The Suffragette Drum & Fife Band

The Suffragette Drum & Fife Band, Saturday 15th May. This image by Christina Broom depicts the Band making its first ever appearance in a procession to promote the Women’s Exhibition.
The band composed of 29 members was led by Mary Leigh who acted as Drum-Major. In the weeks leading up to their first performance the volunteers had undertaken training in drill and physical exercise under the direction of military non-commissioned officers. The band were at the head of the procession behind the banner bearer that set off from Kingsway and made its way to the Prince’s Skating Rink in Knightsbridge through the Saturday West End crowds via Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Knighstsbridge. After parading around the stalls in the Exhibition the band made its way back to Kingsway. The novelty of an all -female band dressed in a purple, white and green military style uniform drew vast crowds and much press attention. The creation of the band was intended to remove the Suffragette's total dependence on male bands to front processions, a fact not lost on the News of the World who reported ‘By this latest enterprise the Suffragists have got rid of the last vestige of ‘mere man’ at their demonstrations’ and then made its way back to Kingsway after stopping off at the exhibition.
After its first appearance the band paraded around the streets of central London every evening until the end of the exhibition 26th May. On each occasion they went out accompanied by volunteers selling the Votes for Women newspaper.