man each week.
The Labour agent for Jarrow (Harry Stoddart) and the Conservative agent (R. Suddick) worked together to arrange accommodation and halls for meetings at each stop.
Objectives of the march:
North-East was suffering even more than the rest of the country from unemployment - mainly miners and shipyard workers.
Desperate attempt to find jobs to support Jarrow men and their families.
Also a bid for respect and recognition for the people of Jarrow and others in a similar situation all over the country.
12,000 signature petition was handed in by the (then) MP for Jarrow Ellen Wilkinson - Red Ellen - red hair and Communist.
J. B. Priestley went to Tyneside on his "English Journey" - found men hanging about - not scores but hundreds of thousands of them.
72.9% unemployment at the time in Jarrow. 4 of of 5. Government merged statistics from Jarrow with those from Hebburn to reduce the unemployment rate to 39.6% but kept everybody in the dark to demonstrate the "improvement".
Worried about their next meal.
Lord Runciman said, in 1933, that industrial disputes should be dealt with "The Mussolini Way".
Between 1933 and 1936 Britain imported millions of tons of steel, more expensive than British steel but the steel cartel in Britain received more money for not producing steel than they would have recieved for producing it. Therefore, no steel plant for Jarrow.
Not a hunger march - a protest march.
Sidebars:
Some of the men said it was the best feed they'd ever had - egg, ham and salmon sandwiches.
One man, whose family hadn't eaten meat for 6 weeks, posted some meat home for them in an envelope.
Mouth organ orchestra.
Black lab Paddy joined the march at Jarrow and went all the way befriended by Red Ellen and others. Cadged a lift in the bus when his paws got too sore.
Mayor of Jarrow travelled continually between the march and Jarrow. Example of civic spirit probably without parallel anywhere else in the country.
Kids would be kept in bed in the morning because there was no food for breakfast.
Jarrow held no elections that November to demonstrate political unity for the protest march.
Only 2 fell out for health reasons in the first 90 miles.
March had the Church's blessing. Dr. Gordon, Bishop of Jarrow blessed the march. When they set off, the Bishop of Ripon, Dr. Lunt, blessed the march and the men. Jarrow was staunch Roman Catholic at the time.
Results of the march:
Legend - inspiration to the North-East and other industrial areas.
Prime Minister was Stanley Baldwin refused to see representatives including their MP.
One of the defining moments of British History dealing with emancipation of ordinary citizens.
House of Commons asked a few desultory questions then moved on to new business.
Back at home:
Back at home - the marchers weren't available for work so all benefits stopped for the family - those at home were in an even worse state than usual.
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Last updated June 30, 2006 |