840:, considered a symbol of the trade union movement, but also associated with Bolshevism. By November the war had ended, but the War Precautions Act remained in effect. The unemployment rate in Brisbane was more than 14% and many returning servicemen were unable to secure employment. Amidst growing unrest among Russian emigres, trade unionists and other socialist elements, concerns about political and social agitation amongst conservative elements of society grew. These concerns existed across Australia, but it was in Queensland, where there was a sizeable Russian population, that the concerns were largely focused. The situation seemed to worsen throughout November and December 1918 as a number of socialist demonstrations were held. In November,
940:
737:
725:
713:
873:
limited to only eight officers. However, the tensions that had been building since
Simonoff's jailing boiled over and three large red flags were subsequently unfurled, along with over one hundred smaller banners, ribbons and handkerchiefs. As the demonstration proceeded mounted police unsuccessfully attempted to stop it as it approached
823:
and a concern that certain elements might attempt to institute a similar type of revolution in
Australia. These fears were compounded by increased industrial action and an almost xenophobic fear of non Anglo-Australians, which was in part due to the tensions caused by the war, but also partly due to
872:
was carried out, this time by about 400 people who marched from Trades Hall to the Domain. In order to obtain a permit for the march, the organisers had given the police their assurance that red flags would not be carried, and as such, not anticipating any trouble, the police presence was initially
885:
that evening before moving off towards the
Russian Hall in Merivale Street, South Brisbane. The Russian Hall was the base of the Russian Workers Association and as the ex-servicemen approached, the occupants fired a number of shots from the building before the police arrived, dispersing the crowd.
851:
To conservative elements this protest seemed to flout the law and as a result the government found itself under increasing pressure to do something about the situation. Private groups of concerned citizens began to form also, many of them formed from returned servicemen, from organisations such as
909:, a clash broke out in which over 100 men received bayonet wounds. The fighting lasted for two hours. In the end between 14 and 19 police officers were injured and three police horses were shot, one of which later died, while 19 of the injured ex-servicemen needed to be evacuated by ambulance.
880:
Upon entering the Domain the crowd swelled to about 1,000 people and a series of speakers began to talk about various topics including civil rights, revolution and militarism. The demonstration angered a number of ex-servicemen and several minor scuffles had ensued. Afterwards a large group of
792:(AIF) and were focused upon socialists and other elements of society that the ex-servicemen considered to be disloyal. The name was coined because of the flags that a number of the demonstrators carried, which were associated with the trade union movement and which were banned under the
877:, however, the crowd overwhelmed the small number of police and managed to reach the Domain. Here a second attempt at stopping the demonstration was made by locking the gates of the Domain, however, sensing the angry mood of the crowd, the police decided to open the gates.
844:, who was seen as one of the main agitators, was arrested in Melbourne, having previously been banned from public speaking in Queensland in September. Following Simonoff's sentencing, in January 1919 a demonstration against the continued operation of the
828:
had increasingly been used to settle labour disputes and although in some cases it could be seen that this was necessary to maintain wartime production, there were others that saw it as an attempt to suppress the trade unions.
853:
810:
The Red Flag riots occurred as a result of a number of changes within
Australian society at the time. By 1918 there had been a growing anti-war and trade union movement. Additionally, as a result of the
897:, where speakers began talking about taking the law into their own hands. As the anger amongst the crowd grew, a large group broke away from it and carrying a large Australian flag proceeded to cross
798:. The most notable incident occurred on 24 March 1919, when a crowd of about 8,000 ex-servicemen clashed with police who were preventing them from attacking the Russian Hall in Merivale Street,
824:
the prevailing national psyche at the time. As a result of these fears, and concerns within the government about the effect of the trade union movement upon wartime production, the
639:
1176:
438:
1128:
Evans, Raymond (1992). "Agitation, ceaseless agitation: Russian radicals in
Australia and the Red flag riots". In McNair, John; Poole, Thomas (eds.).
901:
singing patriotic songs. Assembling at
Merivale Street they began to move towards the hall. Finding their way blocked by a force of between 40 and 60
841:
767:
180:
1191:
217:
583:
632:
848:
was carried out at
William Street, and was attended by over a thousand people singing socialist songs and carrying red banners.
1156:
1137:
760:
646:
536:
470:
611:
433:
155:
516:
1216:
1181:
1118:
1099:
590:
551:
465:
928:
One of the main political outcomes of the riot was the rise in popularity of the RSSILA which later became the RSL.
257:
531:
521:
175:
1211:
789:
753:
347:
1196:
653:
460:
443:
207:
232:
168:
1186:
913:
857:
546:
506:
397:
788:, Australia over the course of 1918–19. The attacks were largely undertaken by returned soldiers from the
212:
1236:
1226:
1206:
1201:
1018:
905:
mounted on horseback and armed with rifles and bayonets, under the command of the police commissioner,
692:
677:
501:
352:
342:
898:
812:
556:
889:
The following night, 24 March, a crowd of between 7,000–8,000 men assembled in North Quay, and into
894:
874:
816:
729:
819:
in March 1918, there was a climate of mistrust and fear within mainstream
Australia towards the
1231:
890:
672:
625:
475:
428:
129:
820:
687:
882:
604:
480:
337:
187:
8:
1221:
958:
837:
794:
597:
541:
953:
511:
377:
121:
1152:
1133:
1114:
1095:
945:
906:
902:
455:
387:
307:
108:
741:
717:
367:
272:
312:
262:
860:(RSSILA). As the tension mounted, another demonstration was planned for March.
799:
327:
297:
279:
1170:
682:
392:
382:
267:
252:
150:
881:
soldiers (some of whom were in uniform) broke up a meeting of socialists at
1108:
448:
407:
362:
192:
697:
372:
332:
317:
86:
14–19 police officers, and 100 rioters (19 who required hospitalisation)
868:
On the afternoon of 23 March 1919 the second demonstration against the
357:
322:
963:
784:
were a series of violent demonstrations and attacks that occurred in
402:
302:
237:
33:
785:
225:
200:
29:
1092:
Where
Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
1109:
Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (1995).
832:
For some, this feeling was confirmed when in
September 1918 the
526:
1132:. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. pp. 126–171.
724:
712:
60:
858:
Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia
912:
The next evening a crowd of a few thousand gathered at
935:
1111:
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
854:
Returned Soldiers and Citizens Political Federation
1177:Military history of Australia during World War I
1168:
916:, from where they marched to the offices of the
1151:. Brisbane: Brisbane City Council Publication.
1089:
1146:
1003:
1001:
999:
997:
995:
993:
920:. Police were needed to protect the building.
218:1951 Australian Communist Party ban referendum
761:
1094:(1st ed.). Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
990:
983:
981:
979:
863:
768:
754:
1019:"Red Flag Riots - One Hundred Years Ago"
976:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1055:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1043:
1041:
1039:
836:was extended to prohibit the flying of
1192:Riots and civil disorder in Queensland
1169:
1113:. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
1127:
1016:
1147:McBride, Frank; et al. (2009).
1062:
1036:
13:
517:Democratic Association of Victoria
439:Communist Party of Australia (M–L)
14:
1248:
1075:McBride et al. 2009, pp. 134–135.
938:
735:
723:
711:
532:Industrial Socialist Labor Party
522:Democratic Socialist Perspective
176:Movement Against War and Fascism
156:1891 Australian shearers' strike
1090:Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998).
790:First Australian Imperial Force
1130:Russia and the Fifth Continent
1010:
208:1948 Queensland railway strike
169:Great Depression and Aftermath
92:
1:
1082:
1017:Bruce, Joan (25 March 2019).
1007:Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 165.
805:
573:Newspapers/Journals/Magazines
233:Builders Labourers Federation
923:
507:Communist Party of Australia
434:Communist Party of Australia
7:
1023:State Library Of Queensland
987:Dennis et al. 1995, p. 493.
931:
730:Organised Labour portal
633:The International Socialist
213:1949 Australian coal strike
10:
1253:
693:Socialism with no doctrine
678:Australian labour movement
502:Australian Socialist Party
557:Victorian Socialist Party
103:
90:
82:
74:
66:
54:
39:
25:
20:
1217:20th century in Brisbane
1182:Australia in World War I
1059:Evans 1992, pp. 126–171.
969:
864:Merivale Street incident
537:Progressive Labour Party
471:Socialist Equality Party
813:1917 Russian revolution
43:24 March 1919
1212:Anti-Russian sentiment
673:Anarchism in Australia
626:Australian Left Review
429:Australian Labor Party
1197:Protests in Australia
688:Politics of Australia
552:Socialist Labor Party
466:Socialist Alternative
95: of participants
1149:Brisbane 150 Stories
817:Brest–Litovsk Treaty
742:Australia portal
718:Socialism portal
481:Victorian Socialists
111:mounted on horseback
1187:History of Brisbane
959:History of Brisbane
870:War Precautions Act
846:War Precautions Act
834:War Precautions Act
826:War Precautions Act
815:and the subsequent
795:War Precautions Act
542:Red Eureka Movement
181:Egon Kisch incident
954:Battle of Brisbane
512:Communist Alliance
461:Socialist Alliance
444:Jewish Labour Bund
1237:1910s in Brisbane
1227:March 1919 events
1207:1919 in Australia
1202:1918 in Australia
1158:978-1-876091-60-6
1139:978-0-7022-2420-1
946:Queensland portal
907:Frederic Urquhart
821:Russian community
778:
777:
496:
456:SEARCH Foundation
423:
115:
114:
109:Queensland Police
1244:
1162:
1143:
1124:
1105:
1076:
1073:
1060:
1057:
1034:
1033:
1031:
1029:
1014:
1008:
1005:
988:
985:
948:
943:
942:
941:
770:
763:
756:
740:
739:
738:
728:
727:
716:
715:
547:Socialist Action
494:
421:
273:Occupy Melbourne
134:
117:
116:
94:
70:bayonets, rifles
50:
48:
18:
17:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1241:
1167:
1166:
1165:
1159:
1140:
1121:
1102:
1085:
1080:
1079:
1074:
1063:
1058:
1037:
1027:
1025:
1015:
1011:
1006:
991:
986:
977:
972:
944:
939:
937:
934:
926:
899:Victoria Bridge
866:
808:
774:
736:
734:
722:
710:
703:
702:
668:
660:
659:
570:
562:
561:
497:
486:
485:
424:
413:
412:
293:
285:
284:
263:Occupy movement
244:
222:
197:
188:Dalfram dispute
165:
143:
132:
130:
96:
57:
46:
44:
12:
11:
5:
1250:
1240:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1164:
1163:
1157:
1144:
1138:
1125:
1119:
1106:
1100:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1061:
1035:
1009:
989:
974:
973:
971:
968:
967:
966:
961:
956:
950:
949:
933:
930:
925:
922:
918:Daily Standard
895:William Street
865:
862:
842:Peter Simonoff
807:
804:
800:South Brisbane
782:Red Flag riots
776:
775:
773:
772:
765:
758:
750:
747:
746:
745:
744:
732:
720:
705:
704:
701:
700:
695:
690:
685:
680:
675:
669:
667:Related topics
666:
665:
662:
661:
658:
657:
650:
643:
636:
629:
616:
615:
608:
601:
594:
587:
571:
568:
567:
564:
563:
560:
559:
554:
549:
544:
539:
534:
529:
524:
519:
514:
509:
504:
498:
493:Organisations
492:
491:
488:
487:
484:
483:
478:
473:
468:
463:
458:
452:
451:
446:
441:
436:
431:
425:
420:Organisations
419:
418:
415:
414:
411:
410:
405:
400:
395:
390:
385:
380:
375:
370:
365:
360:
355:
350:
345:
340:
335:
330:
325:
320:
315:
310:
305:
300:
294:
291:
290:
287:
286:
283:
282:
280:Blockade IMARC
277:
276:
275:
270:
260:
255:
243:
242:
241:
240:
221:
220:
215:
210:
196:
195:
190:
185:
184:
183:
164:
163:
161:Red Flag riots
158:
153:
144:
141:
140:
137:
136:
126:
125:
113:
112:
105:
101:
100:
97:
91:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
78:1 police horse
76:
72:
71:
68:
64:
63:
58:
55:
52:
51:
41:
37:
36:
27:
23:
22:
21:Red Flag riots
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1249:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1232:1919 protests
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1160:
1154:
1150:
1145:
1141:
1135:
1131:
1126:
1122:
1120:0-19-553227-9
1116:
1112:
1107:
1103:
1101:1-86448-611-2
1097:
1093:
1088:
1087:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1040:
1024:
1020:
1013:
1004:
1002:
1000:
998:
996:
994:
984:
982:
980:
975:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
951:
947:
936:
929:
921:
919:
915:
914:Albert Square
910:
908:
904:
900:
896:
892:
887:
884:
878:
876:
875:Edward Street
871:
861:
859:
855:
849:
847:
843:
839:
835:
830:
827:
822:
818:
814:
803:
801:
797:
796:
791:
787:
783:
771:
766:
764:
759:
757:
752:
751:
749:
748:
743:
733:
731:
726:
721:
719:
714:
709:
708:
707:
706:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
683:New Australia
681:
679:
676:
674:
671:
670:
664:
663:
656:
655:
651:
649:
648:
647:The Socialist
644:
642:
641:
637:
635:
634:
630:
628:
627:
623:
622:
621:
620:
614:
613:
612:The Socialist
609:
607:
606:
602:
600:
599:
595:
593:
592:
588:
586:
585:
581:
580:
579:
578:
574:
566:
565:
558:
555:
553:
550:
548:
545:
543:
540:
538:
535:
533:
530:
528:
525:
523:
520:
518:
515:
513:
510:
508:
505:
503:
500:
499:
490:
489:
482:
479:
477:
474:
472:
469:
467:
464:
462:
459:
457:
454:
453:
450:
447:
445:
442:
440:
437:
435:
432:
430:
427:
426:
417:
416:
409:
406:
404:
401:
399:
396:
394:
391:
389:
386:
384:
381:
379:
376:
374:
371:
369:
366:
364:
361:
359:
356:
354:
351:
349:
346:
344:
341:
339:
336:
334:
331:
329:
326:
324:
321:
319:
316:
314:
311:
309:
306:
304:
301:
299:
296:
295:
289:
288:
281:
278:
274:
271:
269:
268:Occupy Sydney
266:
265:
264:
261:
259:
256:
254:
251:
250:
249:
248:
239:
236:
235:
234:
231:
230:
229:
228:
227:
219:
216:
214:
211:
209:
206:
205:
204:
203:
202:
194:
191:
189:
186:
182:
179:
178:
177:
174:
173:
172:
171:
170:
162:
159:
157:
154:
152:
151:New Australia
149:
148:
147:
146:Early history
139:
138:
135:
131:Socialism in
128:
127:
123:
119:
118:
110:
106:
102:
98:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
62:
59:
53:
42:
38:
35:
31:
28:
24:
19:
16:
1148:
1129:
1110:
1091:
1026:. Retrieved
1022:
1012:
927:
917:
911:
888:
879:
869:
867:
850:
845:
833:
831:
825:
809:
793:
781:
779:
652:
645:
638:
631:
624:
618:
617:
610:
603:
596:
589:
582:
576:
575:
572:
449:Left Renewal
258:G20 protests
247:Contemporary
246:
245:
224:
223:
199:
198:
193:Black Armada
167:
166:
160:
145:
15:
698:Sydney Push
654:The Tribune
56:Attack type
1222:1919 riots
1171:Categories
1083:References
883:North Quay
806:Background
640:The People
619:Historical
591:Green Left
569:Literature
476:Solidarity
47:1919-03-24
1028:3 October
964:Red Scare
924:Aftermath
838:red flags
495:(Defunct)
378:Noonuccal
328:Gallagher
308:Blackburn
298:Armstrong
238:Green ban
133:Australia
104:Defenders
99:~ 7–8,000
34:Australia
932:See also
856:and the
786:Brisbane
605:Red Flag
598:Overland
422:(Active)
408:Rhiannon
398:Petersen
393:Paterson
383:Origlass
313:Burgmann
226:New Left
201:Cold War
122:a series
120:Part of
30:Brisbane
26:Location
368:McQueen
142:History
83:Injured
67:Weapons
45: (
1155:
1136:
1117:
1098:
903:police
577:Active
527:Gezerd
388:O'Shea
373:Mundey
333:Garden
318:Curtin
292:People
107:40–60
75:Deaths
970:Notes
891:Queen
584:Arena
403:Percy
353:Jolly
343:Healy
338:Gould
323:Foley
303:Bacon
1153:ISBN
1134:ISBN
1115:ISBN
1096:ISBN
1030:2023
893:and
852:the
780:The
363:Lane
358:Judd
348:Hill
61:Riot
40:Date
253:S11
93:No.
1173::
1064:^
1038:^
1021:.
992:^
978:^
802:.
124:on
32:,
1161:.
1142:.
1123:.
1104:.
1032:.
769:e
762:t
755:v
49:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.