Origins of May Day - London May Day 1890, 1891 and 1892

Above Mayday 1891
Below May Day 1892

Origins of May Day

The first modern May Day was in 1890. At that time the main immediate aim of the Labour movement was to establish the legal eight-hour day. In 1889, delegates to the Paris foundation congress of the Second International decided to launch an international campaign for the eight-hour day:

" Congress decides to organise a great international demonstration, so that in all countries and all cities, on the appointed day, the toiling masses shall demand of the State authorities the legal reduction of the working day to eight hours." 

May Day was chosen as " the one appointed day " because already since 1886 the Amer-'can unions had organised strikes for the eight-hour day on that day.

Demand for Socialism

The next two congresses of the International strengthened and widened the May Day demonstration by adding to its objects improved working conditions, the preservation of peace between nations, and the achievement of the classless society. The 1893 Congress resolved :

" The demonstration on May the First for the Eight-Hour Day must serve at the same time as a demonstration of the determined will of the working class to destroy class distinctions through social change and thus to enter on the road, the only road, leading to peace for all peoples, to international peace."

The May Day demonstration became a symbol of the strength of the working-class forces and a rallying-point for working-class struggles in all countries.

The First May Day in Britain

In Britain at that time the unskilled were beginning to organise. The first May Day demonstration in Britain (May 4, 1890—the first ;Sunday in May) was a victory for the New Unionists and the pioneers of Socialism. 

The demonstration was organised by the Central Committse for the Eight Hours Legal Working Day Demonstration, created by Eleanor Marx and Edward Aveling.

The London Trades Council, at that time dominated by the " old unions ", was brought to participate by the efforts of Tom Mann, then delegate from Battersea Amalgamated Society of Engineers. The craft prejudices of its old leaders prevented the Council from demon strating for legal enforcement of the eight-hour day, but the support of the Council for the demonstration helped to bring half-a-million people to Hyde Park. 

Landmark in Working-class Organisation

On that May Day for the first time the dockers, till recently the despised outcasts, marched in their rough working clothes next to the aristocracy of labour, the " gentlemen comps " in kid gloves and top hats. British workers proclaimed their organisation as a class, skilled and unskilled united for an immediate demand; and despite the distrust of " wild " Continental Socialists felt by the old T.U.C. leaders, the masses demonstrated for international solidarity.

Engels wrote of this demonstration as "the grandest and most important part of the whole May Day festival" in Europe.

" On May 4, 1890, the English working class joined up in the great international army. . . . The grandchildren of the old Chartists are entering the line of battle. . . . What would I give if Marx had lived to see this awakening." (Article in Vienna Arbeiterzeitung, May 23, 1890.)

[For a vivid summary of this demonstration, see " Fifty Years of May Day ", by Dona Torr, Labour Monthly, May 1940.] 

May Days of Struggle in Britain

Some of the high points in the  history of May Day in Britain.

1918. Wednesday, May 1, Clydeside struck work, led by the Clyde Workers' Committee and William Gallacher, and 100,000 marched to Duke Street Prison, shouting " Release John Maclean " (revolutionary fighter against the imperialist war).

1921. Building trade unions held " national holiday " (one-day strike) on May Day in support of their demands. 

1926. At the greatest-ever May Day demonstration (three-quarters of a million out in London) it was announced that a General Strike had been decided on by the General Council of the T.U.C.

The Right-Wing Leaders and May Day

The right-wing in the Labour movement consistently tried to weaken the class demonstrations on May Day— e.g., to prevent them being held on a week-day, involv ing strike action; tried to split them (as in London since 1946) or opposed them entirely. In 1929 the Social-Democrat police chief in Berlin, Zorgiebel, banned the May Day demonstrations and workers who took partwere shot down. 

The Ban on May Day in London, 1949

Twenty years later the Labour Government bans the May Day demonstration of the London trade unions, which has been held continuously for nearly sixty years.

The excuse was that the Fascist attempt to march through Hackney and Tottenham on March 20, with the protect on of 400 police, had resulted in disorder. 

The Home Secretary immediately banned all " public processions of a political character " in London for three months.

Stalingrad November 1942

To guard the Fatherland

is a sacred duty of every

citizen of the USSR !

  Stalingrad

 

“For us there is no land beyond the Volga,”

Vasily Zaitsev

Hillsborough and The Miners Strike

The recent revelation that Police colluded to ensure the prosecution and jailing of miners during the 1984-85 miners strike, comes as no surprise to those active at the time.

The only surprise is that it has been revealed in our lifetime, a fact only due to the tireless efforts of the Hillsborough campaign for justice, which highlighted the establishments successful attempts to hide the truth of what really happened to 96 innocent Liverpool supporters killed at Hillsborough on 15th April 1989

Not only were the 96 football fans who died, defamed but the Tories and their establishment friends attempted to vilify the whole City of Liverpool, that rallied to support the families. 

The Hillsborough Inquiry, highlighted establishment collusion and police collusion at the highest levels and it soon became evident that the same tactics used to marginalise the Hillsborough families, had also been used extensively during the miners strike.

During the Miners  strike 11,291 people were arrested, of whom 8,392 were charged, we now know many of those charged were totally innocent.

COHSE activists at the time feared that the sequestration and imprisoning of miners was simply an attempt by the establishment to smash a democratic and free trade union in Britain.

COHSE had always had a strong bond of friendship towards the miners and a "debt of gratitude" had grown over many years, not least because the miners had often taken action in support of nurses and NHS staffs pay and they campaigner alongside us to defend hospitals from closure.

So it was that a "middle of the road" union like COHSE would play a critical role in ensuring, that to the surprise of Neil Kinnock and Labour Party apparatchiks a resolution at the October 1985  Labour Party conference was carried calling for a future Labour Government to investigate the jailing of miners and a full scale amnesty. 

The Labour Party leadership were sure of victory so it was to their great shock to find that the decisive vote in favour was cast by COHSE. 

To COHSE's great pride and the Labour Party leadership's shock.

Of course the Blair government did nothing about the Amnesty or for that matter Hillsborough, but the truth has finally begun to appear and those of us who stated that the jailing were a simply political act have been vindicated. 

Unfortunately many convicted and framed miners lost their pensions and employment, many died not knowing that their innocence would one day be revealed.

We salute those brave striking miners once again for their courage and fortitude against overwhelming forces.

NOTE:Hillingdon Miners Support Group raised over £12,000 pounds (about £50,000 today) during the 1984-85 miners strike.

Miners from Kent slept at the Hillingdon TUSU in the High Street, West Drayton. Special recognition should go to Mothers Pride Bakery workers, and the Bakers Union who organised a very effective 50p a week levy.

Hillsborough: The London Borough of Hillingdon made a donation of £10,000 to the Liverpool Mayors Hillsborough Appeal, one of the largest donations made to the appeal. Having have had at least one of it's young residents killed at Hillsborough, The Hillingdon Labour Group felt honour bound to move a resolution to make the donation, which secured the support of just one Liberal councillor (The others abstained), this was enough on the "Hung Council" to secure the donation was made. The Conservative Councillors to their utter shame opposed, referring to the anti Liverpool fans statements in the press.

Below: NUM Coal not Dole snowman, Hayes, Middlesex 1984

Hammersmith Clarion Cycling Club Estb 1895

Hammersmith Clarion cycling club take off
Clarion By Swiftsure
9th November 1895

A Clarion Cycling Club has been started in Hammersmith; meeting place Temperance Hall, Cambridge Road, Tuesdays 9 p.m. 

The secretary is
H. Cailay, 23, Fulham Palace Road, S.W. 
All unattached Clarionettes are invited to join.

Note:

Hammersmith Clarion Cyling club would be the first club in West London

Not sure about the spelling of H Cailay ???

WW1 Hayes, Middlesex- Roll of Honour (Updated Nov 2012)

Hayes - Roll of Honour WW1 (UPDATED 2012)

HAYES & HARLINGTON - WW1 ROLL OF HONOUR

HAYES & HARLINGTON
(MIDDLESEX)

ROLL OF HONOUR
WORLD WAR ONE

Listed below are the brave men of Hayes, West Middlesex who gave their lives during World War 1.

Additional information is based upon an initial cross reference with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

What we can say about these men, is that many were young, they had their lives ahead of them and they gave their lives for what they believed was a just War. Many gave their lives to defend what they believed was the "honour" of Belgium, others were caught up in the jingoism or peer pressure of the time. We can call it an "Imperialist War" a "Capitalist War", we can blame the folly of their leaders like Earl Haig and Winston Churchill (Galopilli).

But we must never forget they gave their lives for what they believed was an "honourable" and "just" cause, at least in 1914, many were young working class men and far from being caught up in the "jingoism" of the ruling class believed it right to fight for the liberation of Belgium.

This view was no doubt reinforced by the Belgium refugees who streamed into the munition factories of Hayes during the War.

HAYES WW1
ROLL OF HONOUR

E.J. Arnold (Not found)

S.P. Aird (Not Found)

H. Balls(Possible Match)
Herbert Frederick Balls, 20 Royal Fusiliers died 20/07/1916 ??????

F. Bamforth (possible match)
Francis Bamforth, 8th Bat Royal Fusilers died 07/07/1916 ??

R.Bates (CONFIRMED)
Prvate Richard Edward Oliver Bates of Son of Annie Bates"Ivydene," Hayes End, 11th battalion, Middlesex Regiment died 09/04/1917

S.C. Bennett (CONFIRMED)

Sidney Charlie Bennett Private 8987 Royal Fusilirrs 1^st Battalion aged 20 killed 23/09/1915 buried New Irish Farm Cemetery. Son of William & Gertrude Bennett 11 Blyth Road, Hayes

D.C. Blyth (Possible Match)

Second lieutenant 28/08/1915 Royal Engineers 93^rd Company, Dickenbusch cemetery, Ypres, Belgium

C. V. Bowgett (CONFIRMED)
Charles Victor Bowgett age33 Son of George and Fanny Eliza Bowgett; husband of Emily Bowgett, of 10, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes End, Hayes, Middx.
Rifleman 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade died 20/10/1914

C.W Bray (CONFIRMED)

Charles Bray aged 36 Pioneer Field survey corps, buried Padumain Cemetery plot B:11 son of Charles and wife Mary Ann Bray 1 Letchworth Cottage, Hayes End, Middx

H. Calf (CONFIRMED)
William Henry Calf, Gunner 196th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery Son of Frederick and Kate Eugenie Calf, "Acacia", High Rd, Hayes ., died 05/04/1917 CEMETERYANZIN-ST. AUBIN BRITISH

R. Calf (CONFIRMED)
Robert Noel Calf, age 20 Private 13th Battalion, Royal FusilersSon of Frederick and Kate Eugenie Calf, Acacia", High Rd., cemetery Humercamps

C.Castle (CONFIRMED) Sergeant C. Castle age 27 Son of William G. and Sarah Castle, of 4, Railway Cottages, Hayes, Middlesex. Native of Iver, Bucks. 9th Bat Royal Fusiliers died 28/06/1918 Gezaincourt Cemetery

E.L Chambers (Possible Match)

Eric L Chambers Rifleman 301386 London Regiment, Rifle Brigade, 1^st/5^th Brigade,  Thiepval (almost certainly)

A. Charlesworth (CONFIRMED)

Thomas Samuel Charlesworth, aged, 21 Driver Royal Field Artillery, 146^th Bde Ammunition Col. Killed 11/07/1915.Son of Thomas Joseph & Sarah Charlesworth, Hayes Middx

J Chinnery (CONFIRMED)
Private James Chinnery, 9th Bat Royal Fusiliers 21 years old Son of Mr. and Mrs. Chinnery, of 49, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes End, Middlesex. 04/04/1916

P.Chitty (Possible Match)

Percy Chitty, Lance Corporal Royal Medical Corps 12957, 12/10/1918 aged 24 Tooting. 

Or Harold Percy Chitty aged 29 Tank Corps A Battalion, Cambrai parents Claygate

J. Churchill (CONFIRMED) Private John Churchill aged 17 Son of Ena Elizabeth Churchill, of 39, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes, Middx 18/09/1916 Philosophe British, Mazingarbe.

R.E. Coleman (CONFIRMED)

Ralph Egerton Coleman aged 35 Private Essex Regiment 1^st Battalion , son of Serjeant James Coleman (Connaught Rangers) of Attlebough, Norfolk. Husband of Harriet Elizabeth Coleman 25 Rosedale Avenue, Hayes, Middx – Helles memorial

J.Cooke (CONFIRMED)
Private John Gatwood Cook age 39 husband of Ellen Cook of 13 Austin Road, Hayes, Brother Colour Sergeant Cook. 13th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, died 13th July 1917 at Baddow campa, Essex buried St Mary's Hayes.

H.Court (Possible match)
HARRY ROBERT COURT 12th Middlesex Reg Husband of Phoebe Rebecca Court, of 19, Montague Avenue, Hanwell, Middx. ????? 10/01/1917 ?????

W.Curtis (Not Found)
G. Druce (CONFIRMED)
Private George Druce, aged 18, Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Druce, of 5, Church Walk, Hayes, Middx.9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers,20/10/1915 Noeux-les-Mines cemetery


R. Egerton (CONFIRMED)
RALPH EGERTON1st Essex Regiment age 35 06/08/1915 Son of the late Serjt. James Coleman (Connaught Rangers) and Mrs. Coleman, of Attleborough, Norfolk; husband of Harriett Elizabeth Coleman, of 25, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes End, Middx. Helles memorial

T.D. Elderidge (Possible Match/CONFIRMED)
Thomas Eldrige Private Royal Fusiliers killed 06/04/1918 Verness son of Edward and Rachael Eldridge. Sipson, Middx (almost certainly)

W.J. Emmett (CONFIRMED)
Private W. J. Emmett age 18 Son of Charles J. and Emma Emmett, of Hayes, Middx. 2nd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) died 01/07/1918 CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY,

George Charles Ensby (CONFIRMED) George Charles Ensby Private No2 Coy 12^th battalion, Royal Fusiliers killed 31 July 1917 son of George Ensby (brick maker?) 10 Rigby’s Cottage Dawley Hayes Ypres Menin Gate Memorial

G.Gates (CONFIRMED) George Gates age 30 Son of Mary Ann Gates, of Walnut Tree Cottage, Yeading, Hayes End, Middlesex. 2nd Bat Middlesex Reg 31/07/1917 - Ypers Menim Gate memorial

B.St J. Glanfield (Not found)

H.Gohm (CONFIMED)
Private Henry Gohm 4th battalion Royal Fusiliers died 25/09/1915 Sanctuary Wood cemetery

T.W. Gregory (CONFIRMED)
Thomas williamage 26 Son of Thomas and Sarah Gregory, of 16, Angel Lane, Hayes End, Middx.C" Coy. 7th Bn.Royal Fusiliers died 06/02/1917 Thiepval cemetery

F.D. Gregory (CONFIRMED)
Corporal Frederick David Gregory age 30 Husband of Ida May Gregory, of 37, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes End, Hayes, Middx. 2nd Batallion Grenadier Guards 31/07/1917 Artillery wood

A. Gray

C Gye (CONFIRMED)
Charles Gye 1st Royal Fusiliers Son of Robert and Caroline Gye, of 33, Rosedale Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex 17/11/1915

F.Halford (Possible match)
Private F. Halford 4th middx reg 23/08/1914 St Symphorien Military ?????

S. Hambridge (Possible Match)
Sidney John Hambridge 2nd bat Grenadier Guards Grenadier Guards24/05/1918 ??????

G. Hammond (CONFIRMED)
Private George age 22 Son of Mr. G. Hammond, of 4, Melior Cottages, Yeading Lane, Hayes, Middx. 8th Bat Middx Reg died 19/05/1917 1st/ Aaras

J.W. Hart (not found)

A. Hawkins (Not found)

A. Haynes (not found)

F.A. Hewens (CONFIRMED)
Lieutenant F.A. Hewens 16/07/1918 RAF buried St Mary's Hayes

A. Higgs (CONFIRMED)
Arthur HiggsS on of Mrs. J. Higgs, of 4, White Row, Yeading, Hayes, Middx. 2nd bat Royal Fusiliers died 01/07/1916 Hawthorn ridge

A.W. Higgs (Possible match)
Albert William Higgs 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment 24/04/1918 ?? 90% sure

E. Higgins (CONFIRMED)
E. Higgins 32 Son of Mr. E. Higgins, of 7, Pillions Cottages, Hayes End Rd., Hayes, Middx. bat Royal Fusiliers died 19/06/1917 DICKEBUSCH NEW MILITARY CEMETERY

A. Howard (not found0

G.F. Hunnisett (CONFIRMED)
Private Frederick George Hunnisett "Sunnyside", Yeading, Hayes, Middx. 01/04/1918 Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars - Pozieres Memorial

W.E. Hunt (Possible match)
Son of Henry James and Elisabeth Sarah Hunt, of 12, Elthorne Park Rd., Hanwell. Born at Hanwell. Air Mechanic 2nd Class RAF 06/04/1918 Hanwell cemetery ??

E. Jermie (Jermy) (CONFIRMED)
Lance Corporal Ernest William Jermy age 21 son of William and Annie Maria Jermy of 3 Brown's Cottage, Hayes End, Middx 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers died 25/03/1918 Pozieres Memorial

M.R. Johnson (Possible Match)

Mark Robert Johnson aged 20 Private Royal Berkshire Regiment killed 05/04/1918

F. Joyce (not found)

A. Knight (CONFIRMED)
Private Albert Alfred Knight age 22 Son of mrs Alice Clark 61 Albert Road, Yiewsley, Middx 1st/8th Bat Middlesex Reg died 30/04/1915 Ypres cemetary

G. Langley (CONFIRMED)
Lance Cororal George Langley 21,Son of James and Ada Langley, of 19 Mellor Cottages, Yeading, Middx. 1/8th Bat Middlesex Regiment 16/08/1917 Tyne Cot cemetery


H. Langley (CONFIRMED)
Private Harry Langley age 27 Son of James and Ada Langley, of 19, Melior Cottages, Yeading, Hayes, Middx. 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment died 28/04/1917 Aaras cemetery

W. Leather (CONFIRMED)
Private 205341 James Leather aged 25 son of Mr G Leather 5 Rosedale Avenue, Hayes Private Devonshire Regiment 13 Works Battalion buried St Mary’s , Hayes

A. Lovett (CONFIRMED) Private Arthur Samuel Lovett aged 19 1st east Surrey regiment Son of Arthur George and Ada Lovett, of 35, Clayton Rd., Hayes, Middx. 24/09/1916 Thieva

F. Merchant (Possible Match)

F.T. Merchant Rifelman London Regiment (Post office Rifles) Warlencourt British Cemetary

B. Matthews (Possible Match)

Percy Matthews aged 32 killed 12/10/1916 Private Essex Regiment 1^st Battalion, Husband of Mary Matthews 4, Third Avenue, Hayes, Middx. Thiepval

G.F. Mattingley (CONFIRMED)
George Francis Mattingley, age 25 , Son of James and Annie Mattingley, of Yeading, Hayes, Middx Yeading. 20 Bat Kings Royal Rifles16/07/1916

G.W. Meads (Not found)

W.H. New (CONFIRMED)

William Henry New aged 18 Private 70693 Royal Fusiliers 5^th Battallion Son of Henry John Edward & Elizabeth New 6 Drenon Square (William Henry New was Born Kentish Town) buried St Marys. Hayes

E.C. Nice (Possible Match)
Edward Charles Albert Nice aged 20 Nice10th Bat Essex Regiment 26/09/1916 Thiepval ???

A. Norwood (CONFIRMED)
Corporal Alfred Norwood age 40 Son of Charlie and Helen Norwood, of 17, Cowley Mill Rd., Uxbridge; husband of Emily Norwood, of 18, New Windsor St., Uxbridge, Middx. 12th bat Royal Fusiliers 15/06/1917 Ypes

W. Palmer (Not found)
(Might be William Plamer - Candaian son of Henry Palmer

A. Penn (not found)

R.C. Pickering  (CONFIRMED) Private Robert Cecil Pickering aged 25 Machine Gun Corps 65^th Company killed 18/09/1918 son of John & Edith Pickering Doiran-Agny, Hayes buried Doiran

W,H. Pomeroy (Possible Match)

12 Bat Suffolk Regiment 05/05/1917 ?????

H. Powell (CONFIRMED)
Lance Corporal Harry Powell age 31 son of Stephen William and Ellen Powell of 5 Mill's Cottages, Wood End Green, Hayes End. Middx died 15/10/1918 Duhallow ADS cemetery

H.M. Prince (Not found)

E. Rayner (CONFIRMED)
Private Eric Norman Rayner age 24 Son of Mrs M Rayner of 35 Angel Lane, Hayes End, Middlesex 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 5/10/1917 Tyne Cot Cemetery

W. Rayner (Not found)

W, Redden (Possible Match)

George Redden ?? Rifelman London Regiment  1^st/17thBatt 571231 15/09/1916

T. Renton (Not found)

W. Richardson (Not found)

F. Sadler (POSSIBLE MATCH)
Frederick Frederick John Sadler, 2nd Middlesex Reg ,Thiepval 01/07/1916 ????

T. Salter (CONFIRMED)
Private Thomas Henry Salter age 19 Son of Silas and Emma Salter, of 1, Park Lane, Hayes End, Middx. Royal Fusiliers 02/10/1915 Loos

W. Sargood (Possible Match)
Hugh Frank Sargood, 16^th Bat  Middx Regiment Second Lieutenant killed 10/05/1917 Arras

C. Sherwood (Not found)

C.Sherwood (CONFIRMED)
Private Charles William Sherwood 8th Battalion Royal FusiliersSon of Emma Sherwood, of 8, Town Field Rd., Hayes, and the late Thomas Sherwood; husband of Maud Elizabeth Sherwood, of 1, Grainges Yard, Uxbridge, Middx age 35 05/10/1916 Thiepval

J. Smith (Not found)

H. Stacey (Possible Match)

Herbert Walter Stacey, Sergeant RAF aged 35 03/02/1919 Longuenesse (St Omer) wife Ethel Grace 1 Rolls court Avenue, Herne Hill

A. J. Stonestreet (Possible Match)
Private Alfred John Stonestreet age 22 Son of Benjamin John and Sarah Emily Stonestreet, of Myrtle Cottage, High Rd., Southall, Middx.13th Kensington Bn, London Reg. died 01/07/1916 Couin British cemetary

W. Sullivan (CONFIRMED)

William Sullivan aged 20 Middlesex Regiment 2 Battalion 01/07/1916 son of Mr & Mrs A.J. Higgs, 1 Meilor Cottages, Yeading, Middx Thiepval memorial 12d and 13 b

W. Syred Lance (CONFIRMED)
Corporal William Arthur Syred Son of the late William Arthur Syred and of Betsy Witherly (formerly Syred), of 33, Blyth Rd., Hayes, Middx. 25/09/1915 Ypres 5th Bat Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

W.C. Tapping (Possible Match)

William George Tapping, Rifleman, London Regiment, Queen Victoria Rifles KIA 01/07/1916 aged 26 son of William Thomas & Sarah Tapping School Green Shinfield, Bucks - Thierpal

W.H. Taylor (Not found)

A. Tripp (Possible Match)
Albert Tripp, Rifleman Rifle Brigade 16/12/1914 Ploegsteert ?????

W.T. Turner (Not Found)

H.A. Turner (CONFIRMED)

Henry Albert Turner, aged 35 Husband of Florence Fearnley Turner, of "Claverley," Cromwell Rd., Hayes End, Middx. Born at Hayes End. 6th Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) died 09/04/1918BOUZINCOURT RIDGE

H. Tyrell (Possible match)

P. Tyrell (Possible match)

Percy John Tyrell, Rifle Brigade  9^th Battalion, KIA 29/08/1916 Thiepiral


W. Vaughan.(Possible Match)

William Vaughan , Royal Fusiliers  28/06/1915 Helles

J. Watts (not found)

G. West (not found)

W.T. Williams (Not found)ALSO

The Palmer Brothers from Hayes (sons of Hayes Labour Party founder and Councillor Henry Palmer) They died fighting in the Canadian Army.

William Alfred Palmer, Eastern Ontario Reg (Killed 26 th April 1916 buried Woods Cemetery, Belgium).

Lieutenant Henry Arthur Palmer, Central Ontario Reg (killed 30th September 1918 buried Cantimpre Canadian Cemetery, Nord France)





LEONARD SPENCER - UXBRIDGE ILP SECRETARY

L "Leonard" W. Spencer was born in Guildford 29th July 1889, educated at Collegete School at Reading, He was the son of Mr. T. B. Spencer, of 66, Kidmore Road, Caversham, Reading.

Aged just 17, he left home to open a business in Uxbridge, living later at Belmont Road, Uxbridge. Leonard Spencer went on to helped establish and became the first secretary of the Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce, while also participating in the establishment of a local parliament (debating society).

As an early motor cyclist enthusiast he was reported to be the first person to have ever successfully motorcycle up Snowdon, he also toured Norway and Iceland as a young man.

Spencer had been a keen supporter of Mr Edmund Dene Morel (later Labour MP for Dundee and married to Mary Richardson) agitation over the brutal rule of King Leopold in the Belgium Congo (Now the Democratic republic of Congo).

Spencer became a Christian Socialist believing "that there was no incompatibility but rather the fullest harmony between Christianity and socialism".

He went on to become the founding Secretary of the Uxbridge Independent Labour Party (ILP) and in 1910 he had been elected to Uxbridge Council as a Labour candidate along with Edwin Westcott. While on the council he was involved in the plan to build some of the first Uxbridge Council houses and it was stated that these "were definitely a monument to the energies and the eloquence of Mr Spencer".

When World War 1 broke he considered it his Christain duty to serve and he was one of the first to enlist as a Cyclist Orderly in the (London Cycling Regiment) later 13th Kensington Battalion in order to defend the sovereignty of "little countries overseas".

He wrote home stating "he would not come home for the world until victory was won" and encouraging others to follow him and enlist.

At Ypres, during the Battle of Neuve Chapel during March and April 1915, A battle which represented the first large scale organised attack undertaken by the British army during the war. Spencer's Battalion took major losses, he underwent a terrible ordeal, suffering from hunger, thirst and sleepless nights. He only took off his clothes to wash and slept every night with his motorcycle by his side (probably providing a vital courier service). He served without respite for seven months.

The Regimental History of the Kensington's Regiment describes their experiences during Neuve Chapelle. C Company was involved on the first day, and advanced at 9 a.m. to the village cemetery, where they had to take cover amidst churned-up graves. On the 12th of March, their C.O. (Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis) noted that by 12.25 p.m. the German bombardment of their positions (in the old front line) was "Perfect Hell".

It seems that this "perfect hell" had finally undermined Leonard Spencer's fundamental Christian beliefs, it was stated later that he had rediscovered his beliefs before his untimely death, shot through the head by a German snipper on the 1st September 1915.

Private (and Comrade) L.W. Spencer is buried at Longuenesse St Omer, France.


SPENCER L W
United Kingdom Private 2024London Regiment01/09/1915 Age: 26 II. A. 23.

REMEMBER NURSING SISTER - ADDIE TUPPER
Canadian Nursing Sister buried at Uxbridge (Hillingdon)

Nursing Sister: Adrienna or Adruenna “Addie” Allen Tupper

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Born Yarmouth Nova Scotia 13^th October 1870

Daughter of Mrs Mary E Trefry of Bridgend, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Addie Tupper from Bridgewater Nova Scotia

Enlisted Quebec

UPPER, Addie Allen (Adruenna), Royal Red Cross (RRC

Graduated General Hospital Concord, New Haven

  No. 2 General Hospital, Le Treport, France
Died of illness 9th December1916 aged 46

Remer also






Remember

Yiewsley's 19 year old sailor lost at the Battle of Jutland 1916 WW1

Able Seaman: Henry James Fox
Aged 19, Son of Henry and Jane Fox 20 Horton Road, Yiewsley, Middx

Died 31/05/1916 (Battle of Jutland) HMS Queen Mary, 

Plymouth Naval Memorial

Yiewsley 18 year old Sailor killed Cromarty Firth 1915 WW1

Ordinary Seaman: Charles Henry Axten

Aged 18 Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Axten, of 1, Ivy Cottage, Falling Lane, Yiewsley, Middx.


Died 30/12/1915 Sunk HMS Natal, Cromarty Firth

Chatham Naval Memorial