Top row (l-r) H. King, George Potter, M. Sinclair, W. Osborne, Henry Broadhurst. Bottom row (l-r) Mr. Bailey, Daniel Guile, George Odger, George Shipton.

This deputation welcomed the gas stokers after their release from Maidstone Prison in April 1873 after having served four months for criminal conspiracy following a strike at Beckton gas works at East Ham. The committee continued to financially support the men until three had found alternative work and the remaining two had emigrated to New York with their families. The Gas Stokers case played an important role in gathering support for the repeal of the Master and Servant Act and other anti-union laws.

Henry Broadhurst (1840-1911) the secretary of the committee, was a mason who had been active in the Reform League and then became a full time official of the Stonemasons' Union. From 1875-84 and 1886-90 he was secretary of the TUC Parliamentary Committee. Between 1880-1906 he was a Liberal MP, and in 1886 became the first working man to be appointed to a ministerial post.

Title	Members of the Gas Stokers Defence Committee, 1873
Maker	--
Production Date	1873
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
Related Objects	--