Joan Lavender Bailie Guthrie

Joan Lavender Bailie Guthrie or Laura Grey (1889-1914) was a British suffragette, and member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).

Joan Lavender Bailie Guthrie
Born1889 (1889)
Glasgow, Scotland
Died1914
London, England
Known forsuffrage activism

Life

Guthrie was born in 1889 in Caistor, Lincolnshire[1]

Suffrage

Guthrie joined the WSPU at the age of 18[2]. In 1912, she took part in a window-smashing raid, for which she was imprisoned in HM Prison Holloway. During her time in prison, she contributed to Holloway Jingles, a book of poetry which was published by the Glasgow branch of the WSPU. Her poem To D.R. is thought to be dedicated to fellow suffragette Dorothea Rock.

She took part in a hunger strike and was force fed. She received a hunger strike medal.[3] It is thought that she developed an addiction to the barbiturate veronal, which eased the pain caused by the after effects of the force feeding[2].

Guthrie was given a Hunger Strike Medal 'for Valour' by WSPU.[2]

Acting Career

After her release from prison she worked as an actor. Her first stage performance was in the pantomime "The forty thieves" at the Lyceum Theatre in 1912[2]

Death

Guthrie died at the age of 25, after taking an overdose of veronal. A poem about her was published in the "Daily Herald" newspaper in June 1914. [4]. According to the website "Woman and her sphere", the poem was written by Anna Wickham.

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References
  1. "England & Wales births 1837-2006". Find My Past.
  2. Crawford, Elizabeth. "Suffrage Stories: 'Laura Grey': Suffragettes, Sex-Poison And Suicide". Woman and her sphere. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  3. Florey, Ken (2003). Women's Suffrage Memorabilia: An Illustrated Historical Study. p. 93.
  4. "Laura Gray: died June 1914 in Jermyn Street"". Daily Herald.
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