Norah Smyth

Norah Lyle-Smyth (22 March 1874 – 1963) was a British suffragette, photographer and socialist activist.

Smyth was born into a wealthy family, and was the niece of the composer and suffragette Ethel Smyth. Until 1912, when her father died, he controlled many aspects of her life, refusing her permission to attend university or marry her cousin, as she hoped. Instead, she devoted her time to private study, the arts, and village life.

In 1912, Smyth joined the Pioneer Players, Edith Craig's feminist theatre company. Also around this time, she joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), working as an unpaid chauffeur for Emmeline Pankhurst, and undertaking various other tasks for the WSPU headquarters. However, her greatest interest was in promoting the cause of working women, and this led her to join Sylvia Pankhurst's East London Federation of Suffragettes. In early 1914, the group formed a "People's Army", which Smyth led. It undertook a parade in Ford Road, but Smyth was arrested for assault, and the idea was dropped.

In 1914, Sylvia was called to Paris to discuss the future of her East London Federation with Christabel Pankhurst, leader of the WSPU. Smyth accompanied Sylvia, making travel arrangements and organising disguises, in order that Sylvia could avoid arrest on public order charges. Sylvia and Christabel agreed a clean split between their groups.

Smyth remained active in the East London group and when, in 1916, it became the Women's Suffrage Federation (WSF), she was chosen as its treasurer. Although generally seen as a loyal supporter of Sylvia Pankhurst, Smyth was sometimes able to change her opinion; for example, she strongly advised her to remain active in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom when Sylvia had been planning to resign. She was also concerned, in her role as treasurer, that as Sylvia became more outspoken against World War I and, later, in support of communism, that it was reduce donations to the WSF. When the WSF set up a toy factory, Smyth was a strong supporter, and when in 1920 the factory was in financial difficulties, Smyth sold personal items to bail it out.

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