Jenny Godfrey has written two books about Kent Suffragettes on which her talk was based and she is currently writing a third. In his welcoming introduction to Jenny, branch chairman David held up a copy of her first book on which a lady was pictured. David said that the lady is my distant cousin Ethel. Jenny told us later in her talk that the lady was named Ethel Violet Baldock and she had not originally planned to feature her in the book but Jenny’s research discovered so much of interest about Ethel that she couldn’t leave her out.
Jenny started her talk by reminding us of the history of Women’s Suffrage in England from the mid 19thcentury. During her talk she showed many photographs of the Kent ladies and gave a brief account about some of their efforts in the cause of votes for women. She talked about the Women’s Freedom League who travelled about the county in 1908 in a van which enabled them to reach far-flung villages. They camped in fields belonging to sympathisers although in other places they were met by opposition and assaulted.
It should be remembered that not all adults had the right to vote in the 19th century including some men. The first group to campaign for the right to vote from about the 1860s were called Suffragists. They made peaceful and lawful protests. Jenny told us about two Suffragists in particular, Helen Taylor who petitioned mainly by letter, especially to those who might be able to influence the decision makers, and Barbara Bodichon, from Tenterden who collected thousands of signatures from the general population for petitions in support of the movement.
The more militant Suffragettes started their less than peaceful protests around 1908 and were far from law abiding. Their activities were made known both in their own newspapers as well as the national press. Many will know the name Emmeline Pankhurst, who founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and her daughters. Also Emily Davidson, who infamously jumped in front of the King’s horse during the Derby held at Epsom Downs.
The women were extremely well organised and easily outwitted the authorities. One of their militant activities included a mass window breaking campaign on the same day. The women were told to wait by the window as the object was to get arrested. This was so they could swamp the court and prisons. Once in prison many went on hunger strike, which was encouraged by the WSPU but was not obligatory. Force feeding was introduced in prisons but the methods were so horrific that serious damage was caused to the health of the women who endured it. The so called ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ was introduced in response to fears that they would become seriously ill and die [some did]. The prison authorities let the women out of prison temporarily. But as soon as they could they returned to breaking windows and were rearrested and returned to prison. Those that endured a hunger strike and force feeding received a medal from the WSPU.
A Special branch of the Police was set up specifically to monitor Suffragettes. On arrest photograph would be taken and circulated to places such as Museums who were advised not to allow these women entry in case they became a target of destruction.
Suffragettes were masters of disguise many of their number being actresses they held classes to teach others the art and that of voice projection. Jenny told of a woman who disguised herself as an errand boy and walked past the police waiting to apprehend her. Also, that Emmeline Pankhurst could address large crowds and heard by all. They used alias names which Jenny said had not helped in her research for specific women. They also arranged Jujutsu lessons so they could defend themselves during arrest.
In 1913 the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) convinced the various groups that they had to be law abiding. A mass Pilgrimage was made to London with thousands of people across the country joining in. From wherever they started out they all had to arrive in London at the same time. Jenny showed us maps of the routes across the country and said in Kent there were several routes which joined two major ones from Canterbury via the North Kent coast and via Ashford through the Weald.
At the onset of WWI in 1914 the Suffragettes ceased their activities and women put their efforts into war work. At the end of the war, the Representation of the People Act 1918, gave all men over 21 [property owner or not] the right to vote. Also Women over 30 [with some provisos] were allowed to vote for the first time.
Report by Tricia Baxter