Photograph, surveillance image

The Home Office commissioned the undercover photography of militant suffragettes from 1913. These photos were used to identify women attempting to enter public buildings such as museums and art galleries. In October 1913 Mary Phillips, using the alias 'Margaret Paterson' was one of 9 women and 2 men arrested during scuffles with the police as they attempted to re-arrest Annie Kenney while delivering a speech at the London Pavilion. For attempting to prevent the re-arrest Phillips received a sentence of 20 days in Holloway prison. In February 1914 Phillips was found guilty of obstruction during a scuffle with police that followed the re-arrest of Sylvia Pankhurst as she attempted to join members of the East London Federation of Suffragettes at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square. Incensed by Sylvia's re-arrest Phillips held aloft a flag and led a group of Suffragettes from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall where they clashed with mounted police. Sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment or a fine of 40 shillings her fine was paid anonymously and she was discharged. This image of Mary is likely to have been taken in October 1913.
Mary Phillips was one of the longest serving members of the Women's Social & Political Union having opened the Glasgow branch of the WSPU in 1907. Between 1908 and 1913 Mary worked as a salaried Organiser for the WSPU based primarily in the north of England and Plymouth but also travelled widely in her role as Organiser. Mary was first arrested in March1908 following a demonstration outside Parliament for which she received a 6 week prison sentence in Holloway. In June 1908 she received a three month sentence for her part in the 'rush on Parliament'. In total she served 4 prison sentences enduring hunger strike & force-feeding. But on 9 July 1913 she was sacked by Christabel Pankhurst who wrote to her 'you are not effective as a district organiser'. Following her dismissal from the WSPU, Mary joined Sylvia Pankhurst's East London Federation of the Suffragettes working under the alias Mary Paterson until 1915.