"HMS Black Prince" - The Thames Dreadnought

The first modern Dreadnought built on the Thames was in 1903

It gave its name to the Greenwich "Dreadnought seaman's" Hospital and Sylvia Pankhurst chose it as the name of her journal for the East London Federation

One trade unionist involved in the construction of the first Thames Dreadnought was Ernest "Ernie" W Cant, he recalled the  successful campaign to stop wages being cut at  the Thames Iron Works, in 1905, after the workers had completed the first "Dreadnought" battle ship  "The Black Prince" (started in 1903 and completed late 1904) at Blackwall the other yard was at Canning Town. After its completion the Admiralty demanded that if the yards were to get more work, the workers pay had to be cut to that of those on the Tyneside shipbuilders. The campaign against wage cuts was led by Will Thorne and Jack Jones (SDF MP for Silvertown). 

The Black Prince was launched on 8 November 1904 and sunk during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 with the loss of her entire crew of  857.

The Thames Iron Works shipyard closed in 1911, but the works football team lived on however, when its players formed the basis for the new West Ham United team

 Below
The Thames Shipyards in 1902 and then 1910

Deptford - Gas Workers Union

Gas Workers & General Labourers Union
Deptford - South London


Deptford & Greenwich area worst organised in London and ripe for non union labour

Kentish Mercury
Sunday July 14th July 1907


Pete Curran MP and Will Thorne MP Meeting of local Deptford branch of the Gas Workers & General Labourers Union held a demonstration in Deptford Broadway Thomas Garbek presided and Arthur Hayday of West Ham addressed the meeting




Pete Curran MP for Jarrow spoke after his recent election, he had worked at the Woolwich Arsenal he and others conducted vigorous campaigns in Deptford and Beresford Square they then declared that until Labour rose to the position of being able to send to parliament men from their own ranks and until they paid for their own political representation nothing of a useful character could be done 31 Labour MP's, their union, which now represented in parliament by four of its members they were hoping that the victory of Jarrow would be repeated at every opportunity.

If that were done the day of strikes would come to an end, they would change the venue to the floor of the House of Commons which they might be able to convert from a lounge for the leisured into a workshop on behalf of the impoverished citizens of the United kingdom.

Mr Harry Pickard said that so far as trades unionism was concerned Deptford was the blackest spot in London-the men were too apathetic. trade unionism was only beginning to find out its proper function.


WORST DISTRICTS IN LONDON FOR SCABS

Will Thorne MP for West Ham stated as to the organisation of unskilled labour in that district he expressed the opinion that Deptford and Greenwich were the worst districts in London. as proof he declared that in the event of a dispute those in search of "free labour" went first to those places.

FIRST TRADE UNION MARCH IN UXBRIDGE 1900

At a mass rally of United Builders Labourers Union held in Uxbridge on Saturday 10th Novemeber 1900. A march took place at six o clock, the procession headed by the Uxbridge & Hillingdon prize band, included 14 or 15 branches of the union, "as each contingent brought a beautiful banner there was considerable public evoked in the gathering."


With the procession formed and "the men and their banners flying they marched through the High Street, up St Andrews Road, The Greenway and Waterloo Road, to the Lynch and through New Windsor Street to the rally at the Drill Hall, followed by a large crowd of men, women and children, the members of theunion being distinguished by a ribbon or sash worn round the shoulders".

The most "prominent and most beautiful amongst them (banners) all being that of from West Drayton which seemed to be quite new and bore the following"

National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers of Great Britain and Ireland , West Drayton, branch no 23


The banner had actually been unfurled on 27^th September 1890 at West Drayton during a speech addressed by Will Thorne the union's General Secretary and Eleanor Marx (daughter of Karl Marx). see report below

Mr John Brown, the local branch secretary of the union said that some time ago according to the resolution of the branch he was instructed to wait upon Mr E. Humbert, and ask him if he would unfurl the banner that afternoon.

That gentleman said he was very sorry but he had an engagement which necessitated his refusing the request. At the same time he assured Mr Brown that anything he could do for them on a future occasion he would do with pleasure and wished them success (applause)

That being the case it devolved upon Mr Brown to unfurl the banner himself but he could not help feeling that such a pleasing duty was not deserve by him. There were men in the branch who had done a great deal more for the cause than he had and he was sure they would all have liked one branch officers to have undertaken the duty.

Before unfurling the banner he might say that they had their own band there that afternoon and hoped they would do credit to West Drayton branch (applause)

Mr Brown then proceeded to unfurl the banner and upon being hoisted it was greeted with loud cheers

On one side of it was represented an employer and a labourer (the later baring a strong resemblance to one of the members of the branch) shaking hands, while on the other side was a brickfield in the district. The recognition of the portraits caused another cheer from the bystanders.

A procession was then formed and headed by the band, proceeded through Yiewsley and back to Drayton Green.

The banner it is understood was made by Mr William Ellen of 257 Hackney Road, London.

(picture above is of a similar banner, the last records of the West Drayton banner are in 1908)

NOTE
Other (early) trade union banners

Southall ASLEF banner
Southall NUR banner (Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants) circa 1905
Willesden Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants banner
Paddington Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants banner
Brentwood Lighterman 1895
Acton Communist Party "New Dawn"


National Association of Operative Plasterers, Southall branch established July 1905

Southall Trades & Labour Council meeting posite the King of Prussia public House in March 1905, Mr Horace E Lucia Chairman, speakers at March 1905 meeting. Mr W. Smith G U Carpenter & Joiners Union District delegate; Mr Lovatt District Secretary OBS (Bricklayers Union); Mr W. Randall A S Carpenter & Joiners Delegate; Mr W Wall UBLU (builders Labourers union) Fulham Board of Guardians

Southall Carmen's Union established November 1905

Richard Bell MP spoke to Southall Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants branch April 7th 1907

(picture right Rickmandsworth ASRS 1912 march and rally Neasden banner front)