The savage conflict between police and strikers at Llwynypia on the night of the 7th-8th November 1910, provided early proof of the fact that the seething discontent of the colliers had reached such a pitch that its outward manifestation would not be confined to picketing and formal demonstrations, but would erupt into widespread mob violence and attacks on colliery premises and similar targets throughout the coalfield.

Mindful of this, Captain Lionel Lindsay telegraphed for military assistance immediately after that attack on Llwynypia.  Within 2 hours, at 3.30am, he received a reply from Tidworth that infantry and cavalry were on the way and would arrive at Pontypridd at about 9am. 

The request to the army authorities was followed by a telegram to the then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill, which read as follows:

"All Cambrian Collieries menaced last night.  The Llwynypia Colliery savagely attacked by a large crowd of strikers.  Many casualties on both sides.    Am expecting two companies of infantry and 200 cavalry today.   Very little accommodation for police or soldiers.  Position grave.  Will wire again - Lindsay, Chief Constable of Glamorgan."

The calling up of the military to aid the police became the subject of bitter controversy and recrimination then and for years afterwards, with Mr Churchill condemned generally in the mining communities as the arch villain.  Even now, it is still commonly believed that Mr Churchill was to blame.  This is not surprising when the false and thunderous denunciations of the Home Secretary, maintained for years after the event, produced no more than a squeak of truth in reply from political quarters.  Mr Joseph Jones, C.B.E., Chief Constable of the Glamorganshire Constabulary from 1936-1951, was serving as a constable during the Rhondda Riots.  He stated that "not a single shot was fired (by the troops on the strikers), that the troops were sent on the request of magistrates in accordance with law and the King's Regulations, and that Mr Churchill, although he ultimately had to approve the sending of troops, did all he could to resist it."

As soon as Mr Churchill heard that troops had been sent from Tidworth at the request of Lionel Lindsay, and were en route for Pontypridd, he ordered them to be held up at Swindon.  The following telegram was sent off to the Chief Constable:

"Infantry should not be used till all other means have failed.   Following arrangements have therefore been made.  Seventy mounted constables and 200 foot constables of Metropolitan Police will come to Pontypridd by special train - Churchill"

The remainder of the telegram dealt with arrangements to billet military at Cardiff in case of emergency.  Mr Churchill also sent a message to the Chief Constable to be conveyed to the miners.  In it the Home Secretary appealed to them to stop rioting, and said that the soldiers were being held back, and the police were being sent instead.

The appeal was made in vain to a mass meeting at Penygraig Football Ground, and it would seem that the assurance that the troops were not on their way had an entirely unexpected consequence.  With the knowledge that no reinforcements, police or military, were then available, the assembly decided that if their ends were to be achieved it was a case of now or never.  They moved from the Penygraig meeting place and marched through Tonypandy and Trealaw to the Glamorgan Colliery at Llwynypia.  They then took part in a riot described as "unparalleled in its grim fierceness, and the bloodshed it entailed."

It was this violent reaction to his appeal for peace that undoubtedly led to Mr Churchill being at last induced to authorise the introduction of military aid.  This was very much against his wishes as his correspondence and actions make evident.