True story behind ‘Enola Holmes 2’ involves The Salvation Army
Hannah Cote
Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister Enola is back on the crime scene in “Enola Holmes 2.”
A chipper, sleuthing-prodigy, Enola Holmes’ (played by Millie Bobby Brown) bursts with high hopes for her brand-new private detective agency in the opening of the film. Coming off a mystery-solving-high in the first “Enola Holmes,” Enola is eager to solve something new.
As expected, though, few townspeople are eager for a young girl to solve their cases. But finally, a child comes to her for help.
Sarah Chapman, a match factory girl, has disappeared. When Enola goes to snoop around the factory, she witnesses their horrible working conditions, and ultimately learns that white phosphorus used in the match factory has been killing the girls.
It turns out that Enola’s case is linked to her brother Sherlock’s current case. The two team up in a brother-sister duo and save the match girls, expose the factory directors, uncover a murderer, and even find Sherlock a roommate.
This sequel offers an exciting, adventurous, and kid-friendly Sherlock Holmes escapade. But beyond just an engaging and thrilling tale, this film actually presents a remarkable piece of history in the main plot of the film: The Match Girls Strike of 1888.
“Enola Holmes 2” closes with Enola advocating for women’s rights in the match factory. The girls are forced to work in cruel, dirty, and even deadly conditions.
When Enola discovers the match factory has been using white phosphorus, instead of a more expensive red phosphorus, to create their matches, she pieces together that this has ultimately led to the sickness and death of many of the match girls.
But this issue is not just a tall-tale. It occurred at the Bryant and May Match Factory in England, up until Annie Besant led the Match Girls Strike, a three-week strike of almost 2000 women. Besant, a journalist and lecturer, became Secretary of the new Matchmakers Union following the strike.
The conditions for the match girls improved slightly, but Bryant and May refused to stop using white phosphorus. Besant continued to advocate for the girls, arguing that even though red phosphorus was more expensive, they needed to make the switch.
Then, in 1891, The Salvation Army opened up their very own match factory to rival Bryant and May. Their factory was cleaner, offered girls tea breaks during the work day, paid them a third more than other factories, and, although it was more expensive, used red phosphorus.
Ultimately, white phosphorus was banned in the UK. The Salvation Army sold their company to Bryant and May under their terms and conditions, and the match girls were saved.
It’s been 134 years since the Match Girls Strike, but “Enola Holmes 2” has brought this story back to life.
Does reading about faith inspire you? Do you have a story or information about your faith you want to share? Tell us more!
Discover More:
