Five men, six days: Pentonville voices
Persuasion
Following the arrests, supporters of the Five set about getting dockers in smaller ports, and as many workers in other industries as possible, to come out on strike. These extracts describe the robust methods they sometimes used.
Micky Fenn (swearing): 鈥渋f you don鈥檛 like it we鈥檒l chuck you in the river鈥� (2:48)
After seeing their bosses confronted by the London militants, Newhaven dockers decide to join the strike.
Ian Olley (swearing): 鈥渢he feeling was that strong . . . we just went piling in鈥� (2:31)
Visits to other work places to secure support, including Whitechapel postal sorting office, the newspapers of Fleet Street and Charrington鈥檚 brewery.
March
On 25 July a mass protest march went through the streets of London to the prison.
Bill Chapman: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anything could鈥檝e stopped that that day鈥� (1:29)
Revival of war-time camaraderie; building workers leave their site to join in; the emotional need to show affinity with the Five.
Maurie Day: 鈥測ou was alive inside ya . . . it was terrific鈥� (2:26)
A 鈥渂eautiful鈥� march followed by skirmishes outside the prison possibly provoked by the police.
Tony Merrick: 鈥渢hey could see that the gates of Pentonville were going to go through at any moment鈥� (1:50)
The sound of a Welsh miners鈥� choir and the 鈥渉ubbub鈥� of supporters; warders terrified of the prison being stormed.