About Harry Kershaw
Lived 1906 – 1985 (aged 78). Harry Kershaw was a trade unionist.
Harry Clement Kershaw (3 October 1906 – 3 June 1985) was a British trade unionist.
Born in Rossendale, Kershaw worked part-time for his father. He then moved with his family to Barnoldswick, where he worked as a half-timer in a cotton mill. When he was thirteen, he began working full-time as a weaver, and joined the Barnoldswick Weavers' Association, in which his father was an official. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) when he was nineteen, and in 1929 he was sacked for his trade union activity. Initially, he was refused unemployment benefit, but a court determined that his activity was justified, and he was paid the benefit. However, he was unable to find work at the local mills, and instead went to work for a year in the Soviet Union.
In 1944, Kershaw began working full-time for the Colne Weavers' Association. He retired in 1971.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Harry Kershaw's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Harry Kershaw?
British trade unionist (1906-1985)
When was Harry Kershaw born?
Harry Kershaw was born on 3 October 1906.
When did Harry Kershaw die?
Harry Kershaw died on 3 June 1985.
What was Harry Kershaw's occupation?
Harry Kershaw was a trade unionist.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Harry Kershaw (trade unionist)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harry Kershaw. https://biography.guide/harry-kershaw-trade-unionist/
MLA: "Harry Kershaw." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harry-kershaw-trade-unionist/.
Chicago: "Harry Kershaw." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harry-kershaw-trade-unionist/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:01 UTC