Emily Davison and The Kings Horse

Emily Wilding Davison

(11th October 1872 - 8th June 1913)



http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/jun/04/emily-davison-deeds-not-words

Emily Davison was a suffragette, an 'intelligent woman who had funded herself through first class honours degrees at Oxford and London' universities.

(Ellis, C. 2013, P.90).

Emily Davison joined WSPU in 1906 and participated in their tactics to disrupt the government. Emily Davison was arrested nine times and force fed a total of 49 times. (Brown, 2013, p.107).

On the night of 1911 Census she hid in a cupboard in the House of Commons forcing this to be registered as her home address. She is listed twice on the 1911 Census - once at home and once with her address as “Found Hiding in Crypt of Westminster Hall Westminster”(Ancestry.com, 2011).

 A  plaque was later set in place in Westminster in 1999 to commemorate the event.     
(Ancestry.com, 2011)

1911 Census

http://www.landgirl1980.co.uk/2011/03/my-local-heritage-emily-wilding-davison.html

http://ancestry-stickynotes-au.tumblr.com/post/58969349662/emily-wilding-davison-hiding-on-census-night

The Epsom Derby.

On the 4th June 1913 at the Epsom Derby Emily Davison stepped in front of Amner the horse of King George V (Brown, 2013, p.110). Instantly knocked down 'she died from her injury's four days later' (Smith, 2005, p.42) on the 8th June 1913.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/22596311

The intentions of Emily Davison on this fateful day will never be truly known. Some considered she intended to become a martyr to the suffragette cause by committing suicide. However, the majority of people believed this was a tragic accident, as her death was recorded as such with a verdict of misadventure. (Brown, 2013, p.111).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-22703704

Emily Davison did not leave a suicide note to her mother Margaret and in her belongings there was a 'return rail ticket' (Ellis, C. 2013, p.90).This would lend itself to the idea that this was not suicide. This does not, however, prove whether this event was planned or an act of impulsion.

It is widely believed that she was trying to pin a suffragette flag to the king's horse so that once it crossed the finish line it would be photographed displaying the suffragettes colours (Brown, 2013).

Emily Davison's funeral procession lined the streets of London, was escorted by hundreds of grieving suffragettes 'this has become an iconic image of the early twentieth century' (Smith, 2005, p.42).

Like all the previous acts of the suffragettes the opinion surrounding Emily Davison's actions left people divided. Her death shocked many, but she was also 'sent hate mail as she lay unconscious in hospital' (Ellis, C. 2013, p.90) Here is video footage from that fateful day, what is your opinion?. 

                 
                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH_r6-JpO9Q

Given the evidence that Emily Davison had not shared her plan with any of her fellow suffragettes I believe it was possibly a spur of the moment act. The evidence that called for her inquest to record a verdict of misadventure appears to rule out suicide. I cannot think that somebody like Emily Davison who had played such an important part in the campaign would wish to leave it so dramatically, especially without leaving a note to this effect. I can only imagine the frustration of these suffragettes, always looking for the next available opportunity to raise awareness, maybe Emily Davison thought this was her opportunity.