Lot 266
SUFFRAGETTE HUNGER STRIKE MEDAL - ANNA LEWIS
a silver Suffragette medal, 1st bar marked For Valour, 2nd bar dated February 10th 1914, with a purple, silver and green ribbon. The medal marked on one side Hunger Strike and the reverse with the name Anna Lewis, in a named leather case which reads Presented to Anna Lewis, By the Women's social and political union in recognition of a gallant action, whereby through endurance to the last extremity of hunger and hardship, a great principle of political justice was vindicated. Also with 2 silver Portcullis brooches by Toye, London (these were given to those imprisoned at Holloway, and are sometimes seen seperately to the medal), 2 photographs of Anna Lewis and friend Miss De Pass, and a paper cutting about Miss Lewis. Also with various Suffragette ephemera (old and more modern) including Panko Votes for Women playing cards (some missing), various badges, Roll of Honour Suffragette Prisoners 1905-1914, Suffragette ribbon, Royal Doulton figure (HN 2816, Votes for Women), and other items.
*The paper cutting is an article about Miss Lewis after her death, she died at 87 at a nursing home in Worthing. It states that she worked with Mrs Pankhurst and was a leading member of the Women's Social and Political Union. For her activities which included being chained to railings and being subjected to force feeding which left her with a hoarse voice for the rest of her life. She set up a special home to nurse other suffragettes so they could make a full recovery, and she attended the special memorial service for the Suffragettes every year. Her name is listed in the Roll of Honour (as Ann Lewis).
These items were collected by a lady with an interest in the Suffragette movement, and she used them to give lectures to local groups on the subject.
