Gertrude Ellen Brook
Women's Suffrage Work
On 21st March 1907, Gertrude was arrested in Westminster for protesting with 75 other members of the Women's Social and Political Union. She had travelled to London with Annie Hopson, Sarah Pogson, Elizabeth Pinnance, Dora Thewlis and Mary Scawthorn. They were each sentenced to 14 days in Holloway Prison (except Dora Thewlis).On 12th February 1908, once again, Gertrude travelled to London and was arrested, this time with Ann Alice Older from Honley. Together they were charged with insulting behaviour, and obstructing the police in execution of their duty. They were each sentenced to six weeks and imprisoned, again, in Holloway Prison.
Edith Key, Secretary of the Huddersfield WSPU wrote to Ann and Gertrude to express the appreciation of the members of the branch for their actions.
Here she is pictured (on the left) in Batley in 1907 with influential members of the WSPU: Adela Pankhurst, Patricia Woodlock and Mary Leigh.
In May 1908, she was listed as a staff member at the WSPU committee rooms in Dundee. The Union had based themselves there to fight Winston Churchill's candidacy as the local MP.
That year she also spoke at a rally in Hunslet Moor with Elizabeth Pinnance during the South Leeds by-election and at various events in Manchester.
In June 1908, the WSPU organised a rally at Hyde Park on ‘Women’s Sunday’ with 80 speakers and 20 platforms. 400,000 people attended, the largest rally London had seen. Gertrude spoke on Platform 11. Her attendance was advertised in the Votes for Women newspaper's biographies of speakers:
This paper napkin is from the event and is currently on display in the 'Our Fight for the Voting Right!' exhibition at Tolson Museum.
It was whilst in Dundee that Gertrude met her future husband, John McGuckin, and they were married in 1909. It appears that she stopped being as publicly active in the movement when she had her first child that year.
That year she also spoke at a rally in Hunslet Moor with Elizabeth Pinnance during the South Leeds by-election and at various events in Manchester.
In June 1908, the WSPU organised a rally at Hyde Park on ‘Women’s Sunday’ with 80 speakers and 20 platforms. 400,000 people attended, the largest rally London had seen. Gertrude spoke on Platform 11. Her attendance was advertised in the Votes for Women newspaper's biographies of speakers:
Miss G.H. Brook.Miss Gertrude Brook, as becomes a Yorkshire woman and the daughter of an ardent Liberal reformer, has always been prepared to fight for her views. In march, 1907, she was arrested and imprisoned for trying to present a petition to the Prime Minister, and since then has been more determined in political independence, and more active in the cause of women than ever.
This paper napkin is from the event and is currently on display in the 'Our Fight for the Voting Right!' exhibition at Tolson Museum.
It was whilst in Dundee that Gertrude met her future husband, John McGuckin, and they were married in 1909. It appears that she stopped being as publicly active in the movement when she had her first child that year.
Biography
Gertrude was born in 1885 in Wooldale. Her father was a master tailor and later a Justice of the Peace, a West Riding County Councillor and Chairman of the Holmfirth Urban District Council.In 1909 she married John McGuckin in Holmfirth. The couple had one son and four daughters.
In 1970, Gertrude died in Eton, Buckinghamshire at the age of 85.
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