WSPU hunger strike medal
1912 - British and Australian women who were members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU, 1903–18) in Britain took extreme actions to advance the cause of women’s suffrage.
This rare WSPU medal, bearing the colours of the suffragettes, was awarded to Englishwoman Charlotte Blacklock. After she was arrested for violent protest, Blacklock went on a hunger strike and endured brutal force-feeding while in jail. Her medal is inscribed ‘For Valour’, words taken from the Victoria Cross, the highest British military award.
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