David Kirkwood being detained by police

The 1919 Battle of George Square, also known as Bloody Friday and Black Friday, was one of the worst riots on the streets of Glasgow, Scotland, which took place on Friday, January 31, 1919 ^[1]. The dispute revolved around a campaign for shorter working hours, backed by widespread strike action. Clashes between police and protesters broke out, and led to the Government sending soldiers to the city to prevent any further gatherings due to their fear of a left-wing workers revolution, described as a "Bolshevist uprising" by the then Secretary of State for Scotland ^[2], as had happened the previous year in the 1917 Russian Revolution and was occurring in Germany whilst the 40 Hours strike unfolded . Bloody Friday is the name given to July 21, 1972, due to bombing by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in and around Belfast, Northern Ireland on that day. ... Image File history File links 1919_Battle_of_George_Square_-_David_Kirkwood. ... Image File history File links 1919_Battle_of_George_Square_-_David_Kirkwood. ... David Kirkwood, 1st Baron Kirkwood, PC (1872 - April 16, 1955) was a socialist from the East End of Glasgow, Scotland, viewed as a leading figure of the Red Clydeside era. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Glaswegian redirects here. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... See also general strike, or for other uses see: strike (disambiguation). ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a series of political events in Russia, involving first the overthrow of the system of autocracy, and then the overthrow of the liberal Provisional Government (Duma), resulting in the establishment of the Soviet power under the control of the Bolshevik party. ...

==The 40 hours strike==go home The Scottish TUC and Clyde Workers' Committee called the '40 hours strike' in January 1919 ^[3] to demand a reduction in working hours. The immediate objective was to alleviate unemployment by sharing out available work more widely. Unemployment was expected to be a major problem at the end of the war, as large numbers of soldiers were suddenly reintroduced to the labour force. In fact, a short post-war economic boom delayed the onset of mass unemployment for several years. However, some areas with much war-related industry, such as Glasgow, with its munitions factories and shipbuilding, suffered greatly from the ending of wartime employment. The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is the co-ordinating body of trade unions, and local Trades Councils, in Scotland. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Before the First World War, the working week was 54 hours but Scottish workers wanted it cut to 30. Emmanuel Shinwell, the Glasgow Trades Council president, persuaded them to go for 40 hours a week. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Emanuel Shinwell (October 18, 1884-May 8, 1986) (familiarly known as Manny) was born in London, but moved with his Jewish family to Scotland. ...

A strikers' meeting was called for Monday, January 27, and more than 3000 workers gathered at St Andrew's Halls. By Friday January 31, this number had swollen to 'upwards of 60,000' ^[1]. It was Scotland's first mass picket. January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The riot

The "my exploit of delete is very huge" exact cause of the riot has been disputed - some sources indicate it was caused by an unprovoked police baton charge, whilst others indicate that strikers attempted to stop trams trying to run in the square ^[2]. Fighting broke out between workers and police with the fighting spreading as far as Glasgow Green. Many people, women and children among them, were injured. More than a dozen strikers were taken to Duke Street Prison and later tried at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... McLennan Arch at the north-west entrance to Glasgow Green Glasgow Green situated in the east end of the city on the north bank of the River Clyde, is the oldest park in Glasgow dating back to the 15th century. ... Duke Street Prison was a prison in Glasgow. ... Seal of the High Court of Justiciary © Crown Copyright The High Court of Justiciary is Scotlands supreme criminal court. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Caused by trams?

Some sources indicate that trams running through the strike may have started the riot. City magistrates had been forewarned of the dangers of keeping trams on the streets at a time when 10,000 strikers were marching from the halls to occupy George Square. But the warning was ignored, and the riot started after a tram tried to make its way through the square while strike leaders were inside the City Chambers awaiting talks with the Provost. A magistrate is a judicial officer. ... George Square and Glasgow City Chambers George Square is the central square in the Scottish city of Glasgow. ... Look up provost in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Tanks and soldiers from England

Image File history File links 1919_Battle_of_George_Square_-_tanks_and_soldiers. ... Image File history File links 1919_Battle_of_George_Square_-_tanks_and_soldiers. ...

Soldiers in the streets

After the riot, soldiers with machine guns, tanks and a howitzer, occupied Glasgow's streets for a week to deter any more gatherings. No Scottish troops were deployed, with the government fearing that fellow Scots, soldiers or otherwise, would go over to the workers' side if a revolutionary situation developed in Glasgow. English troops were transported from England and stationed in Glasgow specifically to combat this possible scenario. The soldiers of the Highland Light Infantry, based in the city's Maryhill barracks were subject to a lock-in, with an estimated 10,000 English troops and tanks ^[1] sent into the city to control unrest and extinguish any revolution that should break out. (See also Red Clydeside) A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... 19th century 12 pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzer displayed by the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, USA A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with... Glaswegian redirects here. ... The Highland Light Infantry later the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) was a regiment of the British Army. ... Maryhill is a residential district in the northwest of the City of Glasgow. ... Red Clydeside is a term used to describe the era of political radicalism that characterised the city of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom, and urban areas around the city on the banks of the River Clyde. ...

Consequences

Manny Shinwell, William Gallacher and David Kirkwood were jailed for several months. Manny Shinwell Emanuel Shinwell, Baron Shinwell CH (October 18, 1884-May 8, 1986) (familiarly known as Manny) was born in London, but moved with his Polish-Jewish family to Scotland. ... William Gallacher was born in Paisley, Scotland, on December 25, 1881. ... David Kirkwood, 1st Baron Kirkwood, PC (1872 - April 16, 1955) was a socialist from the East End of Glasgow, Scotland, viewed as a leading figure of the Red Clydeside era. ...

A 47-hour week was eventually agreed with trade unions. A Trade Union (Labour union) ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

1919 Battle of George Square

• Red Clydeside

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Red Clydeside is a term used to describe the era of political radicalism that characterised the city of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom, and urban areas around the city on the banks of the River Clyde. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Glasgow Digital Library - The battle of George Square (Bloody Friday) 1919. Strathclyde University. Retrieved on 2006 July 24.
2. ^ ^{a b} Red Clydeside. International Socialist Archives. Retrieved on 2006 July 24.
3. ^ Glasgow Digital Library - The 40-hours strike 1919. Strathclyde University. Retrieved on 2006 July 24.

• Magnus Magnusson. Scotland: The Story of a Nation.