ABSTRACT
During the war the Government promised ‘a land fit for heroes’, but it made plans for what it really expected—mass unemployment. Ex-servicemen were to receive an unemployment allowance, although they were uninsured. In 1916 the insurance scheme was extended and covered 3 million workers. Shortly before the close of the war a special State allowance was arranged, for ex-servicemen and civilians alike, insured and non-insured. The first big clash between the unemployed and the authorities took place in October 1920, when a great demonstration went to support a deputation of London Labour Mayors, who were interviewing the Prime Minister on unemployment. Large forces of mounted and foot police drew their batons and charged the unemployed in an effort to clear Whitehall. The need for a definite organisation became apparent. Already there had sprung up numerous unemployed ex-servicemen’s organisations, but these were local bodies, which merely marched the streets with collecting-boxes, treating their unemployment as a subject for charity.
