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

Events

Glasgow's peace demonstration boycotted by press, 15 Aug 1914

The declaration of hostilities between Britain and Germany in August 1914, although expected for some time, was met with vociferous opposition by left-wing political parties and peace groups on Clydeside.

This newspaper article highlights both the strength of anti-war feeling and the disparate political nature of the support for the anti-war movement on Clydeside.

Sharing the platform on Glasgow Green for this anti-war meeting were the ILP, a constitutional socialist political party with strong grassroots support amongst the working classes on Clydeside. The British Socialist Party (BSP), a revolutionary Marxist political party with little grassroots support but with influential leadership like John Maclean and also the Peace Society, an anti-war pacifist grouping.

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