The tragic case of Emily Davison.

Emily Davison was a long time campaigner for the suffragettes. She had been to prison nine time for cases connected to her demands for the vote. Arson was the crime that she had used to gain attention and in June 1913 she had been released under the cat and mouse act to regain her strength.

Emily has been made into a martyr for the suffragette cause and many would not disagree with this label. However, you can see what happened and make up your own mind.

As the King's horse was turning the corner of Tattenham at Epson horse racing course in the Derby of 5 June 1913 a terrible scene was witnessed. A young woman stepped out in front of the horses and was trampled down. A hoof caught her head and instantly killed her.

A Daily Mail photographer catches the moment of Emily's death.

Was she a hero? Did she give up her life for the cause? Well many worked to say just this. However, it was found that in the week up to the race she had been practicing to stop horses as they ran past her so that she could put on a suffragette rosette. Unfortunately, the speed of the horses on the day were greater than imagined by her and the plan to make the King's horse cross the finishing line with the suffragettes colours on went horribly wrong.

As you can see from the Suffragette newspaper - this opportunity was not going to be upset by the facts!