Anna Lewis (suffragette)

Beatrice Anna Lewis was born in 1889 and grew up in Holt, in Wales, and she died at the age of 87, in Worthing, England, in 1976. Lewis had a sister and four children, at least two daughters, one of whom described Lewis as "a woman born before her time". Lewis had resented the limitations of being a female in that era, and her husband served in the Royal Air Force and had chosen to travel unaccompanied overseas. Lewis had also been given more children than was recommended on health advice, and her husband had also said '"I tell you what I think you need to know my dear". == Suffrage activism ==

Lewis joined the militant suffragette movement, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and took a leading part in protests which were violently stopped by the Metropolitan Police, and she was charged and imprisoned at least twice. Lewis chained herself to railings. == Hunger Strike Medal ==

Lewis was a recipient of the Hunger Strike Medal, awarded by Emmeline Pankhurst in a special ceremony in 1914. Lewis set up a home for other women who were protestors who had suffered ill-health from this treatment, and she herself had permanent damage to her throat from force-feeding. Lewis also attended the annual memorial services for suffragettes. == References ==