Helen Gwynne-Vaughan
Encyclopedia
Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, GBE
(21 January 1879 – 26 August 1967), née Fraser, was a prominent British
botanist and mycologist.
She was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College
and King's College London
. In 1909, she was named head of the botany department at Birkbeck College
in London. In 1911 she married David Thomas Gwynne-Vaughan, who died four years later.
In 1917, she was appointed Controller of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
in France, alongside Mona Chalmers-Watson, Chief Controller of the WAAC in London For her service she became the first woman to receive a military CBE
in 1918. She served as Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force
(WRAF) from September 1918 until December 1919. She received her DBE
in 1919.
In 1921, she became a professor at Birkbeck College
and continued her studies on fungi genetics as well as becoming involved in politics. In 1929, she received her GBE
.
She was also active in Girl Guides
and was honoured with the Silver Fish
. In 1930, Gwynne-Vaughan chaired the Guides' Sixth World Conference. At this conference, the constitution of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
was agreed and Olave Baden-Powell
was unaminiously voted World Chief Guide. Gwynne-Vaughan was first Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
from 1939-41. She returned to Birkbeck and retired as Professor Emeritus in 1944.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(21 January 1879 – 26 August 1967), née Fraser, was a prominent British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
botanist and mycologist.
She was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College
The Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1853...
and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. In 1909, she was named head of the botany department at Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
in London. In 1911 she married David Thomas Gwynne-Vaughan, who died four years later.
In 1917, she was appointed Controller of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (Britain)
The UK's Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was later named Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps . Over 57,000 women served between January 1917 and November 1918. On 31 March 1917 women in the WAAC were first sent to the battlefields in France, just 14 cooks and waitresses...
in France, alongside Mona Chalmers-Watson, Chief Controller of the WAAC in London For her service she became the first woman to receive a military CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1918. She served as Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force
Women's Royal Air Force
The Women's Royal Air Force was a women's branch of the Royal Air Force which existed in two separate incarnations.The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men...
(WRAF) from September 1918 until December 1919. She received her DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1919.
In 1921, she became a professor at Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
and continued her studies on fungi genetics as well as becoming involved in politics. In 1929, she received her GBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
She was also active in Girl Guides
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
and was honoured with the Silver Fish
Silver Fish
The Silver Fish is the highest adult award in Girlguiding UK. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding UK combined with service to world Guiding...
. In 1930, Gwynne-Vaughan chaired the Guides' Sixth World Conference. At this conference, the constitution of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
was agreed and Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
was unaminiously voted World Chief Guide. Gwynne-Vaughan was first Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
Auxiliary Territorial Service
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War...
from 1939-41. She returned to Birkbeck and retired as Professor Emeritus in 1944.