This article published in the Manchester Guardian and entitled 'General Strike Echo' describes events leading to the death of George Iles, aged sixty, of Hanbury Buildings, Poplar.

Three years before his death in 1929, George Iles was injured in what was known as a 'truncheon-charge' during the general stike of 1926. His daughter stated at his inquest that he told her that he was standing on the corner of Lower North Street, Poplar when the police, armed with truncheons (or batons) charged the strikers in an attempt to disperse them. During the police charge, he was thrown to the ground by the onrushing crowd. A doctor said that death was due to tuberculosis and that the fractured ribs he received during the charge was a factor in causing tuberculosis. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

The original article is available from the British Newspaper Archives, located here.

 

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