 At the age of 11 Elizabeth left the Sunday School and joined the youth section of the Independent Labour Party ( ILP ) , where she studied socialism alongside a busy programme of social activities . She later described herself at this time as " strong , agile , fond of walking and eating " . By this time Mary Bamber was working as an organiser for the Warehouse Workers ' Union ; Elizabeth assisted her mother , sometimes acting as a steward at meetings . Mother and daughter were both present at St George 's Plateau on 13 August 1911 , when a baton charge by police and troops broke up a rally in support of Liverpool 's striking transport workers . Hundreds were injured , and in the disturbances that followed , two demonstrators were shot dead . The day became enshrined in Liverpool 's working @-@ class history as " Bloody Sunday " . 
