Wednesday October 19th 1932

Labour Exchange. 'HUNGER MARCHERS ARRIVE 2 PM'.

Haunted Central Library but found no suitable vacancies. Nearing 2pm, great excitement in Belgrave Road. Tough men, watching and waiting. 'THE MARCHERS ARE COMING'. Then they came, with drum and cymbals, marching like soldiers, as many had been, no doubt: against my inclinations, I was impressed and moved. They had come from the far north. About 200 men in two companies, each led by a man wearing a red armband with a star on it. They all looked fit and determined. Red flags. Singing and shouting. Speeches by the leaders in Belgrave Gate. Fiery stuff ! 'This little lot will get to London ! They will put barriers in our way! ‑We shall go through them !' (cheers) and 'Down with the Government!', 'Put the Means Test on King George !' and 'Back us up, comrades. Nothing will stop us!' 'We represent the workers of the nation!'

(Standing there in the crowd of unemployed, I enjoyed the drama but never once thought of joining them on the march southwards. Wish I had; it would have been an interesting experience, although of the far left persuasion)