Shortly before the First World War, a wave of bomb attacks took place in Britain, coordinated and carried out by an organisation determined to restrict the franchise to property-owners
Though I have read this before in your excellent and fascinating book on the subject, I find it just as interesting to be reminded of the fuller and truer story of the suffragettes, particularly for me as Emily Davison is buried beneath a sizeable tombstone and plot in a churchyard in my hometown where her name has been revered at least since I was a child. Thanks for the reminder Simon.
I remember questioning the morality of this organization, with my history teacher, way back in the early fifties and, on a personal level, stating that I would be enclined not to give the vote to such a disruptive, irresponsible and dangerous bunch of individuals. My teacher's response was no more than a wry smile. Still , this is just another modern fable just like some of those being propagated in the gardens of St Paul's Cathedral.
Simon, another fine piece some might say “hitting the nail straight on the head”! This article is another example of you bringing to us your readers evidential information about a subject which I for one never before considered. It makes me uncomfortable to think of ‘The Suffragettes’ as terrorists but they do indeed fit the title of Terrorist and as they say “one man’s Terrorist is another man’s Freedom Fighter” Nelson Mandela springs to mind!
I must look up some old newspapers from the time to get a sense of how novel (or not) bombs were in advancing political causes. Were the Anarchists’ bombs well before those Insufferable Jets?
I'm glad that you liked it! The anarchist bombs were in the 1890s. Greenwich Observatory, for instance, and the first death in a bomb on a London tube train in 1897. Between then and 1912, when the suffragettes began, there were no bombs used in Britain.
Wow, 1897 and a death by bombing on an underground rail line! That really shows that London was the place to be during the Gilded Age for premiere innovations.
You speak truly! The bombing at Aldersgate station has been airbrushed from our collective memory, as it does not really accord with th image we like to preserve of Victorian London!
And now they've named a London overground line, 'The Suffragette Overground Line' after this terrorist organisation.
Who knows, in a couple of decades maybe, given how currently facts are twisted or ignored, they will name one after the IRA or Hamas!
With the present mayor of London, this is a distinct possibility!
Though I have read this before in your excellent and fascinating book on the subject, I find it just as interesting to be reminded of the fuller and truer story of the suffragettes, particularly for me as Emily Davison is buried beneath a sizeable tombstone and plot in a churchyard in my hometown where her name has been revered at least since I was a child. Thanks for the reminder Simon.
I hope that you enjoyed the book! It is a part of history which seems to have vanished completely.
I did Indeed Simon. It was a revelation and gave me more than one or two wry smiles.
I remember questioning the morality of this organization, with my history teacher, way back in the early fifties and, on a personal level, stating that I would be enclined not to give the vote to such a disruptive, irresponsible and dangerous bunch of individuals. My teacher's response was no more than a wry smile. Still , this is just another modern fable just like some of those being propagated in the gardens of St Paul's Cathedral.
We all love a myth like this and you are right, there are some excellent modern ways in the process of being created!
Thank you very much, Simon, for this detailed and well-researched piece.
I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed it, or so I take your comment!
Simon, another fine piece some might say “hitting the nail straight on the head”! This article is another example of you bringing to us your readers evidential information about a subject which I for one never before considered. It makes me uncomfortable to think of ‘The Suffragettes’ as terrorists but they do indeed fit the title of Terrorist and as they say “one man’s Terrorist is another man’s Freedom Fighter” Nelson Mandela springs to mind!
I'm glad that you like this piece. It is interesting to see how history can be twisted, so that we end up preferring a myth to the reality!
Yes very interesting indeed this seems to me how ‘Fairytales’ begin!
You speak truly!
I must research what the Suffragists were campaigning for. They have been lost to history.
They have been mythologised so much, that their true nature is very difficult to discern after 110 years!
Thank you for the info. I am interested in history and these are facts I didn't know
I'm pleased that you liked the piece.
Why isn't the bard uploading any videos on YouTube 🤔
A week's suspension by YouTube is the short answer to that!
Mary Poppins should have been re categorised as an X film, for glorifying terrorists, not as a PG for mentioning Hotentots
Yes, perhaps with Michael Gove's new definition of extremism, it will end up falling foul of the law!
I must look up some old newspapers from the time to get a sense of how novel (or not) bombs were in advancing political causes. Were the Anarchists’ bombs well before those Insufferable Jets?
Thanks again Simon for a timely essay.
I'm glad that you liked it! The anarchist bombs were in the 1890s. Greenwich Observatory, for instance, and the first death in a bomb on a London tube train in 1897. Between then and 1912, when the suffragettes began, there were no bombs used in Britain.
Wow, 1897 and a death by bombing on an underground rail line! That really shows that London was the place to be during the Gilded Age for premiere innovations.
You speak truly! The bombing at Aldersgate station has been airbrushed from our collective memory, as it does not really accord with th image we like to preserve of Victorian London!
https://www.thomaswhodgkinson.com/features/the-unluckiest-tube-stop/
Has Simon Webb been banned on YouTube? There's been no updates on History Debunked for 5 days.
i shall be back on Monday morning, after a little friction with YouTube!