The Radical War Memorial 8th April 2020
The Radical War, also known as the ‘Scottish Insurrection’, it is regarded by many as the birth of trade unionism. A key event of the Radical War took place in the very heart of Greenock in 1820.
The Radical War was an attempt to stage an insurrection against the government. It was caused by Scotland experiencing a period of intense economic hardship despite the advances of the industrial revolution and heightened political activism following the end of the long wars against Revolutionary and the Napoleonic France.
Artisan workers, particularly weavers in Scotland, sought action to reform what they saw as an uncaring government, the weavers who were then a large part of the working class, had seen their earnings halved. As a result they organised themselves into local unions in 1812 and petitioned the courts for an increase in wages.
This was granted by the courts however their employers refused to pay up. This lead to the first major strike in Scottish industry, which lasted for nine weeks. It only ended when the authorities arrested the leaders in Glasgow and put them in jail for months at a time. The Gentry, fearing rebellion, recruited a militia and the government deployed a system of spies, informers and agents to stamp out the movement.
On the 1st April 1820 a proclamation, which claimed to be the work of the 'Committee of Organisation for forming a Provisional Government', was posted in areas all around Glasgow and large parts of west and central Scotland. It called upon, all to desist from their labour from and after this day, the First of April, and attend wholly to the recovery of their Rights'. Estimates vary, but some 60,000 workers seem to have stopped work in and around Glasgow during the first week of April.
Large numbers of suspected ringleaders of the Radical War were imprisoned at various jails around the region. Five weavers from Paisley were arrested and were sent to Greenock Prison by cart, which was situated in Bank Street, Greenock. They were escorted by The Port Glasgow Militia Volunteers and they were first met with minor hostility while marching through the town of “Crawfurdsdyke” which is the area of Cartsdyke to Cartsburn.
When news of these arrests and imprisonment of these prisoners reached the ears of the citizens of Greenock, a hostile crowd gathered around the prison. The militia had to shelter from stones thrown from higher ground to the south of the jail while handing over the prisoners. And as they returned along Cathcart Street the crowd continued to increase in numbers and throw stones and bottles from windows and closes. Shots were fired into the air to scare the crowd but failed to calm the situation. As the Port Glasgow Milita Volunteers approached Rue-end Street they opened sporadic fire, killing and wounding several of the crowd.
The crowd pursued the Volunteers into Crawfurdsdyke, then returned to break open the jail. A magistrate urged the crowd to desist from the wall of the prison, but as he had no forces to resist them, he had to agree to release the prisoners, who then escaped. Only one was ever re-arrested. A large group of the crowd set off to burn down Port Glasgow but were halted at the town boundary by armed townsfolk who had barricaded the Devol's Glen Bridge which is now the Gibshil area. The Greenock magistrates arrived and managed to disperse the crowd.
When the milita opened fired they killed and injuryed some Greenock citizens. A List of Killed and Wounded was collected from the several medical practitioners in Greenock. On 11th April 1820 it was published complete with a description of the wounds sustained and the condition of the survivors. It listed 18 casualties, including an eight year old boy, and a 65 year old woman. At this time six were listed as dead with two others dying later from their wounds.
Due to these events and its historical importance to the town there is a permanent Radical War Memorial sculpture on Bank Street, Greenock, and a plaque further up Bank Street on the wall which lists the names and ages of those who died.
For those who have never visited it, here is the full list of the thoses who died: Adam Clephane, 48; James Kerr, 17; William Lindsay, 15; James McGilp, eight; Archibald Drummond, 20; John MacWhinnie, 65; John Boyce, 33; Archibald McKinnon, 17. The last named died of his wounds on 5th May 1820.
Here is the list of those citizens injured: Hugh Patterson, 14, leg amputated due to gunshot wound; John Patrick, 30, shot in thigh; David McBride, 14, shot through cheek and jaw; Catherine Turner, 65, leg amputated due to gunshot wound; George Tillery, 25, shot through thigh; Robert Spence, 11, foot injury; Gilbert McArthur, 25, shot through thigh; John Turner, 22, flesh wound to calf; Peter Cameron, 14, flesh wound to leg and John Gunn,24, shot through calf.
It is important we remember these chapters of our local history and commemorate those who gave their lives to improve our society by seeking fairness for workers and democracy for all.
Page last updated: 5 May 2023