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glasgowken · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject: Tank on Trongate

Just wondering about this photo at the Glasgow Story site.

http://www.theglasgowstory.com/im...D5%26collection%3D0%26search%3D99

I know as a result of the strike that troops came to the city and even Vickers machine guns were set up arong George Square, but a tank ?

I think this may be a mislabeled photo and it actually represent's "Julian" a tank which was sent by rail to Glasgow in January 1918 in the hope of promoting the war effort.
Julian was unloaded at the High Street goods depot and then made it's way to Glasgow Green, to show off it's barricade smashing skills againist some demontration defences.
The next day it set off to George Square, accompanied by a pipe band and marching troops either side. The entire route was lined with thousands of sightseers, many of which clambered up to the top decks of trams for a better look.

So does anyone know for sure if this IS a photo of the strike, or rather the afore mentioned Government PR job.

Hugo Drax · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

There were tanks in the square.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_Battle_of_George_Square
_________________
"This is like deja vu all over again."

glasgowken · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject:

Cheers Hugo, interesting story, i've only seen snippets in the past.

I still have doubts over the photo. There were photos of Julian in the papers at the time, it would be interesting to compare them.

Hugo Drax · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject:

I will tell you a really interesting story about this when I see you next Kenny. it is a bit twilight zone-ish.
_________________
"This is like deja vu all over again."

Alex Glass · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

Does it involve a Time Machine Hugo?

_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

glasgowken · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:01 am Post subject:

Hugo Drax · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:47 am Post subject:

It is a bit strange and spooky. Nice story though.
_________________
"This is like deja vu all over again."

Hugo Drax · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:29 am Post subject:

Here goes....

Sorry but I am going into boring anecdote mode:

Many years ago I worked in Scottish Local Government. I was in the library one night looking to take out something by James Kelman and couldn't make my mind up on which book to select. I eventually just reached out and grabbed one and when I got home I was a bit dismayed to see that I had accidentally lifted a book by someone else called James Keenan instead.

I cheered up when I saw that it was a historical fantasy about the events surrounding the sending in of tanks to George Square in 1919 during protests for improved working conditions. I read the book and had it in work with me one day when Jimmy the commissionaire saw it and told me that he was in fact the author.

It was the most amazing chance event.
_________________
"This is like deja vu all over again."

glasgowken · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

Spooky.

Alex Glass · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

A lot of the best things happen by chance

_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr