It is June 4 th 1913. It is the day of the Epsom Derby.

1. It is June 4th 1913. It is the day of the Epsom Derby. There has been a death at the racecourse. It is your job to decide whether this death was an accident or suicide.

2. What is the Epsom Derby? Epsom Derby is a horse racing event that still happens today. The Derby is not only a horse race. In some senses, the race is secondary to the social importance of this event. In 1913, it was a race where society's elite turned up, including the Royal family who traditionally had a horse entered into it. Because of its importance, it attracted a very large crowd to the Epsom Race Course.

3. Clue 1: Film footage of the Race This is the real film footage from the Derby. Watch the clip and try to analyse what has happened. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-death-of-emily-davison/967.html

4. Clue 2: Eye-witness Report,John Ervine Ms Davison, who was standing a few yards from me, suddenly ducked under the railings as the horses came up. This was very near Tattenham Corner, and there was a very large crowd of people on both sides of the course. The king's horse, Anmer, came up and Ms Davison went towards it. She put up her hand, but whether it was to catch hold of the reins or to protect herself I do not know. It was all over in a few seconds. The horse knocked the woman over with very great force, and then stumbled and fell, pitching the jockey violently onto the ground. Both he and Ms Davison were bleeding profusely, but the crowd which swarmed about them almost was immediately too much for me to see any more. I feel sure that Ms Davison meant to stop the horse, and that she did not go on to the course in the belief that the race was over, for, as I say, only a few of the horses had gone by when I first saw her leave the railings, and others had not passed when she was knocked down. I could not see whether any other horses touched her, for the whole thing happened so quickly, and I was so horrified at seeing her pitched violently down by the horse that I did not think of anything. The affair distressed the crowd very much.

5. Clue 3: Return Bus Ticket This ticket was found in the coat pocket of Emily’s coat, 4th June 1913

6. Clue 4: Eye-witness Report, Unknown I was watching the horses approaching Tattenham Corner, when I noticed a figure bob under the rails on the opposite side to which I was standing. The horses were thundering down the course at a great pace bunched up against the rail. From the position in which the women was standing it would have been impossible for her to have picked out any special horse. It was obviously her intention to stop the race. Misjudging the pace of the horses she missed the first four or five. They dashed by just as she was  emerging from the rails. With great calmness she walked in front of the next group of horses. The first missed her, but the second, Anmer, came right into her, and catching her with his shoulders, knocked her with terrific force to the ground while the crowd stood spellbound. The woman rolled over two or three times, and lay unconscious. She was thrown almost on her face. Anmer fell after striking the woman, pitching Jones, the jockey, clear over its head. Fortunately, Anmer fell clear of the woman, and the horses following swerved by the woman, the jockey and the fallen horse. 

7. Clue 5: Letter from family friend (found at Emily’s home. Dear Emily, After having spoken with you about your intentions, I beg you, no I implore you to re-consider your decision. Whilst it is admirable that you show such conviction of your beliefs, I believe making yourself a martyr for a cause that cannot yet be won is pure folly. Please re-consider, gather support for your cause, protest using any method you deem necessary . Throwing away something that means so much to many people will truly break my heart. Your truly, Fran Highton

8. Clue 6: Emily Davison’s Criminal Record, taken from Schoolhistory.co.uk

9. Clue 7: Emmeline Pankhurst statement Emily Davison clung to her conviction that one great tragedy, the deliberate throwing into the breach of a human life, would put an end to the intolerable torture of women. And so she threw herself at the king's horse, in full view of the king and queen and a great multitude of their majesties' subjects.

10. Clue 8: Anti-Suffragette Poster, 1908

11. Clue 9:A speech made in 1912 by Lord Curzon, a Conservative leader Women do not have the experience to be able to vote. But there are other problems as well: the way women have been educated, their lack of strength, and the duties they have. If women did gain the vote, it would mean that most voters would then be women. What would be the effect of this on the government? I agree that there are some issues upon which the votes of women might be helpful. But these cases do not cover the whole of political life. What is the good of talking about the equality of the sexes? The first whiz of the bullet, the first boom of the cannon and where is the equality of the sexes then?

12. You are to write a Police Report about the events at Epsom Race course. The report should include:

13. Remember to PEE! For example: One piece of evidence that suggests Emily intentionally killed herself is source 4. This source states: ‘I feel sure that Emily intended to stop the horse’. This leads me to believe Emily wanted to actually get hit by the King’s horse. By getting hit by Anmer she undoubtedly raised awareness for her cause. On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest this was an accident…