Suffragists Pilgrimage - Triumphant Conclusion
1913
written by Wendy Kolbe
The headline, on the newspaper advertisement in the image, sums up the story of the Suffragist’s Pilgrimage to London in 1913. It was an event which brought together women from 400 societies, with over 45,000 members, from all over England. For many, taking part meant an arduous five week march. Their objective was to gain popular support for Women’s Suffrage, by ‘bringing the message of hope and determination’
Additional Information
Photo in Focus read aloud by Wendy Kolbe
Mr. Asquith PM, who was outspokenly opposed to women having the vote was, however, ‘not swayed’ by the women’s efforts. Many minds and hearts both in and out of Parliament had been won over by the strength of feeling and determination demonstrated by the march.
It was to be another 5 years, a period of militant action and the cessation of the movement for the duration of World War 1(when hundreds of thousands of women worked for the war effort) until many women, but only those over 30 years of age, who met certain property qualifications, won the right to vote. Up to a third remained without the vote. It was not until 1928 that all women over 21 were given the vote.
For a short precise on voting see link below.