Search The British Newspaper Archive for the words ‘Tube strike’ and you’ll find hundreds of stories about London Underground strikes of the past.
While most newspapers printed serious reports, we’ve found a few that couldn’t resist making a joke or two.
Tu-be or not tu-be
The Derby Daily Telegraph imagined how William Shakespeare would have responded to the Tube strike of 1919:
Derby Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 05 February 1919
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Even the Tube strike has its advertising uses
It seems one enterprising London chemist used the 1918 strike as an opportunity to sell some more ‘tonic elixir’.
Hull Daily Mail – Tuesday 27 August 1918
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Those you would be glad to get rid of never go on strike
The Burnley Express complained that ‘tax collectors and people of that sort’ never go on strike.
Burnley Express – Saturday 14 June 1924
Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Where stands England today?
‘Well, some of it pretty obviously is standing in overcrowded London ‘buses’ quipped one journalist.
Derby Daily Telegraph – Friday 07 February 1919
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
