Harry McShane
Encyclopedia
Harry McShane was a Scottish
socialist, and a close colleague of John Maclean
. Born into a Roman Catholic family, he became a Marxist. Involved in the anti-war movement during the First World War, after the conflict ended he was part of the Tramp Trust Unlimited, formed by Maclean to propagandise and campaign for a minimum wage
and a six hour day
, amongst other socialist policies.
He was a member of the British Socialist Party
, like Maclean, but chose to join the Communist Party of Great Britain
when it was formed in 1920 rather than follow Maclean into the Scottish Workers Republican Party
. McShane stated of the SRWP, that they "had some queer people that I didn’t like – they had never been to John’s economics classes, they knew nothing about socialism or revolutionary work. Even if I had not joined the Communist Party I could never have joined with that crowd".
A firm supporter of the Soviet Union
, McShane visited Russia
in 1932. He was shocked by some of the things he saw there, particularly the working conditions in a coal mine in the Donbas region, which he described as being like something from the previous century. He met a young American
journalist who had come to the USSR as a firm supporter, but had become disillusioned, as "people kept disappearing...and no-one asked any questions". McShane remembered later that his faith in the Soviet Union remained strong, but he had his first doubts after the trip.
In the 1930s he became involved with the National Unemployed Workers' Movement
and led a number of hunger marches
to London. In 1933 McShane lead an NUWM
march from Glasgow
to Edinburgh
which became known as the Scottish Hunger March. The marchers camped out on the streets of Edinburgh for three days, and McShane chronicled this event in a pamphlet that was published and distributed entitled "Three Days that Shook Edinburgh". In the 30s, he also fought to ensure that freedom of speech and assembly was allowed on Glasgow Green
along with other socialist figures.
McShane had a number of disagreements with the Communist Party, particularly over the policy document The British Road to Socialism which he regarded as "reformist"; ultimately he would leave the Communist Party, but remained a convinced socialist for the remainder of his life. In 1954 he combined with other socialist figures such as Eric Heffer
to create a new organisation, the Federation of Marxist Groups. In 1958, after reading Marxism and Freedom by Raya Dunayevskaya
he embraced Marxist Humanism
. He was also involved in the Amalgamated Engineering Union and was a Scottish correspondent for the Daily Worker
.
While not involved as a full-time organiser, McShane worked as an engineer, and continued to do engineering work until he retired at 69.
Harry McShane published his autobiography "No Mean Fighter" in 1978.
On December 12, 1984 he was awarded the freedom of the City of Glasgow for his services to the Labour and Trade Union movements.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
socialist, and a close colleague of John Maclean
John Maclean MA
John Maclean MA was a Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary socialist. He is primarily known as a Marxist educator and notable for his outspoken opposition to the First World War....
. Born into a Roman Catholic family, he became a Marxist. Involved in the anti-war movement during the First World War, after the conflict ended he was part of the Tramp Trust Unlimited, formed by Maclean to propagandise and campaign for a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
and a six hour day
Working time
Working time is the period of time that an individual spends at paid occupational labor. Unpaid labors such as personal housework are not considered part of the working week...
, amongst other socialist policies.
He was a member of the British Socialist Party
British Socialist Party
The British Socialist Party was a Marxist political organisation established in Great Britain in 1911. Following a protracted period of factional struggle, in 1916 the party's anti-war forces gained decisive control of the party and saw the defection of its pro-war Right Wing...
, like Maclean, but chose to join the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
when it was formed in 1920 rather than follow Maclean into the Scottish Workers Republican Party
Scottish Workers Republican Party
The Scottish Workers Republican Party was formed by the Scottish Marxist activist John Maclean in the 1910s. It advocated the political doctrine of communism, whilst also supporting Scottish independence...
. McShane stated of the SRWP, that they "had some queer people that I didn’t like – they had never been to John’s economics classes, they knew nothing about socialism or revolutionary work. Even if I had not joined the Communist Party I could never have joined with that crowd".
A firm supporter of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, McShane visited Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1932. He was shocked by some of the things he saw there, particularly the working conditions in a coal mine in the Donbas region, which he described as being like something from the previous century. He met a young American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist who had come to the USSR as a firm supporter, but had become disillusioned, as "people kept disappearing...and no-one asked any questions". McShane remembered later that his faith in the Soviet Union remained strong, but he had his first doubts after the trip.
In the 1930s he became involved with the National Unemployed Workers' Movement
National Unemployed Workers' Movement
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement was a British organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression, and to...
and led a number of hunger marches
Hunger marches
The Hunger marches were a series of marches held in the 1930s during The Great Depression in the United Kingdom to protest against hunger and unemployment in the United Kingdom....
to London. In 1933 McShane lead an NUWM
National Unemployed Workers' Movement
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement was a British organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression, and to...
march from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
which became known as the Scottish Hunger March. The marchers camped out on the streets of Edinburgh for three days, and McShane chronicled this event in a pamphlet that was published and distributed entitled "Three Days that Shook Edinburgh". In the 30s, he also fought to ensure that freedom of speech and assembly was allowed on Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
along with other socialist figures.
McShane had a number of disagreements with the Communist Party, particularly over the policy document The British Road to Socialism which he regarded as "reformist"; ultimately he would leave the Communist Party, but remained a convinced socialist for the remainder of his life. In 1954 he combined with other socialist figures such as Eric Heffer
Eric Heffer
Eric Samuel Heffer was a British socialist politician. He was Labour Member of Parliament for Liverpool Walton from 1964 until his death. His working-class background and consciousness fed in to his left-wing politics, but to an extent disguised the depth of his knowledge: with 12,000 books in...
to create a new organisation, the Federation of Marxist Groups. In 1958, after reading Marxism and Freedom by Raya Dunayevskaya
Raya Dunayevskaya
Raya Dunayevskaya was the founder of the philosophy of Marxist Humanism in the United States of America. At one time Leon Trotsky's secretary, she later split with him and ultimately founded the organization News and Letters Committees and was its leader until her death.-Biography:Of Jewish...
he embraced Marxist Humanism
Marxist humanism
Marxist humanism is a branch of Marxism that primarily focuses on Marx's earlier writings, especially the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 in which Marx espoused his theory of alienation, as opposed to his later works, which are considered to be concerned more with his structural...
. He was also involved in the Amalgamated Engineering Union and was a Scottish correspondent for the Daily Worker
The Morning Star
The Morning Star is a left wing British daily tabloid newspaper with a focus on social and trade union issues. Articles and comment columns are contributed by writers from socialist, social democratic, green and religious perspectives....
.
While not involved as a full-time organiser, McShane worked as an engineer, and continued to do engineering work until he retired at 69.
Harry McShane published his autobiography "No Mean Fighter" in 1978.
On December 12, 1984 he was awarded the freedom of the City of Glasgow for his services to the Labour and Trade Union movements.