The Boatmen's Strike 1923
by David Blagrave
The word is out and there is no doubt
That the times are harder still,
And now’s the hour for the Union’s power
To thwart the masters’ will.
For the masters say they must cut your pay
And before them we’ll not bow
So Boatmen all, obey the call.
And withdraw your labour now!
From the London Docks through the Junction’s locks
The boats are tying up fast
In the early morn their fires were drawn
And the horses’ tackle was cast.
Now the children play all the summer’s day
They can do much as they like
While their fathers stand with no work in hand,
And their mothers bear the strike.
As the strike grows old and the nights get cold
We scour the lanes for fuel.
The trees grow bare in the autumn air
As the north wind blows so cruel.
We can all make do with rabbit stew
And hedgehog pie for treat.
For that’s the way on strikers’ pay
We all must make ends meet.
November’s here and the days are drear
We’re idle fourteen weeks
And poverty’s whip does pinch our lip
And dull our children’s cheeks.
We have all held loyal tho’ tempers boil
And that loyalty has no crack
Till one day we hear that an end is near
And the Union sends us back.
For although our pay has been worn away
And we all must work for less
The Union recognition’s won
And we’re told its for the best.
We’re at work again with its joy and pain
But one thing’s clear and sure.
After all our woes, till our days do close,
We’ll strike again no more!
David Blagrove stated “The strike was called by the newly-formed T&GWU and was about recognition; the
boatmen’s pay cut was the pretext for it. After 14 weeks of hardship the boaters gained a niggardly reduction in their
pay cut but the Union gained recognition. The bitterness lasted for many years and the boatmen never struck again,
not even in the 1926 General Strike. In June 2015 a plaque was unveiled at Braunston Marina commemorating the
strike by the present General Secretary of Unison, successor to the T&GWU. There were a number of other “fellow
travellers” (not boatmen) who applauded the “great sacrifice” of 1923 and, being sickened by their attitude I felt
disposed to write something commemorating how the Union’s lust for power brought about their members’ hardships
(as happened with the NUM in the 1980s). The tune is a hymn tune called “Kingsfold”, an Irish one, being a version of
“The Star of the County Down” in a minor key.”
Thanks go to David’s cousin Tony Blagrove for providing this song and notes.
The Boatmen's Strike, 1923
by David Blagrove
The word is out and there is no doubt
That the times are harder still,
And now’s the hour for the Union’s power
To thwart the masters’ will.
For the masters say they must cut your pay
And before them we’ll not bow
So Boatmen all, obey the call.
And withdraw your labour now!
From the London Docks through the Junction’s locks
The boats are tying up fast
In the early morn their fires were drawn
And the horses’ tackle was cast.
Now the children play all the summer’s day
They can do much as they like
While their fathers stand with no work in hand,
And their mothers bear the strike.
As the strike grows old and the nights get cold
We scour the lanes for fuel.
The trees grow bare in the autumn air
As the north wind blows so cruel.
We can all make do with rabbit stew
And hedgehog pie for treat.
For that’s the way on strikers’ pay
We all must make ends meet.
November’s here and the days are drear
We’re idle fourteen weeks
And poverty’s whip does pinch our lip
And dull our children’s cheeks.
We have all held loyal tho’ tempers boil
And that loyalty has no crack
Till one day we hear that an end is near
And the Union sends us back.
For although our pay has been worn away
And we all must work for less
The Union recognition’s won
And we’re told its for the best.
We’re at work again with its joy and pain
But one thing’s clear and sure.
After all our woes, till our days do close,
We’ll strike again no more!
David Blagrove stated “The strike was called by the newly-formed
T&GWU and was about recognition; the boatmen’s pay cut was the
pretext for it. After 14 weeks of hardship the boaters gained a
niggardly reduction in their pay cut but the Union gained
recognition. The bitterness lasted for many years and the boatmen
never struck again, not even in the 1926 General Strike. In June
2015 a plaque was unveiled at Braunston Marina commemorating
the strike by the present General Secretary of Unison, successor to
the T&GWU. There were a number of other “fellow travellers” (not
boatmen) who applauded the “great sacrifice” of 1923 and, being
sickened by their attitude I felt disposed to write something
commemorating how the Union’s lust for power brought about their
members’ hardships (as happened with the NUM in the 1980s). The
tune is a hymn tune called “Kingsfold”, an Irish one, being a version
of “The Star of the County Down” in a minor key.”
Thanks go to David’s cousin Tony Blagrove for providing this song and
notes.
