British Pathe

London.

Still of Memo from 10 Downing Street:

"The Government is NOT fighting Trades Unionism. Trade Unionism is a recognised factor in the industrial life of the country. What the Government is fighting for is to prevent the extremists of any industrial body from attempting to gain...

London.

Still of Memo from 10 Downing Street:

"The Government is NOT fighting Trades Unionism. Trade Unionism is a recognised factor in the industrial life of the country. What the Government is fighting for is to prevent the extremists of any industrial body from attempting to gain their ends ..."

Memo continues in this vein.

Still of Memo from the National Union of Railwaymen: typeface too small to read.

M/S of two young boys looking at a large poster pronouncing that the 'Government offer' is no different to the wages already received by the Railwaymen. Various shots of a man sticking the poster to a bill board, he is watched by the boys, several pedestrians pass. Another C/U of the poster.

M/S of a steam train coming into a platform in a large London station. M/S of two soldiers in kilts guarding goods wagons in a railway siding. M/S of a soldier guarding a signal box. M/S of a train passing a guard beside the tracks.

M/S of a man pasting a poster onto a truck, it reads - "GOLDERS GREEN TO NEWGATE STREET". M/S of men and women climbing onto the back of a truck, a policeman watches. M/S of the poster being pasted. L/S of people boarding trucks - presumably they replace the rail service? M/S of people on the open topped truck. M/S of people queuing to get onto a double decker bus. M/S of a man being helped onto the back of a truck, we then see the truck depart. M/S of a bus outside Baker Street station. M/S of a policemen guarding the closed doors to the station. Various shots of soldiers and policemen supervising people getting onto trucks. Various shots of the trucks driving through London streets. More shots of people getting on trucks.

Railway Strike. M/S of official looking gentlemen - possibly even Royalty? - getting into a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce. Panning shot over the heads of a cheering crowd. M/S of sailors marching down a London street, they appear to enter a building. The sailors are followed by a stream of men in civilian clothing. M/S of men marching down a suburban street, some carry flags and banners - the striking railwaymen? Various panning shots of a crowd gathered in sport's stadium, a man on a raised platform is addressing them. L/S of the crowd, some men cheer and wave their hats. M/S of more sailors lead by a brass band marching down a street into a building. Various shots of sailors and civilian men, some carrying banners, marching past railway station. C/U of a man giving a passionate speech. C/U of the man shaking hands and laughing with another man (could be Ramsay MacDonald). More panning shots over the crowd in the stadium - some people raise their hands as if they are taking part in a vote or referendum.

Note: a shorter version of this story exists - THE GREAT RAIL STRIKE (shorter version) - also in G 1053. It shows the striking train drivers returning home.