Flag, standard

This flag in the purple, white and green colours of the Women's Social & Political Union is associated with the death of Emily Wilding Davison. On 4 June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison attended the Epsom Derby. She stepped onto the racecourse to draw attention to the ongoing fight for the vote. Trampled by Anmer, the King's horse, she sustained severe injuries and died four days later. Although the provenance of this flag is unclear it is likely to have been brought to Emily's hospital bedside by her friend and fellow Suffragette Mary Leigh. This was one of several flags draped at the head and foot of the hospital bed of Emily Wilding Davison by her fellow Suffragettes as she lay unconscious in Epsom Cottage Hospital so ‘she might die under the flag she had served so unselfishly and with such magnificent courage’. On Emily's death Mary retrieved the flag and carried it on the first Aldermaston 'Ban the Bomb' march in 1958.
Similar purple, white and green standards of the WSPU were carried in processions and rallies from 1908. Leading Suffragettes acted as official Standard or Colour bearers, at the head of processions.