Visit by the British Labour Delegation to Russia following the 'February Revolution', 1917. This photograph shows Will Thorne MP from the National Union of General Workers, James O' Grady MP from the General Federation of Trade Unions and the Fabian, William Stephen Sanders who was given army leave to join the Delegation, visiting a barracks outside Petrograd to meet the soldier [standing with fixed bayonet] who persuaded his regiment to disobey their Colonel's orders to shoot down the people.

The TUC Parliamentary Committee asked Thorne to convey their congratulations to the Russian people on "the overthrow of autocratic and despotic rule and the triumph of representative and democratic government by the Duma" and invited a fraternal delegate from the Russian unions to attend a future Congress.

All three men held a staunchly patriotic, pro-war stance and the purpose of the visit was to encourage the Kerensky Government to continue the war against Germany. On their return, they made reports to the Cabinet and to King George V.

Title	British Labour Delegation to Russia, 1917
Maker	--
Production Date	1917
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
Related Objects	--