An Interesting Item of Social and Political Significance Relating to the General Strike of May 1926 in the form of a Presentation Mounted Police Baton

The standard issue mounted police baton is made of wood bound with cord and fitted with leather wrist band and a leather hand guard (bearing traces of an officially impressed VR stamp). The leather scabbard is fitted with presentation plaque, inscribed ‘PRESENTED TO / MAJOR GENERAL JOHN VAUGHAN / BY THE INSPECTOR, SERGEANTS AND CONSTABLES / OF THE No 1 (RANELAGH) TROOP / OF THE SPECIAL MOUNTED CONSTABULARY / MAY 1926.’  

The 1926 General Strike

The 1926 General Strike in the United Kingdom lasted ten days from 3 May to 13 May 1926. It was called by the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (T.U.C.) in an unsuccessful attempt to force the Government to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners. The Government prepared for the strike over the preceding nine months creating its own militia of special constables called the Organization for the Maintenance of Supplies  (O.M.S.), and by emphasizing the revolutionary nature of the strikers. It was decided that British Fascists would not be allowed to enlist in the O.M.S. without first giving up their political beliefs. The fascists in turn formed ‘Q Division’ under the Mussolini admirer Miss Rotha Lintorn-Orman to combat the strikers.

The Strike clearly emphasized class divisions causing members of the middle and upper classes to perceive it as a patriotic duty to volunteer their services in the face of a potential Bolshevist inspired revolution. In literary fiction these sentiments can be seen in Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited when Charles Ryder returns from France to join Viscount ‘Boy’ Mulcaster and others in fighting the striking workers.

In the actual event the armed forces and volunteer workers of the O.M.S. such as General Vaughan helped maintain basic services. The mounted troop of special constables based at Ranelagh Gardens adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea was well placed to counter the actions of strikers in neighbouring, Battersea, Fulham and Wandsworth. The following strikers’ reports indicate the efficacy of the locally employed ‘specials’. ‘Wandsworth was one of the solidest areas. There was trouble every day of the strike. Crowds were attacked by cops & special constables every day at buildings where specials signed on for duty. On May 7 a crowd demolished a wall for missiles; the next day a picket line was baton charged. – On May 8th cops baton charged strikers in Battersea. Crowds were involved in street actions every day of the Strike ... There was fighting in Clapham High Street on the evening of Friday 7th, when a number of lorries occupied by strikers and sympathisers tried to block the traffic… foot and mounted police charged crowds and cleared the street. Brockwell Park: strikers played several games of cricket – though not with the police!’

Major-General Vaughan, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.L., J.P., (1871-1956)

General John Vaughan might be seen today as the personification of the cartoon character Colonel Blimp created in the 1930’s by David Low and developed by the filmmakers  Powell & Pressburger.  Born into a family of ancient lineage that could trace its descent from the Welsh princes of the middle ages, Vaughan was educated at Eton and Sandhurst, and joined the 7th Hussars in 1891. He served in the Matabele relief expedition in 1896, in Mashonaland in 1897, and in the Sudan campaign in 1898. He was badly wounded during the South African War of 1899-1901, was mentioned three times in despatches, and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1902 . He became a major in the 10th Hussars in 1904, and from 1911 until 1914 he served as commandant of the Cavalry School at Netheravon. During World War I he was given command of the Third Cavalry Brigade; he was mentioned in despatches, was awarded the C.B. in 1915 and a bar to the D.S.O. in 1919. He also became a commander Légion d'Honneur. In 1919 he was chosen to command the First Cavalry Brigade, prior to retirement the following year.

General Vaughan served as the Welsh President of the British Legion and in 1936 took a contingent of the Swansea branch on a visit of reconciliation to Nazi Germany. Such visits were strongly encouraged by the Nazis but failed to hoodwink Vaughan into any false impression of German intentions.  During the Second World War he was a zone commander of the Home Guard, and was Deputy Lieutenant of Merionethshire from 1943 until 1954. He also served as a J.P. for the county. He published a volume of reminiscences entitled Cavalry and Sporting Memoirs (1954), wherein he was harsh in his condemnation of David Lloyd George’s leadership during the First World War. He was much interested in fishing and hunting. Vaughan married on 22 October 1913 Louisa Evelyn, eldest dau. of Captain J. Stewart of Alltyrodyn, Llandysul, Cardiganshire, and the widow of Harold P. Wardell of  Brynwern, Newbridge-on-Wye . There were no children. They lived at Nannau. He died 21 January 1956 at his home after falling from his horse.