page_title: John McGurk
hierarchical_section_title: John McGurk
caption_attribution_description: English: NLS caption&#160;: Delegates from the Miners’ Federation after visiting the front line, during World War I. It is likely that these delegates from the Miners' Federation were visiting the frontline as part of a consultation exercise with the general staff. Although this consultation could have been to do with the construction of trenches and dugouts, it is more likely that they were there to discuss the digging of tunnels underneath the German front line. Left to right Mr Henry Roughley Mr. Thomas Greenall, President of Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation Mr. Henry Twist, agent for the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation Mr. John McGurk, Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation (LCMF) agent for north-eastern area
context_page_description: John McGurk was a British coal miner and trade unionist.
  Born in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, McGurk grew up in Pendlebury, Lancashire, and began working at a coal mine aged 12. He became active in the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation, and in 1908 was elected as the agent for its north-eastern area.
  McGurk was also active in the Labour Party. He stood unsuccessfully in Darwen at the 1918 general election and again in 1922, and was elected to its National Executive Committee, serving as Chair of the Labour Party in 1918/19. He was also elected to Bury Town Council.
  Although McGurk talked down the LCMF's chances of victory in their 1921 lock-out, he fully backed the 1926 general strike. In 1929, he was elected as President of the union, serving until shortly before his death in 1944. He also spent some time as a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress.
context_section_description: John McGurk (17 September 1874 – 22 November 1944) was a British coal miner and trade unionist.
  Born in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, McGurk grew up in Pendlebury, Lancashire, and began working at a coal mine aged 12. He became active in the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation (LCMF), and in 1908 was elected as the agent for its north-eastern area.
  McGurk was also active in the Labour Party. He stood unsuccessfully in Darwen at the 1918 general election and again in 1922, and was elected to its National Executive Committee, serving as Chair of the Labour Party in 1918/19. He was also elected to Bury Town Council.
  Although McGurk talked down the LCMF's chances of victory in their 1921 lock-out, he fully backed the 1926 general strike. In 1929, he was elected as President of the union, serving until shortly before his death in 1944. He also spent some time as a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress.
caption: John McGurk, on right, with Henry Roughley, Thomas Greenall and Henry Twist visiting the Western Front in the First World War, believed to be to discuss mining under enemy lines
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