Funeral of Emily Wilding Davison

The funeral of Emily Wilding Davison, 14 June 1913. The image depicts one of the banners carriers in the procession bearing the defiant message 'Fight on & God will give the Victory' This banner in purple fabric preceded the long sections of London members of the Women's Social and Political Union. Ahead of the banner are Suffragettes carrying laurel wreaths. Suffragettes taking part in the procession were required to wear either white, purple, scarlet or black according to their role and position in the procession. As white succeeded purple and scarlet black the the resulting spectacular effect resembled, as noted the Manchester Guardian, 'the long unfurling of a military banner'.

On 4th June 1913 the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison ran onto the Derby race course in an attempt to stop the King's horse. Seriously injured, she never regained consciousness, and died four days later. Emily's spectacular funeral procession through London organised by the suffragette leaders was intended to accord Emily the status of martyr. A delegation of Suffragettes met the coffin at Victoria Station on its arrival from Epsom and accompanied it to Buckingham Palace Road, the starting point of the procession that included members of the Women's Social and Political Union and a number of other suffrage socieites . Travelling slowly through central London from 2pm the procession ended at St George's Church, Bloosmbury for a memorial service at 4pm. After the service the coffin was transported to King's Cross station and on by train to the Davison family home of Morpeth, Northumberland for a private funeral.