On this day in Yorkshire

Right to work - Harworth striker sent to prison

January 25, 1937

George Norbury (31), a miner, of Bawtry, was committed to prison for four months at Doncaster on Saturday when he was charged with using violence to compel Ernest Brough, of Clayworth, to abstain from working, with assaulting Brough and damaging his raincoat and bicycle.

Mr A. E. Furniss (prosecuting) said there was a dispute at Harworth Colliery. Norbury was one of the strikers, and Brough was a man who continued working during the strike. It was alleged that when Brough was cycling to work at the colliery, at Bawtry on December 15, Norbury pulled him from bicycle and assaulted him.

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Norbury said that Brough made an offensive remark to him and struck him first. Then there was a struggle.

The Chairman (Mr M. Nokes): When a man in this country decides to go to work you have right to stop him or do anything to him whatever. There is nobody who can stop him.