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

Key political figures of the Red Clydeside period

William Weir

It was during the First world War that William Douglas Weir rose to national prominence. He had come to the head of the family engineering business some time between 1910 and 1912 but it was during the war that he first attracted the attention of the government as a brilliantly successful manager. Weir was appointed Scottish Director of Munitions in 1915 and was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the ‘dilution scheme’ on Clydeside. In 1915 he was appointed Controller of Aeronautical Supplies at the Ministry of Munitions in London and in 1918 he became Secretary of State for Air in Lloyd George’s cabinet and was responsible for combining the naval and army air services into the Royal Air Force. He was made a Knight in 1917 and a Baron in 1918. He was to become a Viscount in 1938.

Article by Willie Gallacher entitled Weirie Weir and published in the Communist on 29 October 1921.

Letter written by Sir William Weir to Sir Robert Horne in relation to establishment of anti-Bolshevik organisation. Dated 14 August 1919.

Report entitled 'Stay-in strike it the Gun Dept of Messrs Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd, Dalmuir'. Cover letter shows that the report was written by staff at the Ministry of Munitions and intended for the Minister for Munitions Sir William Weir.

Letter from The Reconstruction Society to Lord Weir, 12 September 1919.

Letter signed by Lord Edmund Talbot MP and Capt Hon F.E. Guest MP and addressed to Lord Weir, dated 19 August 1919.

Leaflet entitled 'Educated women as war workers: a practical scheme'.

Report by William Weir, Scottish Director of Munitions, highlighting the obstruction caused by trade unionism to war time efficiency.

Typed letter on tracing paper confirming despatch of telegram to PM Lloyd-George, dated 27 March 1916. Telegram informs Lloyd-George of the arrest and deportation of CWC strike leaders in Glasgow.

Typed letter on tracing paper confirming despatch of telegram to PM Lloyd-George, dated 24 March 1916.

Typed letter on tracing paper confirming despatch of telegram by the Director of Munitions, Scotland to Dr. Addison MP, dated 28 March 1916.

Typed memorandum written by Sir William Weir, Scottish Director of Munitions, to Minister of Munitions in London. Memorandum sets out Weir's proposals for ending Clydeside industrial disputes and ensuring efficient war-time production of munitions.