Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.5.1
Object Name
postcard
Title
'Victory Soon!'
Place
Kirklees, Yorkshire, England, UK, Belgium
People
National Union of Mineworkers
Events
1984-85 Miners' Strike
Description
A postcard showing two round figures - one with the British flag, the other Belgian. Both wear miner's helmets. The Belgian miner holds a cone of chips, the British one holds a pint of beer and wears a Coal Not Dole badge. The card reads 'Merry X-Mas! Victory Soon!'
This Christmas card was sent as a sign of solidarity from Belgium to British coal miners during the 1984-85 Miners' Strike. The Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher had frozen the financial assets of the National Union of Mineworkers, preventing strikers from accessing strike funds they had paid into that would typically have sustained strikers. The government also prevented miners families from claiming welfare benefits. These policies were viewed as intentionally attempting to starve the miners back to work.
International solidarity was a vital stream of support for striking British miners, with oversees donations of money, food and clothing helping to support strikers and their families. This was particularly significant at Christmas - many miners oral histories refer to mutual aid as the key reason they were able to give their children a Christmas celebration that year.
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