“Deeds not words” was the motto of the Women’s Suffrage and Political Union (WSPU). Beyond the orchestration of public demonstrations and political rallies, the WSPU staged various campaigns of civil disobedience meant to draw attention to their cause – disruption at political meetings, chaining themselves to railings, window smashing, and, more controversially bombings and arson targeting symbolic locations (Bank of England, St. Paul’s Cathedral). The majority of the charges the suffragettes faced however were related to resisting arrest when police were called to intervene in public demonstrations. Over a thousand suffragettes went to prison defending their cause, many of whom were brutally force-fed after undertaking hunger strikes. Images in this section depict some of these arrests as well as instances where suffragettes appeared in rallies and other public events.
Capsule accounts of the actions and events depicted in the images in this series follow the gallery of images below.
To view the full image click on the thumbnail.
The online sources from which these accounts are drawn are accessible via a link following the description.
Emmeline Pankhurst WSPU Co-Founder, Chief Administrator and Militant with bodyguards 1914 – In early 1913 and in response to the Cat and Mouse Act, the WSPU instituted a secret society of women known as the “Bodyguard” whose role was to physically protect Emmeline Pankhurst and other prominent suffragettes from arrest and assault. Known members included Katherine Willoughby Marshall, Leonora Cohen and Gertrude Harding; Edith Margaret Garrud was their jujitsu trainer. Wikipedia
Emmeline Pankhurst WSPU Co-Founder, Chief Administrator and Militant, under arrest 1914 – On 21 May 1914, Emmeline Pankhurst led a deputation of 200 women to Buckingham Palace. Watched by large crowds, they were met by 2000 police officers, some on horseback. Amid violent scenes, over sixty people were arrested and numerous women were injured. This photograph was widely reproduced, and shows Pankhurst, weakened by hunger-strikes and force feeding, struggling in the arms of the police officer Inspector Rolfe (1868-1914). National Portrait Gallery
Sylvia Pankhurst Socialist Activist and founder of the East London Federation of Suffragettes, under police arrest 1914 – LONDON, May 24.-The suffragists gave the police and church officials a busy Sunday while they themselves in some cases received rough treatment from persons in the crowds who resented the recent interference with the King.
Sylvia Pankhurst, who was again arrested under the “Cat and Mouse ” act, and her East End followers, provided the chief excitement of the day. A great procession formed at Canning Town and marched to Victoria Park. On the way the women picked up Sylvia Pankhurst, who was chained and handcuffed to fifteen women and surrounded by other supporters, armed with staves. New York Times, 24, May 1914
Olive Walton WSPU Activist, arrested by police at Dundee 1914 – The arrest of the suffragette Olive Walton, Dundee 1914. She had travelled to Scotland determined to speak to King George V, and was charged with trying to ‘rush’ the king’s carriage. Olive Walton was Honorary Organising Secretary of the Tunbridge Wells branch of the WSPU and served several terms of imprisonment for militant acts including obstruction and malicious damage. Google Arts & Culture
Arrest of Suffragette Dora Marsden, 1909 – In September 1909 Dora was arrested for breaking windows of a hall in Old Trafford, Manchester where anti-suffragette MP Augustine Burrell was speaking. She was sentenced to two months imprisonment in Strangeways Prison, Manchester. Dora refused to wear prison clothes, went on hunger strike and petitioned the Home Secretary to be given Political Prisoner status. Marsden History Group
Grace Roe, arrested in London, 1914 – Undaunted! The Arrest of Miss Grace Roe’. The caption refers to the arrest of Grace Roe, organiser and deputy-leader of the WSPU during the police raid on the Union’s headquarters, Lincoln’s Inn House 23rd May 1914. Grace was charged with conspiracy & imprisoned in Holloway on 23 May. Here she endured hunger strike and force feeding until she was released on 10 August under the government’s amnesty. Google Arts & Culture
Suffragette Prisoners Pageant (Annie Kenney with Flag, Lady Constance Lytton, Dr. Ethel Smyth) – Suffragettes ‘forming up’ in the Prisoners’ Pageant of the Women’s Coronation Procession, 17 June 1911. By 1911, 700 suffragettes had been to prison for their involvement in the militant campaign. Included in this group are Annie Kenney (centre wearing a dark rosette) and Constance Lytton (carrying a shawl). London Museum
WSPU Activists, Margaret Scott, Jane Short, May McFarlane, Olive Hocken, detained at Holloway – Surveillance image depicting Suffragette prisoners exercising in the yard of Holloway jail. The prisoners are identified on the reverse of the photo from left to right as Margaret Scott, Jane Short (the alias used by Rachel Peace) May [Margaret] McFarlane and Olive Hockin. This was one in a series of surveillance images taken by an undercover photographer hiding in a van parked in the yard. The photographs were commissioned by the Home Office and distributed widely to public buildings including museums and galleries to prevent the miltants entering premises and causing damage. It is likely the image was taken in June 1913 when all four Suffragettes were serving terms of imprisonment in Holloway for various offences. London Museum
Grace Marcon WSPU Activist Detained at Holloway Prison 1913 – In August 1913 Grace Marcon, the daughter of Canon Marcon of Norwich was arrested and charged with obstruction during a scuffle in Whitehall between the police and a group of Suffragettes led by Sylvia Pankhurst following a demonstration organised by the Free Speech Defence Committee. Although found guilty she did not receive a custodial sentence and was ‘bound over’. Rearrested in October on a charge of obstruction and assault, Grace did, on this occasion receive a sentence of two months in Holloway. Museum Crush
Daisy Dugdale, 1908 – Daisy Dugdale leading the procession to welcome Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, London, 19th December 1908. Wearing the suffragette uniform in the colours of purple, green and white, Daisy Dugdale leads a brass band. Such bands, and the singing of marching songs were a regular feature of suffragette demonstrations. Emmeline and her daughter Christabel had been released early from Holloway Gaol, and their carriage was drawn through the streets by suffragettes in uniform, celebrating their release. Many went to prison several times for the cause of obtaining the vote for women. Heritage Images
WSPU Activists promoting Self Denial Week Campaign, Bristol 1910 – Bristol suffragettes raising money during Self-Denial Week, 1910. From left to right: Edith West, Mary Allen, Miss Staniland, Elsie Howey and Mrs Dove-Willcox. Whist drives, door-to-door and street collections, making marmalade and donating jewels were some of the ways in which WSPU members raised funds for ‘The War Chest’ (the campaign fund). Heritage Images
Una Dugdale WSPU Activist in Newcastle 1908 – Una Dugdale and Helen Fraser also took part in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne by-election, on 25th September, 1908. Upset by the failure of the Liberal government to introduce women’s suffrage the Women Social & Political Union supported Edward Hartley, a member of the Social Democratic Federation. Spartacus Educational
Patricia Woodlock WSPU Militant speaks at St. George Place Liverpool 1908 – Four suffragettes speaking opposite the Empire Theatre, Liverpool, 1908. Patricia Woodlock, standing in front of the Liscard WSPU banner, was described by the Liverpool Courier as a ‘Liverpool girl, refined, tender-hearted and heroic’. That summer, Bessie K Morris, who was the secretary of the Liverpool WSPU, organised ‘At Homes’ and meetings on the sands in Southport. The Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage also had a branch in Liverpool. Science Photo Library
Lady Constance Lytton, Suffragette with Police Escort upon her release from Holloway Prison 1909 – When Lady Constance Bulwer-Lytton was arrested in 1909 for protesting outside British parliament, and went on prison hunger-strike, for demanding women’s right to vote, she was, to prevent an embarrassing political fuss, released early. This avoided the spectacle of one of Britain’s best-connected aristocrats being subjected to the government’s policy of force-feeding hunger-striking suffragettes. Green Left
Flora Drummond WSPU Organiser and Activist at rally for Irish Home Rule, London 1914 – The Suffragette Leader, Flora Drummond at the head of a Suffragette demonstration held to coincide with the Ulster Day Demonstration in Hyde Park, 4 April, 1914. The Ulster Unionist Demonstration was organised in protest against the Government’s Home Rule Bill. The demonstration organised by Flora Drummond on behalf of the Women’s Social and Political Union took place in Hyde Park at the same time. London Museum
Emily Wilding Davison WSPU Militant fatally Injured protesting on the track at Epson Derby 1913 – On 4 June 1913, Davison ran onto the racetrack during the Epsom Derby. She collided with a galloping horse owned by King George V, causing her severe head wounds and injuring the jockey. Davison died four days later in hospital, surrounded by distraught Suffragettes. London Museum
Christabel Pankhurst, Flora Drummond, Emmeline Pankhurst facing charges in Criminal Court 1908 Christabel Pankhurst, Flora Drummond and Emmeline Pankhurst in Court, October 1908. This court appearance refers to the arrest of the suffragette leaders for inciting a riot and urging supporters to ‘rush’ the House of Commons. Receiving a sentence of three months imprisonment Mrs Pankhurst declared from the dock at Bow Street Magistrates’ court her intention to take full responsibilty for the actions of militant suffragettes ‘I am here to take upon myself now, Sir, as I wish the Prosecution had put upon me, the full responsibility for this agitation’. London Museum
Suffragette Press Cart, London, 1911 – Press Carts’ delivering Votes for Women to various pitches in central London, July 1911. Women undertaking such ‘unwomanly’ and ‘unsexing’ activities such as this made strong and often unfavourable impression on passers-by. All the women in this photograph would have been dressed in and carrying accessories of purple, white and green to maximize their impact. Science Photo Library
WSPU Activists promote Hyde Park Rally London 1908, acrylic on canvas, 11”x 11”, 2011; Suffragette Rally at Hyde Park (1 + 2) 1908, acrylic on canvas, 12″ x 12″ 2011 – Women’s Sunday, Hyde Park, 21 June 1908. This ‘monster meeting’ was organised by the Women’s Social and Political Union with military precision. Trains were specially chartered to bring in thousands of suffragettes from all over Britain. Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, the paper’s co-editor, persuaded the authorities to remove a quarter of a mile of park railings to accommodate the seven processions – accompanied by 30 bands – that gathered in Hyde Park from seven different directions around London. Crowds gathered to watch different groups of suffragettes parade 700 handmade banners and to hear 80 women give speeches from temporary platforms around the park. London Museum
Mrs. Pankhurst and Nellie McClung in Edmonton, 1916 – Emmeline Pankhurst lectured in Canada during the war in 1916 and 1918, drawing capacity audiences; she was an electrifying, dramatic public speaker. In 1916 Pankhurst asked Alberta feminist and writer Nellie McClung to arrange two public appearances in Edmonton. It was there that Pankhurst met Emily Murphy (1868–1933), also known as the author “Janey Canuck.” EUB – Finding Directions West (p. 136)