Revolution Gallery

Longest Day at Stonehenge, Wiltshire

People gathering at Stonehenge, Wiltshire on the longest day of the year, on or near 21 June 1912. This photograph shows a daybreak pilgrimage by members of The Universal Bond of the Sons of Men, or Church of the Universal Bond. This was a religious group founded in Britain in the early 20th century by George W MacGregor Reid, promoting socialist revolution, anti-imperialism and sun worship. By 1912 Reid was becoming attracted to Druidism, especially as Stonehenge was at the time regarded as a solar temple. His church began holding rituals there, and this continued until the site was given to the state in 1918. When the growing Stonehenge free festival caused the monument to be closed at midsummer in 1985, the Church faded into obscurity but has maintained a presence at the reopened solstice festivities since 2000

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Revolution of Theriso - The revolutionaries & Venizelos

In 1898, the Great Powers declared Crete as an independent Cretan State, under the rule of the Sultan. Yet, the administration of commander Prince George irritated the Cretans, who in March 1905 revolted - the famous Revolution of Theriso (the participants of which are depicted here), thus forcing Prince George to resign and appoint commandeer, Alexandros Zaimis. The leader of this revolt was Eleftherios Venizelos (1864 - 1936) - pictured in the centre of this group

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

John Maclean, Scottish teacher and revolutionary socialist

John Maclean (1879-1923), Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary Marxist socialist. He was imprisoned for his opposition to the First World War, and lost his teaching post, after which he became a full-time Marxist lecturer and organiser, and later founded the Scottish Labour College. In prison again in 1918 after a conviction for sedition, he went on hunger strike and was force fed, which contributed to his early death

© Mary Evans / Marx Memorial Library