Prison medal presented to Helen Tyson

This medal was presented to the suffragette Helen Tyson on her release from Holloway Gaol. It is inscribed 'to Mrs Helen Tyson in remembrance of Feb 24th to March 24th 1909 a token of affection from the new union'. The 'Dx2 7' refers to the number of the prison wing and cell in which Helen was held during her month in Holloway. Above the medallion is a flat gold bar for pinning on the colours & the medallion to clothing. The medal was presented to Helen on behalf of the New Union for Women's Suffrage at a meeting held by the Streatham branch of the Women's Social and Political Union in April 1909. Helen Tyson and her daughters Diana and Leonora became members of the militant Women's Social and Political Union in 1908. On 24th February 1909 Helen and her daughter Diana were among the 25 Suffragettes arrested and imprisoned for taking part in a WSPU deputation to the House of Commons led by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence.