Medal given to hunger-striking suffragette up for sale for £8,000 

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Nellie Godfrey was given a medal of valour by the Women’s Social and Political Union after going on hunger strike in jail after refusing to pay a fine for throwing a piece of iron at Winston Churchill’s car

A prestigious medal awarded to a suffragette who was locked up after throwing a missile at Winston Churchill’s car has emerged for sale for £8,000.

Nellie Godfrey lobbed the iron projectile at Churchill’s car after breaking through police barricades during an election rally in Bolton in 1909.

Churchill emerged unscathed but Nellie was arrested on the spot for her dramatic protest during the campaign to give women the right to vote.

The following day she appeared at Bolton Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the offence.

She was fined 40 shillings (£160 in today’s money) but refused to pay so she was sent to prison where she started a hunger strike.

When her condition began to deteriorate, she was released to stop her becoming a ‘political martyr’.

Nellie was presented with a Hunger Strike medal of valour by the Women’s Social and Political Union for furthering their cause.

It is stored in a case with the inscription: ‘Presented to Nellie Godfrey by the Women’s Social & 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.’

After holding onto it for four decades, Nellie (right) passed it on to Sandra Lamberti, her adopted Spanish granddaughter who had moved in next door to her after fleeing fascist Franco regime in the 1930s

After holding onto it for four decades, Nellie (right) passed it on to Sandra Lamberti, her adopted Spanish granddaughter who had moved in next door to her after fleeing fascist Franco regime in the 1930s

Following her death in the late 1950s, her medal was bequeathed to a Spanish women named Sandra Lamberti.

Nellie had befriended her family when they moved to Britain as political refugees from the fascist Franco regime in the 1930s.

They lived next door to each other in Muswell Hill, North London, and Nellie became her adopted grandmother.

Nellie was presented with a Hunger Strike medal of valour by the Women's Social and Political Union for furthering their cause

Nellie was presented with a Hunger Strike medal of valour by the Women’s Social and Political Union for furthering their cause

The suffragette movement started using more militant tactics in the early 1900s to attract the public's attention. Pictured: Protestor Emily Davison died when she ran in front of the King's horse

The suffragette movement started using more militant tactics in the early 1900s to attract the public’s attention. Pictured: Protestor Emily Davison died when she ran in front of the King’s horse  

Mrs Lamberti died a few years ago and her family is now selling the medal to raise funds for the Fawcett Society, who campaign for gender equality.

It is going under the hammer with London-based auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, associate director of Dix Noonan Webb, said: ‘We are very pleased to be offering her Suffragette medal which reflects the courage shown by Nellie Godfrey in her endeavour to support the campaign for women’s right to vote.

What was Churchill’s position on the suffragette movement 

Churchill’s view on suffragettes has remained somewhat muddled as a result of what is said to be a misleading quote.

As a Liberal in the early 1900s, he was not philosophically hostile to the idea and voted in favour it measures in 1904.

But as Home Secretary in 1910, his view appeared to change as the movement became more militant, with protestors breaking up his speeches and one attacking him with a whip in Bristol.

He is also said to have opposed changes for ‘tactical reasons’, unlike PM Herbert Asquith who opposed the principle of the right to vote. 

In 1912 he told Lord Riddell ‘we have enough ignorant voters and don’t want any more’, and opposed extending the franchise to women aged 21-30 in 1920 for fear it would increase the Labour vote.

Churchill’s support for women’s votes did increase after he observed the crucial role women had played in the First World War.

And as women manned the home front in the Second World War, Churchill wrote to the Secretary of State for War, of the ‘immense importance of having a large number of women in AA Batteries’. 

When he lost the 1945 election, it was found that the Labour margin was 19% among males but just 2% among females.

‘Papa supported votes for women,’ said his daughter Mary, ‘when he realized how many women would vote for him.’

When in 1960 Churchill College, Cambridge, was founded as Winston’s national memorial, his friend John Colville recalled that Churchill himself told the trustees that he hoped the college would admit women on equal terms with men after their efforts in the world war.

Women first first admitted in 1972, one of only three colleges to do so. 

‘Not a lot is known about her – she lived in a flat in Muswell Hill, North London next door to Sandra Lamberti (nee Andres) who had arrived here from Spain with her Gilbraltan mother and Spanish father who was political refugee from Franco Spain.

‘Miss Godfrey befriended the family and helped teach Sandra to speak perfect English and became her adoptive grandmother.

‘The medal was left to Sandra and her family when Nellie passed away in the late 1950s.

‘Sandra passed away a few years ago hence the family are selling it to aid the Fawcett Society – a campaign for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life to acknowledge Nellie’s life and values.’

Nellie was first arrested in July 1909 for protesting and appeared before Bow Street Magistrates.

On December 7, 1909, Churchill, who was then MP for Dundee and President of the Board of Trade, stopped off in Bolton during a tour of Lancashire ahead of the 1910 General Election.

Trouble was expected so police erected strong barricades along the route.

However, Nellie managed to break through a timber barricade and threw a piece of iron at Churchill’s car.

It was wrapped in paper bearing the message ‘thrown by a woman of England as a protest against the Government’s treatment of political prisoners’.

The suffragette movement was founded in 1903 and many campaigners were imprisoned before they were released to help with the First World War effort, which they did with distinction.

In November 1918, months after the conflict ended, women over the age of 30, who met a property qualification, were given the right to vote.

However, it would be another 10 years before this right was extended to all women over the age of 21 under the Equality of the Representation of the People Act.

Felicia Willow, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: ‘The Fawcett Society is honoured to be receiving the funds raised by the sale of Nellie Godfrey’s suffragette medal.

‘These precious items remind us of the dedication and bravery of the many women who fought for the vote, and the significant challenges they overcame along the way.

‘We are deeply grateful for this generous donation and hope Nellie would be proud of our work to continue fighting for equality and women’s rights.’

The sale takes place on January 13.