The Funeral Procession of Emily Wilding Davison, 14 June 1913

The Funeral procession of Emily Wilding Davison, 14 June 1913. On 4th June 1913 the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison ran onto the Derby race course in an attempt to stop the King's horse. Seriously injured, she never regained consciousness, and died four days later. Emily's spectacular funeral procession through the streets of London organised by the suffragette leaders was intended to raise Emily to the status of martyr. This image shows Emily's coffin being taken into St George's Church in Bloomsbury where a memorial service was held. The coffin was subsequently transported to King's Cross station and on by train to the Davison family home of Morpeth, Northumberland for a family funeral. Suffragettes taking part in the procession were required to wear either white, purple, scarlet or black according to their role and position in the procession. As white succeeded purple and scarlet black the the resulting spectacular effect resembled, as noted the Manchester Guardian, 'the long unfurling of a military banner'.

It is possible that St George’s, Bloomsbury was the only church that would hold a service for Emily because of the suspicion (in spite of the coroner’s verdict of misadventure) that Emily committed suicide.
It is also possible that Emily had connections to Reverend Baumgarten of St George's. She attended Kensington High School for Girls at the same time as two misses Baumgarten who were most likely related to the Reverend.