Watch List notes:

Great Britain. Suffragette "V.C." Memorial Cross for Emily W. Davison. Silver, 30.6mm (not including scroll suspender). V.C.-type cross with lion and crown, FOR VALOUR, scroll pinback suspender above engraved W.S - P.U. Engraved on back: EMILY DAVISON / JUNE 1913. Hallmarks at bottom. Noted English suffragette and socialist firebrand, Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) was arrested on nine separate occasions, went on hunger strike seven times and was force-fed 49 times. A member of the Women's Social & Political Union (W.S.P.U.), she became known in the organization for her militant actions, from stone-throwing and setting fire to post boxes to hiding overnight in Westminster Palace during the 1911 census. On the 4th of June, 1913, bearing two flags in the Suffragette colors, Davison traveled by train to the Derby in Epsom, Surrey. After positioning herself in the infield at Tattenham Corner, she ducked under the guard rail and ran onto the course. She reached for the reins of Anmer, King George the Fifth's horse, ridden by Herbert Jones. Davison was hit immediately by the fast-moving animal and was knocked to the ground unconscious. Both Jones and Davison were taken to the Epsom Cottage Hospital. Jones recovered, but Emily Davison died two days later from a fracture at the base of her skull. The purpose of her actions that day still are unclear. There have been many theories, perhaps the most likely was that she intended to pin a Suffragette banner to a Derby horse. Certainly whatever her exact purpose was it revolved around drawing attention to the fight for women's right to vote. Contemporary newspapers were largely unsympathetic to Davison, the King recorded in his diary that it was "a most regrettable and scandalous proceeding", while Queen Mary described Davison in her journal as a "horrid woman". On the 14th of June, 1913, 50,000 people lined the streets of London to watch as 5,000 Suffragettes and their supporters accompanied Davison's coffin in her funeral organized by the WSPU. The medal is accompanied by a letter from its former owner which says: This medal was left to me by my grandmother who was an active member of the Suffrajet movement in the early part of this century. The medal was to commemorate Emily Wilding Davison who threw herself in front of the king horse at the Derby in 1913. The medal was pinned to her coffin by Mrs. Pankhurst. Extremely rare and possibly unique. In original case. Extremely Fine..

Estimate: $2500 - $3000