The Soldier's Strikes of 1919

On January 4th, 1919 there was a ceremony at the Wellington Barracks in London. Battalions from all the regiments of the Brigade of Guards saw off various detachments which were to entrain at Charing Cross on their way to Cologne. But after they had marched through the street, with colours flying and massed bands playing, at the last moment their departure was countermanded. It was no longer possible to embark at Folkestone as the port had been closed. This was because several thousand troops, already in Folkestone, had demonstrated against their embarkation to France. They had marched to the Town Hall and demanded that their right to be demobilised should be respected. They had placed pickets at the harbour and prevented troops from sailing to Boulogne. They had formed a union and appointed delegates to negotiate with the authorities. The result was that staff from the Ministry of Labour was sent specially to Folkestone in order to arrange for the demobilisation of those men who had jobs waiting for them.