THE WOMEN’S FREEDOM LEAGUE – Battersea, Chelsea, Hendon

In 1907 some leading members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) began to question the leadership of Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst. These women objected to the way that the Pankhursts were making decisions without consulting members. They also felt that a small group of wealthy women like Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence were having too much influence over the organisation. In the autumn of 1907, Teresa Billington-Greig, Elizabeth How-Martyn, Dora Marsden, Helena Normanton, Margaret Nevinson and Charlotte Despard and seventy other members of the WSPU left to form the Women's Freedom League(WFL).

Like the WSPU, the Women's Freedom League was a militant organisation that was willing the break the law. As a result, over 100 of their members were sent to prison after being arrested on demonstrations or refusing to pay taxes. However,the WFL was a completely non-violent organisation and opposed the WSPU campaign of vandalism against private and commercial property. The WFL were especially critical of the WSPU arson campaign.

The Women's Freedom League grew rapidly, and soon had sixty branches throughout Britain with an overall membership of about 4,000 people. The WFL also established its own newspaper, The Vote. Teresa Billington-Greig and Charlotte Despard were both talented writers and were the main people responsible for producing the newspaper. The Vote was used to inform the public of WFL campaigns such as the refusal to pay taxes and to fill in the 1911 Census forms. Another contributor was one of Britain's leading writers, Cicely Hamilton.

Most members of the Women's Freedom League were pacifists, and so when the First World War was declared in 1914 they refused to become involved in the British Army's recruitment campaign. The WFL also disagreed with the decision of the NUWSS and WSPU to call off the women's suffrage campaign while the war was on. Leaders of the WFL such as Charlotte Despard believed that the British government did not do enough to bring an end to the war and between 1914-1918 supported the campaign of the Women's Peace Crusade for a negotiated peace.

Three members of the Women's Freedom League stood in the 1918 General Election. Charlotte Despard (Battersea), Elizabeth How-Martyn (Hendon) and Emily Phipps (Chelsea) all argued that women should have the vote on equal terms with men; that all trades and professions be opened to women on equal terms and for equal pay and that women should be allowed to serve on all juries. However, in the euphoria of Britain's victory, the women's anti-war views were very unpopular and like all the other pacifist candidates, who stood in the election, they were defeated.

Lloyd George became Prime Minister in December 1916 and the government introduced more restrictions. There were increased shortages of coal, sugar, potatoes and margarine, and in 1918 rationing was introduced in the Home Counties. School children were kept at home to care for younger brother and sisters while their mothers queued for food.

From February 1915 London came under attack from the air. Attacks were made by Zeppelin and aircraft, and after a short period of sightseeing most Londoners resorted to shelters. Public buildings were made available for shelter and a blackout was enforced. Children were kept in school during daylight raids and parents were ensured special precautions had been taken for their safety – most sat the children away from the windows and sang songs until the raid had passed.

The end of the conflict was signalled by the Woolwich maroons at 11 a.m. on 11th November 1918. In a moment streets were alive with people dancing and waving flags. Work ceased and people streamed out of offices and workshops, laughing, talking some weeping for joy unable to believe that it was over.

On 11th January 1918 the Representation of the People Act gave the vote to all women over 30, who were householders, wives of householders or occupiers of land over a certain value, and university graduates. For Christabel and Emmeline this was enough. It was not until 14th June 1928 that equal voting rights for men and women were achieved.