1934: ‘Crusaders’ prepare for the Hunger March on London

RUSSELL LEADBETTER

ON January 22, 1934, a large number of unemployed people from Edinburgh and the east, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Lanarkshire left Glasgow to take part in the latest Hunger March on London. The photograph shows Harry Mcshane, one of the key organisers, discussing the final arrangements for the start of the march with MP John Mcgovern, who was himself to walk to London.

Marchers congregated overnight in Glasgow’s City Halls; most of them had haversacks, which they used as pillows overnight, and they slept beneath their heavy overcoats. It was expected to take them a month to walk to London, and a huge national rally in Hyde Park.

On March 8 the Glasgow Herald reported the homecoming of marchers from the city: “Like crusaders returning from some adventure, the Glasgow contingent of men and women who made the long trek to London just over six weeks ago returned to the city.” It had taken them 32 days to walk to London but just 10 hours to make their way back home, via a specially laid-on train.

Mcgovern had returned home a day or two earlier and greeted the 256 marchers at Buchanan Street railway station; he welcomed Mcshane and other leaders, and a crowd some 3,000 strong was on hand to acclaim the marchers as bands played.

A rally then took place at St Enoch Square, attended by a crowd in excess of 12,000 people.

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