It’s easy to be sentimental about the red poppies and failing to see the jingoism surrounding WW1 commemoration. My father was in that war. He was conscripted early on, took part in the Mons retreat also serving in Greece and Turkey, spoke of Macedonia and Salonika. I believe he did not get back home until the war ended. He never joined the British Legion, or took part in any parades after the war or spoke much about it. All his brothers were in the Army. My Jethart uncles, Dod and Adam Telfer I remember well. Jock died before I was born. Jim, the youngest was killed in France. There were two other uncles, Jardines, I never knew because my mother’s brothers Joseph, and Jimmie were killed in the war. Uncle Jimmie was only 17. Their names are on the memorial in the park. While not dishonouring those who took part in the war or got killed I believe we should also commemorate those who opposed the war and refused to fight. So today I’m thinking about John Maclean the Glasgow schoolteacher who became a Red Clydeside leader. He taught Glasgow workers that the war had little to do with freedom, and more to do with capitalists fighting for capitalist resources in Europe. We did not win anything, no-one did - other than the ruling class. For advocating Scottish independence and a Workers Republic, John Maclean was persecuted, tried for sedition and imprisoned, placed in solitary confinement in Peterhead jail, force fed on hunger strike. This is the kind of history we were never taught at school. Most people have never even heard of John Maclean though he was a hero to many great Scots like Hugh MacDiarmid who celebrated Maclean in his poetry. In 1918 there was a militant public campaign against his treatment. When released he received a tumultuous welcome on his return to Glasgow. This event is celebrated and commemorated brilliantly in Hamish Henderson’s song The John Maclean March. However Maclean’s health had suffered drastically and he died at age 44 in 1923. Many believed that he had in fact been murdered. At his funeral 5,000 people marched with many more lining the route to the cemetery. The Scottish Republican Socialist Movement commemorates Maclean annually at Eastwood Cemetery. This year it’s on 30th November with orations, a march, a rally, followed a social with a band and singers. I hope to go. https://youtube/watch?v=6uAs5cyy5EM
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 11:35:52 +0000
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