Aneurin Bevan’s role in the 1926 General Strike marked a turning point in his evolution from coal miner to commanding political force. Sparked on 3 May 1926 by the Trades Union Congress in defence of miners facing wage cuts and worsening conditions, the strike lasted nine days nationally, but in South Wales, the miners’ struggle endured for six months.

As a union official for the South Wales Miners’ Federation, Bevan became a linchpin of resistance: organizing strike pay, coordinating food distribution, and leading local Councils of Action. In Tredegar, his hometown, he stood firm against efforts to break the strike, galvanizing support with both strategic clarity and moral fire.