Official WSPU song sheet Votes for Women c1909-11 Antonia Raeburn's copy

WOMEN’S SOCIAL AND POLITICAL UNION (WSPU). Votes for Women. The National Women’s Social & Political Union, 4 Clement’s Inn, Strand, W.C. [London: St. Clements Press Ltd., Kingsway, n.d., c. 1909–1911.]
 
Single bifolium (four pages), printed in blue and black, folding to approximately 230 × 140 mm; vertical and horizontal fold lines as issued. light creasing, edge wear and light toning; entirely legible. Very good.
 
Official WSPU song-sheet containing a series of suffrage songs set to well-known tunes, including “The Women’s Marseillaise” (F. E. M. Macaulay), “Rise Up Women” and “In the Morning” (Theodora Mills), “Women of England” (tune: Men of Harlech), and “As I Came Through Holloway” (tune: The Keel Row). The latter makes explicit reference to the imprisonment of suffragettes in Holloway, while other verses refer to storming the House of Commons and to prison as part of the militant campaign.
 
"We stormed the House of Commons with our little band so true, and we frightened all the statesmen till they trembled through and through. They clapped us into prison and we gladly went for you, and the cause goes marching on. Glory glory hallelujah, glory glory hallelujah, glory glory hallelujah and the cause goes marching on!"
 
Printed at St. Clements Press and published from the WSPU headquarters at Clement’s Inn, the sheet belongs to the height of the Union’s militant phase, when music and adapted popular airs were used at meetings, demonstrations and processions to foster solidarity and public visibility. Such ephemeral printed material was produced for active use and was not intended to survive; examples in complete form are increasingly scarce. 
 
This copy was owned by author Antonia Raeburn who wrote 'The Militant Suffragettes', with her name written in pencil to the top of the front cover.