This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31988534
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Helen MacRae Suffragette gallantry medal auctioned | Helen MacRae Suffragette gallantry medal auctioned |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A medal awarded to recognise the bravery of a suffragette who served a jail term and went on hunger strike has sold for £12,300. | A medal awarded to recognise the bravery of a suffragette who served a jail term and went on hunger strike has sold for £12,300. |
| Helen MacRae's Suffragette gallantry medal went under the hammer in Suffolk, with a £6,000 starting price. | Helen MacRae's Suffragette gallantry medal went under the hammer in Suffolk, with a £6,000 starting price. |
| Lockdales Auctioneers, of Martlesham, said the medal was "incredibly rare". | Lockdales Auctioneers, of Martlesham, said the medal was "incredibly rare". |
| Ms MacRae, from Edenbridge, Kent, helped to organise the first Women's Social and Political Union meeting in East Grinstead, West Sussex, in 1911. | Ms MacRae, from Edenbridge, Kent, helped to organise the first Women's Social and Political Union meeting in East Grinstead, West Sussex, in 1911. |
| She smashed windows in Whitehall in 1910 and was imprisoned for four months. | She smashed windows in Whitehall in 1910 and was imprisoned for four months. |
| During a second four-month jail term, she went on hunger strike and had to be force fed. | During a second four-month jail term, she went on hunger strike and had to be force fed. |
| The front of her medal is inscribed "For Valour" and the reverse reads "Fed by Force 1/3/12". | The front of her medal is inscribed "For Valour" and the reverse reads "Fed by Force 1/3/12". |
| Auction manager James Sadler said before the sale: "This is an incredibly rare medal. I've never seen one before." | Auction manager James Sadler said before the sale: "This is an incredibly rare medal. I've never seen one before." |
| Later, he said the medal went for £12,300 including buyer's premium to a phone bidder - described as a female professional who is a collector of Suffragette memorabilia. | Later, he said the medal went for £12,300 including buyer's premium to a phone bidder - described as a female professional who is a collector of Suffragette memorabilia. |
| A collection of postcards that belonged to Ms MacRae was also being auctioned on Sunday. | |
| They include images of suffragettes in a horse-drawn carriage, a Women's Suffrage Mobile Caravan with suffragette Muriel Matters, and one of Emily Davison who was killed at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey in June 1913. | They include images of suffragettes in a horse-drawn carriage, a Women's Suffrage Mobile Caravan with suffragette Muriel Matters, and one of Emily Davison who was killed at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey in June 1913. |