Irene Dallas

Irene Margaret Dallas was born on 12 April 1883 in Yokohama, Japan,{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} and had a sister Hilda (born 1878).{{Cite web|title=DALLAS Hilda 1878-1958 {{!}} Artist Biographies|url=https://www.artbiogs.co.uk/1/artists/dallas-hilda|access-date=2021-06-02|website=www.artbiogs.co.uk}}

In July 1908, Dallas donated sixteen shillings (eighty pence) for the £20,000 Fund (WSPU) recorded as “Miss Irene Dallas (Hyde Park Banner)”.{{Cite news|date=2 July 1908|title=Contributions to the £20,000 Fund|page=288|work=Votes for Women}}

In September 1908, Dallas regularly spoke to factory girls at meetings in Portland Square, Bristol; some also went to her meetings on the Downs, despite this being some distance from their dwellings. Being unable to afford badges, they wore home-made sashes in suffragette colours on which they had pencilled “votes for women”.{{Cite news|date=3 September 1908|title=The Campaign throughout the country: West of England|page=428|work=Votes for women}}

The following week, it is reported that Dallas ‘won the hearts and converted the heads’ of the factory girls; her meetings took place in Portland Square again and at the Wills Tobacco factory, which had more than a thousand workers.{{Cite news|date=10 September 1908|title=The Campaign throughout the country: West of England|page=444|work=Votes for women}}

Dallas made another contribution to the £20,000 Fund in October 1908 (10 shillings) .{{Cite news|date=1 October 1908|title=Contributions to the £20,000 Fund|page=6|work=Votes for women}}

Dallas was one of a group of suffragettes who tried to gain access to 10 Downing Street in January 1909. Along with Catherine Douglas Smith and Frances Satterley (Mrs Frances Clara Bartlett), she was arrested and taken to Bow Street Court, then remanded until the following Monday.{{Cite news|date=26 January 1909|title=Suffragists and Premier|page=5|work=The Western Daily Mail}} In its account of the same incident, “The Globe" newspaper notes that Dallas was a teacher.{{Cite news|date=26 January 1909|title=The suffragettes: a call on Mr Asquith|page=2|work=The Globe}} In court, Dallas was offered the chance to pay a £10 surety, but opted to go to Holloway Jail for one month instead.{{Cite news|date=1 February 1909|title=Suffragettes & the cabinet|page=3|work=The Derby Daily Telegraph}} An article in “Votes for Women” headed “Victory through prison” started with quotes from four of the women involved. Dallas was reported as saying: ‘The cause needs militant women, and needs them now. We will give them as warm a welcome in Holloway as the authorities allow.’ {{Cite news|date=4 February 1909|title=Victory through prison|page=313|work=Votes for women}} 

“The Globe” newspaper gave a lengthy account of their release and welcome by other campaigners in its 27 February edition. The women were welcomed at the prison gates by Miss Christabel Pankhurst, Mrs Drummond and Mr Pethick Lawrence. They were taken to the Inns of Court Hotel in brakes decorated in suffragette colours; the second brake even had a band.{{Cite news|date=27 February 1909|title=Suffragettes released|page=10|work=The Globe}} At the breakfast itself, Christabel Pankhurst talked about the 'Silence rule’ which was imposed on women in the prison yard, and the attempts that would be made to abolish it.{{Cite news|date=27 February 1909|title=At prison gates|page=5|work=The Yorkshire Telegraph and Star}} Miss Pankhurst also described Dallas and the other women as ‘her favourites' .{{Cite news|date=5 March 1909|title=The released prisoners|page=395|work=Votes for women}} Dallas' name is on the Roll of Honour of Suffragettes.{{Cite web|title=Roll of Honour of Suffragette Prisoners 1905-1914|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/ee5a777f-1d7c-416b-a249-c7cb64fcc0a8|access-date=30 May 2021|website=The National Archives}}

Despite being newly released, both Dallas and Miss Douglas Smith affirmed their intention of involving themselves in forthcoming by-elections.{{Cite news|date=5 March 1909|title=Release of prisoners|page=409|work=Votes for women}}

Dallas’ membership of the “YHB” is noted in the 5 March edition of “Votes for Women”. The initials  stood for “Young Hot Bloods”, and it was made up of a secretive group of younger WSPU members, willing to take risks, who  included Grace Roe, Jessie Kenney, Elsie Howey, Vera Wentworth and Mary Home.{{Cite web|title=Historic England Research Records Monument Number 1522337|url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1522337&resourceID=19191|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.heritagegateway.org.uk}} In the same month, Dallas was given special responsibilities for “Votes for Women Week”.{{Cite news|date=5 March 1909|title=The campaign throughout the country|page=410|work=Votes for women}}

For the release from prison of Mrs Pethick Lawrence in April 1909, a major demonstration was planned by the WSPU. Dallas, along with Miss Ainsworth, was put in charge of the teachers’ contingent - it was noted that since the event would be taking place during school holidays, a large number were expected to participate. During April, Dallas spoke at a number of outdoor events e.g. at Hyde Park, at Paddington (twice on the same day), and in Putney (both indoors and outdoors).{{Cite news|date=9 April 1909|title=Programme of events|page=531|work=Votes for women}}

Through the columns of the WSPU newspaper, volunteers for the WSPU Drum and Fife Band were asked to contact Dallas, who was Band Secretary and operating out of 4 Clements Inn, the organisation's headquarters.{{Cite news|date=28 May 1909|title=Announcements|page=727|work=Votes for women}} It was noted that volunteers who could play during the day were especially welcome. This band was known as far afield as India; the West Riding Regiment’s drummers wrote to the band offering to exchange a photograph of their band with one of the WSPU. The same edition of “Votes for Women” noted that the band had played in Manchester and in Liverpool.{{Cite news|date=2 July 1909|title=The WSPU Drum and fife band|page=890|work=Votes for women}}

In succession to Isabel Seymour, Dallas was also appointed Hospitality Secretary of the WSPU in June 1909; in Seymour’s resignation letter, she appealed for more London hostesses for country members coming to the capital for events or deputations; thus clarifying one of the responsibilities which Dallas would then shoulder.{{Cite news|date=11 June 1909|title=Our postbox|page=781|work=Votes for women}} Later in the year, Dallas was given other WSPU leadership roles: in September she replaced Miss Cameron in charge of the ‘Speakers’ department’; all those requesting speakers for any part of London had to contact her in the first instance.{{Cite news|date=17 September 1909|title=The campaign throughout the country|page=1188|pages=|work=Votes for women}}

Dallas was also one of four women sent from London to help in the Derbyshire by-election in July; the others are named as Miss Hewett, Miss Wylie and Barbara Ayrton.{{Cite news|date=9 July 1909|title=Bye-elections Derbyshire (High Peak)|page=919|work=Votes for women}} During the campaign, Dallas spoke several times in Buxton.{{Cite news|date=16 July 1909|title=Announcements|page=942|work=Votes for women}} Her responsibilities were increased again in October, when she was put in charge of the WSPU's organisation for the Bermondsey by-election; her headquarters were on Tower Bridge Road. The “Votes for Women” article, announcing Dallas's appointment, noted that the reason for the campaign was that the success of a Liberal candidate would increase the Liberal majority - something WSPU opposed - as the Liberals in government were responsible for refusing enfranchisement and imposing prison and thus suffragette hunger strikers being force fed.{{Cite news|date=15 October 1909|title=The by election of Bermondsey|page=44|work=Votes for women}} On Polling Day, she arranged for women campaigners to be present at Polling Stations throughout the day in relays; according to “Votes for Women”, the campaigners were greeted positively by people coming to vote.;{{Cite news|date=5 November 1909|title=Keeping the Liberals out at Bermondsey|page=90|work=Votes for women}} and the result of the election was that the Conservatives won the seat.{{Cite news|date=5 November 1909|title=The Bermondsey result|page=88|work=Votes for women}}

In December, the Mary Leigh Defence Fund received £1 from Dallas.{{Cite news|date=8 December 1909|title=For Mary Leigh Defence Fund|page=108|work=Votes for women}} The fund was to finance a legal case which Leigh was bringing against the Governor of Winson Green Jail (Birmingham), its prison doctor and the Home Secretary{{Cite news|date=29 October 1909|title=Treasurer's Note: over £700 again this week|page=73|work=Votes for women}}

Another responsibility was given to Dallas in 1910, when she was appointed Banner Secretary ahead of the planned two-mile long procession to be held at the end of May. In the list of appointments, Dallas is second only in the overall management to Olive Smith (Procession Secretary). There were other organisational roles for different occupations whose contingents were to take part – e.g., Dr. Garrett Anderson for 'Professional women’, ‘Teachers’ by Miss Cameron, ‘Young ladies in business houses’ by Miss Fargus and Miss Vibert.{{Cite news|date=15 April 1910|title=How London will hear of the procession|page=459|work=Votes for women}} Dallas was also made the contact for former suffragette prisoners, who were to march in honour at the head of the procession.{{Cite news|date=29 April 1910|title=The Great March, Saturday, May 28|page=393|work=Votes for women}}

However, the planned procession was actually postponed due to the death of King Edward VII .{{Cite news|date=20 May 1910|title=Preparing for June 18|page=552|work=Votes for women}}

In its report of the 18 June procession,“The Globe” listed Dallas as ‘Chief Banner Marshal’ along with ‘General on horseback Mrs Drummond’ and ‘Chief Marshal Miss Jessie Kenney’ and also notes that there were forty bands and seven sections in the procession.{{Cite news|date=18 June 1910|title=Suffrage demonstration|page=8|work=the Globe}} 'The Referee' newspaper the following day adds that there were seven hundred banners and a thousand police.{{Cite news|date=19 June 1910|title=Suffragette demonstration|page=1|work=The Referee}} The "Sheffield Daily Telegraph” of Monday 20 June gives a long account of the event; noting that Dallas was only five yards behind the leader of the procession Mrs Drummond. Dallas's demeanour is described: ’ a handsome fair haired girl stepped like a drum major as she carried high the first banner of the WSPU’  {{Cite news|date=20 June 1910|title=Votes for women: Imposing demonstration in London|page=9|work=The ‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph}}

Irene Dallas is next reported on in 1912, when she is in Paris at a Christmas dinner at the Restaurant Mollard (designed by Édouard Niermans), with 'exiled' Christabel Pankhurst,{{Cite book|last=Crawford|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53836882|title=The women's suffrage movement : a reference guide, 1866-1928|date=1999|publisher=UCL Press|isbn=0-203-03109-1|location=London|pages=49|oclc=53836882}} and fellow guests Jessie Murray Clark, Blanche Edwards, Dorothy Hapgood and Irene's sister Hilda; and according to The Suffragette, the evening ended with the singing of “The March of the Women.” {{Cite news|date=3 January 1913|title=Christmas in Paris|page=173|work=The Suffragette}}

Dallas had a long life, dying in 1971 in Bournemouth; she left over £13,000.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

• Irene and Hilda Dallas

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Category:Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom

Category:1883 births

Category:1971 deaths

Category:Women's Social and Political Union

Category:Japanese emigrants to the United Kingdom