Centenary of the 1926 General Strike

Remembering the General Strike is a roundtable discussion organised by the Institute of Historical Research for 29th April, 14:00-16:00 hours. Details can be found, and bookings made here.

Centenary is a celebration of the historical nine-day 1926 General Strike, the biggest rupture in British society since the English Civil War. Millions of workers and their families withdrew their labour, challenging the British state and the very existence of the Establishment.

On 10 May 1926, seven days into the nine-day UK General Strike, striking miners uncoupled a rail on the mainline Edinburgh to London railway, intending to derail a blackleg coal train. Unfortunately for the perpetrators, it was a passenger train.

Despite 281 passengers aboard the train, the volunteer driver had been warned of trouble ahead and slowed down, meaning when the engine and five carriages were derailed, no one was killed. The only injury was minor, to a man’s foot. Most people were treated for shock and bruises and continued their journey from Newcastle.

​Eight Cramlington miners were each sentenced to up to eight years for their involvement in the event. The Cramlington Train Wreckers were eventually released early due to pressure from the trade union rank and file, politicians and the judiciary itself, who saw the original sentences as too harsh. They returned home, welcomed as heroes.