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Suffragettes capture The Monument, London
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Suffragettes capture The Monument, London
Crowds gathered to witness the capture of the Monument by two suffragettes, Miss Ethel Spark and Mrs Gertrude Shaw - 18th April, 1913. The two Suffragettes managed to slip unnoticed into the Monument, trap the attendants in their office and climb the 311 steps to the top of the column, whereupon they unfurled a purple, white and green flag of the Womens Social and Political Union and tied a banner reading Death or Victory to the railings. They then released hundreds of propaganda flyers onto the street below. Examination of the individuals making up the crowd show them to be primarily working men including a number of Billingsgate Market fish porters (identified by their tarred leather hats). Date: 1913
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Media ID 18074350
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Action Apr18 Crowds Demo Demonstration Ethel Gertrude Onlookers Policeman Shaw Spark Struggle Suffragette Suffragettes Support Miss
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph documents a pivotal moment in the British suffragette movement on the 18th of April, 1913. Two courageous suffragettes, Miss Ethel Spark and Mrs Gertrude Shaw, are seen in the image making their way to the top of The Monument in London, having successfully bypassed the attendants and climbed its 311 steps. At the summit, they unfurled a purple, white, and green flag of the Women's Social and Political Union and attached a banner bearing the defiant message "Death or Victory" to the railings. The image is filled with an intriguing mix of anticipation and excitement as the large crowd gathered below, primarily composed of working men, including several Billingsgate Market fish porters, eagerly watched the unfolding scene. The presence of these men, identified by their tarred leather hats, suggests that the suffragettes had garnered significant support from the working class during their struggle for women's suffrage. A solitary policeman stands nearby, seemingly outnumbered and outmaneuvered by the determined activists. The atmosphere is electric, with the tension between the suffragettes and the authorities palpable. The date of this event, 1913, marks an essential chapter in the suffragette movement, which would ultimately lead to women's right to vote in the United Kingdom. This photograph offers a glimpse into the raw emotion and intensity of the suffragette movement, capturing the spirit of resistance and determination that defined the era. The image is an invaluable historical record, providing insight into the courage and resilience of the suffragettes and the support they received from the public during their relentless pursuit of women's suffrage.
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