Information supplied through Research Project led by Nigel Crompton.

Name: Mary Pollock Grant
DoB: 02 December 1875
Place of birth: Partick, Lanarkshire
Parents: Dr Charles & Eliza Jamesa Pollock (nee Muirhead) see below
Parental Home: 6 Maule Terrace, Govan, Lanarkshire
Siblings: James Stuart (1872-1889), Charles Frederick (1878- ) Georgetta Helena (1882-1972), James Muirhead (1884-1918)  Cara Jamesa (1886-1972)
Spouse: Never married
Date of Wedding: Not applicable
Children: No record
Marital home(s) : Not applicable
Employment: Not found on 1911 census
1911 Census: Not found on 1911 census
Date of death: 11 August 1957
Location: Kent & Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Burial location not foundGretna details
Name: Mary Pollock Grant
Clock No
Date joining: Not confirmed
Date leaving: Had left Gretna by the time 18/19 Electoral Roll completed
Addresses: Not confirmed

Rank on start: PC
Promotion: Within WPS, Sergeant then Sub Inspector but not necessarily at Gretna
Newspapers: Yes, many – Suffragette activities – Later political career
Career after: Political speaker –
1921 Census : Living as boarder at 8 Blenheim Avenue, Woodhouse, Leeds
Addresses after Gretna: Numerous due to political career – but living at Arden House, 31 Upper Highway, Kings Langley, Herts at the time of deathAdditional information

Charles, Mary’s father, was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He became a Clerk in Holy Orders and for 35 years was the vicar of St Marks, Dundee. He was married on 9 January 1871 to Amelia Emily Ann McArthur, and in December 1872 had a son James Stuart Munro. Amelia died on 13 January 1873 in Partick. Charles married Eliza Jamesa Pollock Muirhead and they had 5 children. Mary’s half-brother James Stuart was apprentice in the Merchant Navy but was taken ill aged 16 and died at home in Dundee. Mary followed her father in undertaking missionary work in India during 1906. On her return in 1911 she immersed herself in the Suffragette movement, using the name Marion Pollock. In 1912 she took part in activities that resulted in her being sentenced to a fine or imprisonment. She chose to go to prison and spent five days in Aberdeen gaol where conditions were not healthy. Even in prison, the suffragette’s continued disruption and non-compliance. Her file giving details of her trial and subsequent time in prison remain within Scottish Archives.

After her release, Mary could be found speaking at a number of meetings in the North of Scotland. In 1914,  she became a VAD nurse, serving at Caird Rest (Convalescence) Hospital, Dundee. At what stage she joined the Women Police Service has not been found but she appears to have served at HM Factory Gretna and a number of munitions factories, also central London. After the Great War, her political aspirations grew and in 1922 stood as the Liberal candidate in Leeds South East. The standing MP was returned but in December 1923 she again stood but this time in Pontefract. Again, she failed to be elected this time coming third. Her final attempt to stand for Parliament took place at the General Election held during May 1929. Again, she fought in a Labour stronghold, Salford West. As in Pontefract, Mary came third. This appears to be the last time she stood in an attempt to become an MP. In the 1939 Registration, Mary’s profession is given as Christian Science, but the rest of the entry is covered. Mary died in hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Her sister, Cara, lived in nearby Tonbridge and it is suspected Mary was staying with her sister prior to her death on 11 August 1957.