WSPU hunger strike medal

From 1909, the militant suffragette group, the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), began to award medals to women who served prison terms for actions carried out in the cause of women’s suffrage. This particular medal was awarded to Charlotte Blacklock who lived in Chelsea, London. She was an active suffragette and member of the WSPU. By 1912 Charlotte had moved from being a non-violent supporter of the WSPU to taking part in a window smashing raid. She was sentenced to four months prison for her part in the raid, which she served at Winson Green Prison in Birmingham. There she went on hunger strike and was forcibly fed. The date of her arrest, 1 March 1912, is inscribed on her medal, together with her name.