Article entitled ‘Dispersal decision after race riot’ from Birmingham’s Evening Despatch, 15th April 1949. Catalogue ref: LAB 26/198
This is an early example of a crisis in post-war race relations. It involved an attack by Poles on 65 Jamaicans living in a Ministry of Labour hostel in Causeway Green, Oldbury, West Midlands. After the Second World War, Britain had a huge labour shortage. Various schemes were set up to take European Voluntary Workers, ex-prisoners of war and Polish ex-servicemen. Many West Indians who had served in the armed forces and related occupations hoped to find jobs in Britain owing to the lack of opportunities in the colonial islands.
The Ministry of Labour set up the National Service Hostels Corporation to organise hostel accommodation near the workplace for these migrant workers. The NSHC provided a list of 97 hostels across the country to accommodate 1128 migrant workers in 1950. After events at Causeway Green, the hostel reduced the number of Jamaicans allowed to stay to 30 (it was originally 12) but many refused to leave and lose their jobs. Find out more out these disturbances and other hostels in this National Archives blog.
Contains original language used at the time, which is not appropriate today.
- What was the cause of the rioting at Causeway Green, according to the article?
- How did the authorities respond to the disturbances? What do you think of their response?
- What you think the impact of living in a government hostel would be for these workers?
Transcript
DISPERSAL DECISION AFTER RACE RIOT
AFTER the meeting today of officials, police and spokesmen from the Poles and Jamaicans, the two sides engaged in race rioting at Causeway Green Hostel, near Oldbury, last night, Supt. F.R. Bach, of Oldbury said:
“This has got to such dimensions that it has forced the hand of the Ministry of Labour and we are making arrangements to disperse some of the men before tonight.”
“We shall have a detachment of police still standing by. This is a miniature feud.”
Ministry of Labour officials, representatives of the National Service Hostel Corporation and police had met to decide what action to be taken. The National Service Hostels Corporation administer hostels for the Ministry of Labour.
Last night Poles armed with sticks, stones and razors attacked Jamaican quarters. About 50 police were rushed to the hostel to quell the riot. Three Poles and a Jamaican were hurt.
Second time
It was the second time they had had to deal with such an occurrence.
Last Saturday night fighting began after a dance, and a policeman was hurt.
Polish residents allege that Jamaicans take young girls into the hostel.
Residents in nearby houses are incensed and alarmed. They intend to organise a petition to the mayor.
A housewife living near the hostel gates told the “Evening Despatch”, “There is tension all along the road.”
“Last night some of the men climbed into our gardens. One ran into a house and a gang waited outside for him until my husband persuaded them to leave.”
“Four young girls were screaming for people to protect the coloured men. It was like a scene from a Hollywood gangster film”.