Focus of protest

Last week we mentioned a new book, Dundee’s Suffragettes by Dr Norman Watson. The Women’s Social and Political Union, formed by Emmeline Pankhurst and her fiery daughter Christabel, became the militant wing of the votes for women campaign.

In one week in 1913, Dundee’s suffragettes burned down Perthshire County Cricket Club pavilion, planted a bomb outside a Bank Street billiard hall, vandalised a brand-new car at Tay Bridge station, poured ink into post boxes and caused a riot in Perth.

According to Norman, the efforts of the suffragettes in Scotland have gone largely unrecognised.

“Whilst the tactics of militant women in London are fairly well documented, the history books tend to ignore Scotland and the role played by provincial towns and cities in the fight for the vote,” he said.

Dundee’s role was more prominent and pivotal. “A Liberal stronghold and the focus of national protest, the first large-scale demonstration occurred in Dundee, the first act of militancy in Scotland, its first imprisonments and its first hunger strikes.

“And though there was no official leader of the Scottish movement, its figurehead and heroine was the Dundee militant Ethel Moorhead. Moreover, some of the UK’s largest demonstrations, most destructive acts and violent confrontations took place in Dundee – and nowhere else witnessed Winston Churchill being chased through the streets by women!

“Dundee can lay claim to the notorious suffragette Ethel Moorhead, a talented painter trained by Whistler. Moorhead was a figurehead for the Scottish militants whose attempt to steal the Wallace sword at Stirling and acts such as throwing pepper in the eyes of a policeman, smashing up Dundee police station and being the first person to be force fed in Scotland, brought her more fame than her paintings ever would.

“By her side fighting the good fight was May Grant, the missionary daughter of the St Mark’s Church minister. “May Grant took being ejected from meetings to a new art form,” added Norman. “At Perth City Hall eight men had to carry her out.

As well as highlighting Dundee’s contribution to the cause, the new book marks this year’s centenary of women gaining the vote, says Norman.

“I think anniversaries of suffrage events and movements help us to refocus and ask ourselves what is the importance of a democracy? Why do we need to vote? And these women, I think, when you see what they went through, help people to remember.”