YESTERYEAR reader Ron Howland has been reading the recent articles in this feature about the Suffragettes and their terrorist activities a century ago this year to draw attention to how women were refused a vote.
He writes: "I thought your readers may be interested in this picture of the Church Lads' Brigade guarding St Mary's Church, Reigate, against the threat of the Suffragettes to burn the church down.
"My grandfather, Percy Mills, is in the picture (second left) as a bugle boy. The Church Lads Brigade wore khaki then, but changed to navy blue in the mid 1920s.
"My grandfather gave many years [of service] to the Church Lads' Brigade, achieving the status of bugle major. He also went on to teach the Army Cadets locally. He has taught a great many local lads to play the bugle."
It is 100 years ago, in June 1913, amid the carnival spirit of Derby Day and in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary on Epsom Downs, a militant suffragette named Emily Wilding Davison sacrificed her life for the cause of women's rights.
The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure, but was it an intentional sacrifice?
People visiting a special display being staged at Bourne Hall Museum will be able to weigh up the evidence for themselves at the exhibition – Dying for the Vote.
From now until July 27, the museum, in Spring Street, Ewell, will be commemorating the death of Emily Davison (1872-1913), and the cause for which she died, with a pivotal exhibition organised by guest curator Irene Cockroft.
Visitors are welcome between 9am and 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday and there is a coffee shop within the hall. There is free entry to the exhibition.
For further details, call 0208 394 1734.
At the time of these Suffragette activities, Prime Minister, Lloyd George's rented home at Walton on the Hill was bombed and another explosive device was found in toilets at Oxted railway station.
