Catalogue Number
NMLH.1993.534
Object Name
Poster
Title
''The Dirty Thirty' No surrender! The badge of courage!'
Place
Leicestershire
People
National Union of Mineworkers, The Dirty Thirty strikers
Events
1984-85 Miners' Strike
Date
1984-1985
Description
A black and white poster reading "THE DIRTY THIRTY / NO SURRENDER / THE BADGE OF COURAGE" alongside an illustration of a badge with text that reads "Leicestershire Striking Miner / NUM 1984".
A quote from newspaper 'The Miner' dated January 22nd 1985 reads: "Leicestershire's striking Miners have come up with what is certain to be regarded as one of the proudest symbols of the dispute- a badge of their own. Although only 30 of the 2500 Leicestershire miners have been on strike throughout the dispute- the now famous "Dirty 30" - their courage has been legendary, surviving months of abuse and intimidation from the scab workforce. Now the badge- only 90 have been struck- will be used as a means of proudly identifying men who have stood solid against tremendous odds- with no more than a little help from their friends. Some of the badges which are inscribed "Leicester Striking Miner, NUM 1984", are believed to be going to railmen in the area who have played a major and heroic role in preventing the movement of coal at Coalville. An indication of the effectiveness of the "Dirty 30", out of all proportion to their size, is that food donations in the locality have been so generous
that they have donated thousands of pounds worth, to other areas in an astonishing display of total unselfishness."
Multimedia
