From Suffragette to Fascist : The Many Lives of Mary Sophia Allen

Mary Allen first came to notoriety as a thrice-gaoled, window-smashing suffragette. When WSPU activities ceased in 1914, Allen pioneered the first female police force, recruiting and training hundreds of women. Although honored with an OBE for her policing work during the First World War, she was soon infuriating the Establishment by travelling the world in her unauthorised uniform. Forced away from policing in the inter-war period, Mary tried her hand at becoming an acclaimed author, running for Parliament and countering the IRA threat. When her head was turned by a meeting with Hitler, she became Chief Women's Officer of the British Union of Fascists. On the eve of the Second World War Mary narrowly escaped internment, despite suspicions of spying, secret flights to Germany and Nazi salutes. Although adored of loyal friends, Mary's willfulness tarnished her reputation and has, until now, overshadowed her extraordinary life and achievements. This is her story. Mary Allen, once a window-smashing suffragette, went on to become a pioneer policewoman, helping create Britain's first female police force. Honoured for her work policing munitions factories and bombed towns during the First World War, she was soon infuriating the Establishment, travelling the world in her unauthorised uniform to the acclaim of foreign leaders and the dismay of the British government. Mary's head was next turned after a meeting with Hitler, and she joined Mosley's British Union of Fascists, narrowly escaping internment despite suspicions of spying, secret flights to Germany and Nazi salutes. The liaisons she formed with wealthy heiresses funded an extravagant lifestyle and the formation of a private army of women intended to save the country from Communist aerial attacks, nudity and white slavery. Although adored by her loyal friends, Mary was a stubborn, opinionated woman and today her achievements are overshadowed by the eccentricities of her later years. Citing documents specially released from the Home Office and sources contributed from Mary's own family, Nina Boyd has produced a fascinating account of this extraordinary woman. The first biography of a unique pioneering woman—a police officer, fascist, suffragette, and spy Mary Allen first came to notoriety as a thrice-gaoled, window-smashing suffragette. When WSPU activities ceased in 1914, Allen pioneered the first female police force, recruiting and training hundreds of women. Although honored with an OBE for her policing work during World War I, she was soon infuriating the Establishment by traveling the world in her unauthorized uniform. Forced away from policing in the interwar period, Mary tried her hand at becoming an acclaimed author, running for Parliament, and countering the IRA threat. When her head was turned by a meeting with Hitler, she became Chief Women's Officer of the British Union of Fascists. On the eve of World War II Mary narrowly escaped internment, despite suspicions of spying, secret flights to Germany, and Nazi salutes. Although adored by loyal friends, Mary’s willfulness tarnished her reputation and has, until now, overshadowed her extraordinary life and achievements. This is her story.