An important piece of Suffragette history, a hunger strike medal, so appropriate to come to us in the centenary year of women being given the right to vote in the U.K. The medal, in its original case, was awarded to militant Suffragette Anna Lewis. It is engraved ‘Hunger Strike’ to obverse and ‘Anna Lewis’ to reverse, mounted on its original green, white and purple ribbon, with silver bars engraved  : ‘For Valour’ and the date, February 10th 1914. The medal measures 3 and 1/8 inches by 1 and 1/3 inches. Its original presentation case is inscribed : Presented to Anna Lewis by the Women’s Social and 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.
Anna Lewis was a militant member of the W.S.P.U. For her actvities, which included chaining herself to railings, she was imprisoned and endured forcible feeding. This cruel treatment left her with a hoarse voice for the rest of her life and she set up a special home to help nurse other Suffragettes back to health after similar treatment. It is estimated that no more than 100 of these medals were made and awarded to Suffragettes. They are rare on the market. History in my hand.