Flora Murray
Encyclopedia
Dr. Flora Murray, M.D. was a medical pioneer and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union
suffragettes.
Murray trained at the London School of Medicine for Women
and finished her course at Durham. She then worked in Scotland before returning to London in 1905. She was a medical officer at the Belgrave Hospital for Children and then anaesthetist at the Chelsea Hospital for Women.
Murray joined the Women's Social and Political Union
in 1908, and acted as physician to the militants. She spoke at meetings and rallies, marched in processions, provided first aid
at suffragette demonstrations, and looked after Emmeline Pankhurst
and other hunger-strikers after their release from prison. She campaigned with other doctors against the forcible feeding of prisoners.
In 1912 she founded the Women's Hospital for Children at 688 Harrow Road
with Louisa Garrett Anderson
. It provided both health care
for working-class
children of the area, and gave women doctors their only opportunity to gain clinical experience in paediatrics in London; the hospital's motto was Deeds not Words.
In the First World War she served in France
with the Women's Hospital Corps (WHC). Along with her friend and colleague Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson
, she established military hospital
s for the French Army
in Paris
and Wimereux
. Their proposals were at first rejected by the British authorities, but eventually the WHC became established at the military hospital
in Endell Street, Holborn
, London staffed entirely by women, from chief surgeon to orderlies. Their motto Deeds not Words was used for the second time.
She never married and is buried at the Holy Trinity Church with her friend and colleague, Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson
near to their home in Penn, Buckinghamshire
. Garrett's tombstone reads "We have been gloriously happy".
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
suffragettes.
Murray trained at the London School of Medicine for Women
London School of Medicine for Women
The London School of Medicine for Women was established in 1874 and was the first medical school in Britain to train women.The school was formed by an association of pioneering women physicians Sophia Jex-Blake, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Emily Blackwell and Elizabeth Blackwell with Thomas Henry...
and finished her course at Durham. She then worked in Scotland before returning to London in 1905. She was a medical officer at the Belgrave Hospital for Children and then anaesthetist at the Chelsea Hospital for Women.
Murray joined the Women's Social and Political Union
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
in 1908, and acted as physician to the militants. She spoke at meetings and rallies, marched in processions, provided first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
at suffragette demonstrations, and looked after Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote...
and other hunger-strikers after their release from prison. She campaigned with other doctors against the forcible feeding of prisoners.
In 1912 she founded the Women's Hospital for Children at 688 Harrow Road
Harrow Road
The Harrow Road is an ancient route in Greater London which runs from Paddington in a northwesterly direction to Harrow. With minor deviations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the route remains otherwise unaltered...
with Louisa Garrett Anderson
Louisa Garrett Anderson
Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson CBE was a medical pioneer, a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, a suffragette, and social reformer. She was the daughter of the founding medical pioneer Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Her aunt, Dame Millicent Fawcett was a British suffragist...
. It provided both health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
for working-class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
children of the area, and gave women doctors their only opportunity to gain clinical experience in paediatrics in London; the hospital's motto was Deeds not Words.
In the First World War she served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the Women's Hospital Corps (WHC). Along with her friend and colleague Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson
Louisa Garrett Anderson
Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson CBE was a medical pioneer, a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, a suffragette, and social reformer. She was the daughter of the founding medical pioneer Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Her aunt, Dame Millicent Fawcett was a British suffragist...
, she established military hospital
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
s for the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Wimereux
Wimereux
Wimereux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Wimereux is a coastal town situated some north of Boulogne, at the junction of the D233 and the D940 roads, on the banks of the river Wimereux. The river Slack forms the northern boundary of...
. Their proposals were at first rejected by the British authorities, but eventually the WHC became established at the military hospital
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
in Endell Street, Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London staffed entirely by women, from chief surgeon to orderlies. Their motto Deeds not Words was used for the second time.
She never married and is buried at the Holy Trinity Church with her friend and colleague, Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson
Louisa Garrett Anderson
Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson CBE was a medical pioneer, a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, a suffragette, and social reformer. She was the daughter of the founding medical pioneer Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Her aunt, Dame Millicent Fawcett was a British suffragist...
near to their home in Penn, Buckinghamshire
Penn, Buckinghamshire
Penn is a village and civil parish in Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, about north-west of Beaconsfield and east of High Wycombe...
. Garrett's tombstone reads "We have been gloriously happy".