Name/TitleHunger Strike Medal: Maud Joachim
About this objectHunger Strike medal in original presentation box, awarded to Maud Joachim by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). The lined interior of the box lid is printed in gilt: 'Presented to MAUD JOACHIM 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.'
Maud was arrested in Dundee on 20th October 1909, along with fellow suffragettes Adela Pankhurst, Helen Archdale, Catherine Corbett and Laura Evans. They had interrupted a meeting led by Winston Churchill the previous day by leading a crowd and shouting “This way! Votes for Women!” Maud was sent to prison, where she was released after a four day hunger strike. She was fed by force while serving another prison sentence in March 1912.
MakerToye & Co
Maker RoleManufacturer
Date Made1909-12
Period1910s
Place MadeEngland, Birmingham
Medium and MaterialsInorganic, silver and enamel
Organic, fabric
Inscription and MarksTop bar obverse, in purple enamel: FOR VALOUR
Top bar reverse, engraved: TOYE. 57 THEOBALDS RD. LONDON
Suspension bar obverse, in white enamel: OCTOBER 19th 1909
Suspension bar reverse, engraved: FED BY FORCE 1/3/12
Disc obverse, in green enamel: HUNGER STRIKE
Disc reverse, engraved: MAUD JOACHIM
MeasurementsH: 67 x W: 40 mm (medal)
W: 102 x D: 60 mm (box)
Subject and Association KeywordsWomen's suffrage
Subject and Association KeywordsSuffragettes
Subject and Association KeywordsPolitical activism
Subject and Association Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_Strike_Medal:
The Hunger Strike Medal was a silver medal awarded between August 1909 and 1914 to suffragette prisoners by the leadership of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). During their imprisonment, they went on hunger strike while serving their sentences in the prisons of the United Kingdom for acts of militancy in their campaign for women's suffrage. Many women were force-fed and their individual medals were created to reflect this. The WSPU awarded a range of military-style campaign medals to raise morale and encourage continued loyalty and commitment to the cause. The Hunger Strike Medals were designed by Sylvia Pankhurst and first presented by leadership of the WSPU at a ceremony in early August 1909 to women who had gone on hunger strike while serving a prison sentence. Later the medals would be presented at a breakfast reception on a woman's release from prison.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Joachim:
Maud Joachim (1 August 1869 – 16 February 1947) was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, one of the groups of suffragettes that fought for women to get the right to vote in the United Kingdom. She was jailed several times for her protests. Joachim was one of the first suffragettes to go on hunger strike when imprisoned, a protest at not being recognised as political prisoners
Object TypeMedal
Object numberGWL-2023-86
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved