Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

Events

Delegates at the 2nd congress of the Third International in Moscow, 1920

William Gallagher and John S. Clarke were the two delegates from the Scottish Workers Committee who attended the Congress of the Third International that took place in both Leningrad and Moscow in July 1920. Other members of the Anglo-American delegation shown in the postcard include John Reed and Sylvia Pankhurst.

Gallacher made this trip to Russia illegally as he had been refused a passport to travel. During the congress the Russian leader Lenin had several personal meetings with Gallagher in which he persuaded Gallagher to help in the formation of a British Communist Party.

On his return to Britain, Gallagher played an influential role in the formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain and argued successfully for the party to adopt a parliamentary stance.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives