Suffragettes capture the Monument

Crowds gathered to witness the capture of the Monument by two suffragettes. Located in the City of London the Monument was built to mark the spot where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. At 10 o'clock on 18 April 1913, the suffragettes Miss Ethel Spark and Mrs Gertrude Shaw climbed the 341 steps to the top of the Monument, distracted the attendants and trapped them in their office.

Emerging onto the balcony the women unfurled the purple, white and green flag of the Women's Social and Political Union and tied a banner reading 'Death or Victory' to the railings. They then released hundreds of propaganda flyers onto the street below.

It took some time before the police broke down the barricade, removing the women and the W.S.P.U. insignia, and freeing the attendants from their office. No charges were brought against the suffragettes responsible for this publicity stunt.