Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Women’s Social and Political Union Hunger Strike Medal, obverse inscribed, ‘Hunger Strike’, the reverse, ‘Caroline Lowder Downing’, silver, 22mm., hallmarks for Birmingham 1912, the reverse of the enamelled suspension bar inscribed, ‘Fed by Force 1/3/12’, and the obverse of the plain silver brooch-bar ‘For Valour’ (and its reverse ‘Toye, 57 Theobalds Rd., London’), original riband, in case of issue, the inside of the lid inscribed in gold lettering, ‘Presented to Caroline Lowder Downing by the Women’s Social and Political Union in recognition of a gallant action, whereby through endurance to the last extremity of hunger and hardship, a great principle of political justice was vindicated’; together with Women’s Social and Political Union Imprisonment Badge, silver portcullis with chains attached and applied broad arrow enamelled in the Union’s colours, the reverse with maker’s mark Toye & Co.. London, and stamped ‘Silver’, fitted with original brooch pin, good very fine (2) £3000-3500

Caroline Lowder Downing joined the Chelsea branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (W.S.P.U.) in 1908, in company with her sister, Edith Elizabeth Downing, a sculptor - the latter became a prominent member of the Suffragette movement and raised funds by selling examples of her work, in addition to designing and organising a number of prominent processions (see Elizabeth Crawford’s The Women’s Suffrage Movement - A Reference Guide 1866-1928 for further details).

Both Caroline and Edith participated in the W.S.P.U’s more militant actions, some of the former’s appearances in Court being described in assorted editions of Votes For Women, 1911-12:

‘Tuesday November 28, 1911: Miss Caroline Downing was charged with trying to break through the police cordon at Palace Yard. She said that it was a purely political action, in face of Mr. Asquith’s broken pledge and the insult he put upon women by bringing in a Manhood Suffrage Bill in response to women’s demand. She said next time she would do worse. Magistrate: “I hope not.” (Fined 10s., or 7 days)’.

‘Thursday March 7: On Thursday afternoon Miss Caroline Downing was recalled and charged with breaking windows value £50 at 221, Regent Street. She said it was part of a political protest for a purely political motive for gaining votes for women; this violence was as repellant to them as to the Government, but they were compelled to take these methods. As soon as the vote was granted this violence would cease automatically. She was committed to take her trial on the 20th, refusing bail.’

In another edition of Votes For Women (July 5, 1912), under the heading ‘Forcible Feeding - A Danger And An Outrage’, Caroline Downing entered the debate with the following statement:

‘I should like definitely to deny the statement that has been made in the House of Commons and elsewhere that forcible feeding by tube is only painful when the victim struggles. Mrs. Bowen, with whom I was in constant companionship during the whole of the time (both hunger strikes), suffered greatly both from the pain in the nostrils and throat and in the stomach, though she was quite passive. Miss Farmer, another passive victim (splendidly brave), also suffered a very great deal. The underground cells are dreadfully cold and damp, so cold that I have scarcely ever been really warm all these months. I have worn winter things and furs and shawl up to Saturday, and till the last ten days have had broken chilblains on my hands. Mrs. Bowen and I could not sleep from cold and aching limbs and back. Water spilt on the stone floor did not dry for hours, though wiped up. Mildew is on the walls of my cell. To sleep on a plank bed four inches from such a floor is to court disease. For the last sixteen days we were given proper bedsteads in response to our complaints.’

Sold with an original edition of Votes For Women (August 20, 1909), and two editions of The Common Cause, The Organ of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage (September 14 and October 19, 1911).