Political activism Flora Drummond

flora drummond christabel pankhurst, annie kenney, (unknown), emmeline pankhurst, charlotte despard , (unknown), 1906 - 1907

flora drummond joined wspu in 1906. following liberal party election meeting @ free trade hall in manchester christabel pankhurst , annie kenney imprisoned pressing candidate, winston churchill, answer question if elected, best make women s suffrage government measure? . when 2 women released wspu held celebratory rally in manchester flora, had witnessed arrests, attended , persuaded join movement. shortly afterwards flora moved london , end of 1906 had served first term in holloway after being arrested inside house of commons.

flora drummond in generals uniform , wspu sash

flora known daring , headline-grabbing stunts, including in 1906 slipping inside open door of 10 downing street whilst companion irene miller being arrested knocking on door. in 1908 flora hired boat approach palace of westminster river thames harangue members of parliament sitting on riverside terrace.

flora drummond key organiser of trafalgar square rally in october 1908 led three-month term in holloway along christabel , emmeline pankhurst incitement rush house of commons . women had been given option of being bound on keep peace twelve months instead of custodial sentence 3 opted holloway. flora in first trimester of pregnancy when imprisoned , after fainting , being taken hospital wing granted release on grounds of ill-health. drummond leaving prison emmeline pankhurst broke silence rule forbade suffragette prisoners speaking each other , called out glad because able carry on work .

in october 1909 drummond organiser of first militant procession in edinburgh response critical comment wspu leadership in newsletter votes women said beautiful, haughty, dignified, stern edinburgh, cautious steadfast people, have not yet woken take part in our militant methods. theme of march have done , can , , featured women carrying banners , playing bagpipes dressed either in working clothes or female historical scottish figures. tens of thousands turned out on streets of edinburgh watch parade , event considered edinburgh evening dispatch have been success.

in may 1914 drummond , norah dacre fox (later known norah elam) besieged homes of lord carson , lord lansdowne, both prominent ulster unionist mps had been directly inciting militancy in ulster against home rule bill going through parliament. drummond , dacre fox had both been issued summonses appear before magistrates making inciting speeches , encouraging women militancy. response journalists interviewed them thought should take refuge lord carson , lord lansdowne had been making inciting speeches , encouraging militancy in ireland, appeared safe interference authorities doing so. later same day both women appeared before magistrate, sentenced imprisonment , taken holloway commenced hunger , thirst strikes , endured period of force feeding