gretel schenke was born in zwickau in 1888. she resulted from her father's second marriage and a family row led to her emigrating to britain with the name of margot schenke in about 1908. she took lodging in chelsea and fell in with suffragettes and spent her time selling suffragette newspapers. she reported how the police saved her at hyde park corner. youths, who made her task difficult with sexual remarks became physical' seizing her banner and trying to seize her. she was grateful when two mounted policemen dispersed the youths and others escorted her away and placed her on a bus to go home.