Tolpuddle Martyrs

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This section is in advanced English and is only intended to be a guide, not to be taken too seriously!

The Tolpuddle Procession - Third Week in July

In 1834 six trade unionists for the Dorset village of Tolpuddle were sentenced to be transported to Australia for attempting to demand higher wages for farm labourers. Although trade unions had been legal since 1824 the harsh sentence was a reaction to the fear of organised labour and trade unions. One of the leaders, George Lawless, wrote the following song.

God is our guide through field and wave,
By plough by anvil and by loom,
We come our country's right to save,
And speak the evil factions doom.

We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.

God is our guide no sword we draw,
We kindle not wars battle fires,
By reason, union, justice, law,
We claim the birthright of our sires.

We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.
We raise the watchword Liberty, We will, we will, we will be free.

George Loveless

The law said it was because they had taken an illegal oath under the Mutiny Act of 1797, but after their imprisonment in Dorchester and their sentence of transportation there was a huge outcry and the campaign to free them attracted thousands from across Britain. More than 30,000 people marched through London and over 800,000 signed petitions to demand their release. The protests grew and in 1836 the men were granted a full pardon and returned to England, however continuing pressure caused most of them to seek asylum elsewhere.

Today in commemoration of their suffering a wreath is laid at the Tolpuddle church and this is followed by a parade of union flags through Tolpuddle by union members led by a Silver Band. Speeches by leading national figures in the union movement and the Labour Party follow.

You can read more about the Tolpuddle Martyrs here.