The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six farm labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, England. In 1834, they formed one of the first trade unions, the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers, to demand fair wages from their employers. This was at a time when farm labourers were paid very low wages and were forced to work long hours under harsh conditions.
The six men, James Brine, James Hammett, George Loveless, James Loveless, Thomas Standfield and John Standfield, were all arrested and charged with taking an illegal oath of secrecy. They had sworn an oath to each other and their union, promising to support each other in times of need. The authorities saw this as a threat to the established order and the six men were put on trial.
Despite a lack of evidence, the jurors found them guilty and they were sentenced to transportation to Australia for seven years. The sentence caused a public outcry and many people, including members of parliament, protested against the harsh treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
After three years, the men were released and returned to England as heroes. The public pressure had led to a royal pardon and their story became a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights and trade unionism.
The movie Comrades, directed by Bill Douglas, tells the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and their fight for justice. It is a powerful and moving account of the struggles and sacrifices that ordinary people have made in the fight for workers' rights and social justice. The film highlights the importance of trade unionism and the need for workers to unite and stand together in the face of oppression and exploitation.
