Mary Brooksbank

Mary Brooksbank
Born
Mary Soutar

15 December 1897
Died16 March 1978 (aged 80)
NationalityScottish
Occupation(s)Mill worker, songwriter
Known forSocialist activism, trade unionism and songwriting

Mary Brooksbank (born Soutar; 15 December 1897 16 March 1978) was a Scottish mill worker, socialist, trade unionist and songwriter. She was an active member of the Communist Party of Great Britain between 1920 and 1933, and spent three periods in prison as a result of her agitation. She attended John Maclean's last meetings at the Scottish Labour College.

She is remembered today as a prominent figure in Dundee's labour movement. She founded the Working Women Guild to fight for better health and social services in Dundee, securing a membership of over 300, and was heavily involved in October 1934 with the National Unemployed Workers Movement county march to Forfar, to lobby the County Council; contingents were raised from Dundee, Blairgowrie, Montrose, Ferryden and Arbroath.