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During the British Revolution, multiple political entities were formed during the chaos of the rebellion, only becoming disparately linked after the Republican Proclamation and establishment of the Union of Britain. While few of these states had any international recognition, they are widely regarded as the forerunners of the Union and proto-revolutionary states.
Cardiff Commune[]
The Cardiff Commune was regarded as the most successful of the smaller city-wide communes. While even before the Port Talbot Massacre small numbers of radicals had proclaimed the existence of communes, Cardiff was the first proto-revolutionary state in the British Revolution to formally renounce the authority of United Kingdom.
September saw large portions of Cardiff fall under the effective control of TUC aligned communes, which offered limited violent resistance as the government sent troops into block after block, only for its authority to evaporate the instant its forces did not pose an immediate threat. Resistance intensified after Labour Party head George Lansbury gave a bellicose speech on September 28 promoting republicanism, after which the Labour Party was outlawed and all its members of Parliament remaining in London arrested for high treason. Rebels' increasing willingness to fire on the army convinced the Parliamentarian commanders in the city that harsher tactics were needed. Orders to engage in more summary executions and to demand smaller crowds disperse or be fired upon caused the first major mutiny on October 1. The mutinies spread rapidly; on October 3 a mob stormed the City Hall and proclaimed Cardiff a free city, and on October 5 the few remaining Parlimentarian troops were ordered to abandon the city.
A council made up of prominent trade unionists quickly convened and elect S.O. Davies as the Premier of the Commune with the city gaining French and Italian recognition shortly after its establishment. Shortly after it would become the centrepiece for French and International aid to travel into Britain. The Commune dissolved itself upon voluntary annexation into the Union of Britain in February 1925.
Glasgow Free Commune[]
An abortive proto-state that existed only briefly at the end of 1924. Glasglow underwent a similar process to Cardiff, with the TUC taking effective control over fluctuating parts of the city in September. On October 8, these extended to the the Glasgow City Chambers when they were stormed by striking workers and mutinous soldiers. After formalizing their worker militia, the strikers organised a popular plebiscite on the future of Scotland returning a modest victory for independence. The militias proclaimed an independent Scottish Workers' Republic and declared a Glasgow a 'Free Commune' until such a state could be formed. The 'country' would be dissolved only weeks later upon ascension to the Scottish Provisional Republic and lacked a government or international recognition, though John Maclean is often regarded as its spiritual leader.
Sheffield Commune & English Communes[]
Often overshadowed by their larger (and more successful) comrades in the Cardiff Commune and Scottish Republic, many revolutionary English communes were established and many existed prior to the Cardiff Commune. The most notable of these is regarded as the Sheffield Commune which was one of the first revolutionary communes to be declared. Sheffield is most notable for the distribution of arms by striking workers who had taken over armaments production and shipped the contraband weapons through the cities canal network. While the Commune was shortlived, this weapons distribution has been regarded as critical to the arming of workers in the early days of the war.
Similar Communes were declared in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford, Newcastle and parts of London among others. British historians have often eluded that the establishment and suppression of these early English communes was able to sufficiently distract the national government and armed forces away from the 'weaker' Scotland and Wales.
Scottish Provisional Republic[]
Main Article: Scottish Provisional RepublicFormed in late October 1924 after the Battle for the Railways and the capture of Livingston when delegates from Edinburgh and Glasgow would declare Scotland's secession from the Union and leaving its political future open and the Royal Army in a frantic evacuation. No central leadership emerged and practically all governing affairs were decided locally though Willie Gallacher and John Maclean would form something of an informal diarchy.
By 1925, the establishment of the Union of Britain would lead to a flurry of debates in the Provisional Government though the situation stabilised when the Union recognised the SPR as the legitimate administration of all of Scotland until such a time the political situation could be determined properly and in turn the Scottish recognised the Union as the legitimate British political authority. Most of Scotland fell to the rebels in early 1925 as the Royal Army attempted to evacuate all troops and material from the region. With the situation secured, debates over Scotland's future began with a Congress convening in Edinburgh. John Maclean quickly emerged as the leader of the pro-Independence faction, arguing that only an independent Scotland could create a truly equal society and explore the concept of 'Celtic syndicalism' whereas pro-Union Willie Gallacher argued that unity and coordination with England and Wales was the only way to win the war. The debate was as unresolved as the choice of war plan; Gallacher wished to strike south and attack the fleeing army whereas Maclean wanted the militias to first destroy the Highland remnants then secure the Anglo-Scottish border. Maclean's death in late January from alleged complications of pneumonia ended the latter debate. Replaced by the more amenable Robert Cunninghame Graham, the southern advance was chosen and Gallacher would be elected Provisional President.
Following the full-scale evacuation of the Royal Army at the end of 1925, Gallacher would dissolve the Republic and incorporate it into the Union of Britain with the promises of further autonomy given to the new Provisional Scottish Administration.
Free City of Liverpool[]
A small experiment in statehood formed at the end of 1924 shortly before the Red Christmas. Formed when a council of rebels would declare the city independent of the dictates of London following the local police and soldiers deserting their posts. While the city itself would gain only limited recognition from Cardiff, Edinburgh, Paris and Turin it would quickly form a sort of impromptu base for the English rebels and be noticeable for being the first English city to declare independence. Later on the city would be the location of the founding of the Union of Britain (Upon which it was dissolved) and serve as Provisional Capital for the Union until London was seized.
Belfast Commune[]
An often overlooked albeit very short chapter in the British revolution when striking workers part of the Amalgamated Unions in Ireland would form a council of delegates and declare themselves independent of the UK and their loyalty now resided with the Union of Britain. The 'Commune' would be quickly obliterated by the RUC though it would mark the beginning of the souring of the term 'Unionist' in Northern Ireland.
Provisional Government of the Union of Britain[]
The 'Old Republic Jack' used by Republican forces.
Defaced red duster variant popular among coastal based rebels prior to the formation of the Republican Army.
The first official government of the Union and largest of the revolutionary proto-states, established via the Republican Proclamation in early 1925 after delegates from Lansbury Labour, National Labour, dissident Liberals and representatives from the Cardiff Commune and SPR convened in the city. The Provisional Government would outline its territorial integrity to be all of the island of Great Britain, the Channel Islands, Isle of Mann and all other surrounding islands under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. The status of Northern Ireland was left open with any outcome to be negotiated with the Irish Republic which the Provisional Government also recognised.
While no official state paraphernalia such as a flag or anthem would be produced by the Provisional Government, various unofficial contenders would take its place, some of which would later become the official counterparts in the Union of Britain. Despite various proposals, no official flag would be accepted for the Provisional Government with it often defaulting to a plain red banner. Regardless, rebels in the field would often make use of their own variants with the Red Duster (And defaced variants) being found among coastal communes where it had been raided from merchant ships and republican colours (Either horizontal or vertical) used more inland. By the time the Republican Army had been established, the affectionately named 'Old Republic Jack' was used by most inland forces and RA units; with green, white and red cockades distributed among Republican troops to signify their allegiance. Though when Royalist Forces surrendered, the Old Republic Jack would fall out of fashion but some forces would continue to use it into 1927 when the official flag was certified.
Shortly after its establishment, George Lansbury would be appointed its first President and Arthur Cook as Chairman of the Ministerial Council. Cook would later appoint John Wheatley as his deputy to shore up the revolutionary coalition and plans for a 'People's Assembly' to meet in Cardiff were greenlit though this body was never convened nor did any polling take place. By now all regional and isolated revolts not connected to the main body of the government in England and Wales would declare its loyalty to the Provisional Government and it would ultimately succeed in the civil war, annexing the SPR at the end of 1925 and maintaining provisional governance of Britain until 1927. In mid-1926, owing to the Red Terror sweeping the nation, Lansbury would resign the presidency in 1926 and appoint Clement Attlee to the position for the interim though Attlee would only remain in this position for a few weeks before the position was abolished.
The Provisional Government would be dissolved in 1927 with all executive and legislative powers ceded to the Executive Committee and Federal Congress respectively, later forming the Union of Britain proper.
Free Commune of Gibraltar[]
Main Article: Free Commune of Gibraltar
Flag raised by the striking Spanish workers & British sailors/soldiers.
A curious event in the British Revolution and one that would arguably be the first of the Imperial Collapse was the creation of a revolutionary commune in the Mediterranean outpost of Gibraltar. As the general strike would unfold in Britain, Spanish workers in Gibraltar would agitate for better conditions and pay but find little relief. Following the Civil War's beginning in Port Talbot and the declaration of the Cardiff Commune, the Spanish Workers would call a wildcat strike in a bid to apply more pressure on the administration. After only being met with brutality, they would declare the Commune of the Free Coal Haulers and Shipyard Workers of Gibraltar as an independent state from Britain, in early 1925.
Governor Charles Munro would declare martial law on the peninsula though the British soldiers and sailors would instead side with the Spanish workers and declare their own 'Free Commune of Gibraltar' while opposing the governor's authority. The local garrison had already been chafing under poor pay and limited rations though some soldiers and much of the officers remained loyal to the governor. Following a siege of the governor's residence, loyalist soldiers would be arrested and the governor would be executed by a revolutionary tribunal. The striking workers would declare all authority was to be invested in a 'Gibraltar Trade Unions Congress' with local organiser, Albert Risso made provisional Chairman.
With word of the governor's death reaching Madrid, the Spanish army would be mobilise and launch an assault on the Rock. Despite their plans for a swift assault, the garrison and worker militias would repel their initial advance but be slowly whittled down by continuing advances. By early February, the Spanish army would fully occupy the peninsula and restore order to Gibraltar. The Commune and TUC would be forcibly dissolved though the fear of repeating the 'Gibraltar nightmare' would become a pressing concern for British colonial governors elsewhere. While only lasting a few weeks, the Commune's legacy would have far-reaching implications.
Kingdom of Lundy[]
Martin Coles Harman, the warden and 'King' of Lundy.
In an often forgotten event of the Civil War, the island of Lundy located in the Bristol Channel, was declared a 'Kingdom' by its eccentric owner, Martin Coles Harman. Harman was an English businessman born in Sussex who worked for Lazard and became an influential figure in the City of London.
In late 1923, Harman bought Lundy island and its supply boat the MV Lerina for £25,000. In early 1924, the GPO ended postal services to the island and Harman handled, and covered the costs of all the island's postage himself. To this end, Harman introduced his own "Puffin" stamps to offset this cost. One Puffin was the equivalent to one English penny, and printing of the stamps in an official capacity continued well into the early 1930s to cover the cost of shipping to the mainland. The postal reforms of the Mann Ministry made their official usage defunct but they continue to be printed as a tourist novelty.
A Lundy 1 Puffin Stamp.
In April of 1924 Harman issued his own currency of a half Puffin and one Puffin coins, which were nominally equivalent to the British halfpenny and penny. This resulted in his prosecution by the House of Lords for issuing illegal coinage under the Coinage Act 1870. Despite being pursued for prosecution, Harman would continue to issue his stamps and currency, with attempts to prosecute him being suspended due to the outbreak of hostilities. During this brief period, its residents did not pay taxes to the United Kingdom and had to pass through customs when they travelled to and from Lundy Island. Additionally, Harman established the Lundy pony breed and introduced non-native species such as the Japanese Sika deer, Scottish Soay sheep and feral goats.
Harman also wished to make a point about Lundy's independence regarding the armed services. From 1924 onwards he charged landing dues to any uniformed military personnel who visited the island and at the outbreak of war later in the year he publicly denied the right of the Government to requisition material or supplies from the island.
Following the outbreak of Civil War, Harman declared himself 'King of Lundy' and that the island was now the 'Kingdom of Lundy', with it continuing to be ruled as a virtual fiefdom. Despite his claim, he did not seek independence from the United Kingdom and Harman did still consider himself British. With Lundy ignored by the revolutionary conflict, the island would accept a limited number of refugees from the mainland and a small 'self-defence militia' was formed though Harman declared himself 'neutral' in the conflict. Lundy would be spared the excesses of civil war during this period though deal with chronic issues relating to supplies though the island was to some degree self-sufficient. Shortly after the Union of Britain's capture of Bristol, a unit of the Republican Navy was dispatched to seize the island and arrest Harman.
During the so-called 'Battle of Lundy', a landing force of armed sailors would 'fight' the Lundy Self-Defence Militia in a confrontation that lasted less than ten minutes. Contemporary statements indicate that Harman was not present (he had taken ill prior and was resting at home) during the battle. After having landed, the sailors were attacked by the militia, who charged their positions with some rifles but primarily blunt weapons. The sailors would retreat to defensive positions on the hillside and a single naval cannon was fired in retaliation. The Lundy forces would disintegrate there-after and flee in all manner of directions. The sailors themselves would become lost, having accidentally travelled to the wrong side of the island, and one of the sailors was attacked by a feral goat after he had smacked it; the only casualty of the Battle. After having eventually found Harman's residence, he was informed he was to be arrested but promptly asked the landing force if they wished for drinks before his departure. The sailors agreed and after a trip to the town's pub, Harman was imprisoned on the ship and later kept under house arrest as a garrison was established on the island.
Following the end of the Civil War, Harman would be released in mid 1926 and was allowed to continue living on Lundy where he became (and remains) the elected Warden of the island. He would also request his mainland possessions be donated to the National Trust. Following his return to the island, Harman would focus on building it into a unique tourist spot, building off of its bizarre history and in 1927 declared himself the 'Prime Minister of Lundy' despite not being recognised as such by Union authorities. In 1930, Robert Smillie visited the island and said to have declared himself 'flattered to finally meet the Chairman of Lundy'. Harman was said to have taken this incredibly seriously.
Further publicity incidents would occur in 1931 when in commemoration for the first anniversary of the Anglo-German Diplomatic Accords, the 'Lundy Mark' were minted, bearing one of the island's ponies. While these were initially minted as novelty items, Harman quickly treated them as legitimate currencies and ordered Lundy residents to use them. Federal authorities were quick to end the scheme when he was fined an indeterminate amount and ordered to 'hereby cease any attempts at illegal coinage or proliferation of false currencies' for the future. Only 16 'Lundy Marks' were ever minted, with approximately half being raffled to private collectors via the National Trust and 2 being kept at the island's museum. The remaining coins were donated to the German ambassador as a diplomatic gift and have remained at the German embassy in London ever since.