Catalogue Number
Entry 0284.2
Object Name
Arm band
Title
'Special Constable 146'
Events
1926 General Strike
Description
A silver coloured metal disk attached to a brown leather strap. The disk is embossed with the text 'Special Constable 146'.
This was worn by a volunteer who became a special constable during the 1926 General Strike. The government had appealed to members of the public to volunteer for this role. Volunteers were supplied with truncheons, lapel badges and arm bands to identify themselves as special constables. Special constables and soldiers were called on to police strikers and to keep supply lines around the country moving to prevent the strikers from gaining momentum.
The 1926 General Strike lasted for nine days. It is the only General Strike to take place in the UK, and began on 3 May 1926. The strike was called by the Trade Union Congress in response to wide spread pay cuts of up to 13.5%, and poor working conditions for mine workers. Unlike most individual trade disputes where only the affected union strikes, workers from many industries participated to demonstrate the collective dissatisfaction they felt and that they wanted wide spread change across all of society. The following year, a law was introduced banning sympathy strikes and mass picketing directly as a response to the General Strike.
