Sybil Irving
Encyclopedia
Sybil Howy Irving MBE
(25 February 1897–28 March 1973) was the founder and controller of the Australian Women's Army Service
during World War II
. She served in this position from 1941 to 1946 and was active in charity and social organisations until she was aged 74.
in Melbourne
. She was the eldest of three children and her father, Godfrey Irving
, was an Army officer who later held senior positions in the Australian Army
. The family moved frequently as her father was posted to new positions, and she was educated at schools in most states.
Irving worked in a number of social welfare positions after leaving school. During World War I
she served in a Red Cross voluntary aid detachment in Australia. In 1924 she became secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria, a position she held until 1940. In 1935, she was one of the two founders of the Victorian Society for Crippled Children (and Adults) and worked for this organisation until her death. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 2 January 1939 for her services to social welfare services in Victoria. Irving left the Girl Guides Association in 1940 to work as Assistant-Secretary of the Victorian Red Cross Society.
in January 1942, and successfully established a framework into which 24,000 female soldiers eventually enlisted.
Irving was based at the AWAS' headquarters in Melbourne throughout the war. One of her officers described her as "Impressive. She could be abrupt, decisive and self-assured in the public arena in a way women were not expected - or trained to be in those days, and this stood her in good stead" She used Guiding as the basis for the AWAS, and this practice drew both praise and criticism. She also supported the official policy that members of the AWAS not operate weapons, arguing that "these girls will be the mothers of the children who will rebuild Australia. They must not have the death of another mother's son on their hands". Irving did not support the Australian Government's restriction against servicewomen being deployed to operational areas in the South West Pacific Area
, however, and succeeded in having this overturned in 1945.
Irving was promoted to colonel
in February 1943, and had 20,000 women serving under her when the AWAS reached its peak strength in 1944. At the end of the war she encouraged AWAS members to undertake further training to prepare them for the civilian labour force, but only a small proportion of servicewomen did so. Irving left the Army in January 1947 when the AWAS was disbanded. She later wrote to all her former officers to inquire after their welfare and what they were doing in the post-war world.
After returning to Australia Irving worked as a consultant for the Victorian Old People's Welfare Council organising elderly citizens' clubs until she retired in 1971. She died on 28 March 1973 at her home in South Yarra
and was buried with full military honours at Fawkner cemetery
. Following her death Irving's friends and former colleagues raised funds for memorials to her in all of the Australian capital cities.
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...
(25 February 1897–28 March 1973) was the founder and controller of the Australian Women's Army Service
Australian Women's Army Service
The Australian Women's Army Service or "AWAS" was a women's service established on 13 August 1941 to "release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units".-Formation / Structure:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She served in this position from 1941 to 1946 and was active in charity and social organisations until she was aged 74.
Social work
Irving was born on 25 February 1897 at Victoria BarracksVictoria Barracks, Melbourne
Located on St Kilda Road in Melbourne, Australia, Victoria Barracks Melbourne is of architectural and historical significance as one of the most impressive 19th century government buildings in Victoria, Australia.-Pre-World War II:...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. She was the eldest of three children and her father, Godfrey Irving
Godfrey Irving
Major General Godfrey George Howy Irving was an Australian Army Major General in World War I.- Early life and career :...
, was an Army officer who later held senior positions in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. The family moved frequently as her father was posted to new positions, and she was educated at schools in most states.
Irving worked in a number of social welfare positions after leaving school. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she served in a Red Cross voluntary aid detachment in Australia. In 1924 she became secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria, a position she held until 1940. In 1935, she was one of the two founders of the Victorian Society for Crippled Children (and Adults) and worked for this organisation until her death. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 2 January 1939 for her services to social welfare services in Victoria. Irving left the Girl Guides Association in 1940 to work as Assistant-Secretary of the Victorian Red Cross Society.
War service
In September 1941, Irving accepted an offer from Major General Victor Stantke, who was the Army's Adjutant-General, to lead the newly-formed Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). This appointment was mainly made on the basis of her family background and guiding experience, and Irving later acknowledged that she had "no qualifications at all" for the position. She was appointed Controller of the AWAS in October and immediately traveled around Australia to recruit officers. She was promoted to lieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in January 1942, and successfully established a framework into which 24,000 female soldiers eventually enlisted.
Irving was based at the AWAS' headquarters in Melbourne throughout the war. One of her officers described her as "Impressive. She could be abrupt, decisive and self-assured in the public arena in a way women were not expected - or trained to be in those days, and this stood her in good stead" She used Guiding as the basis for the AWAS, and this practice drew both praise and criticism. She also supported the official policy that members of the AWAS not operate weapons, arguing that "these girls will be the mothers of the children who will rebuild Australia. They must not have the death of another mother's son on their hands". Irving did not support the Australian Government's restriction against servicewomen being deployed to operational areas in the South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
, however, and succeeded in having this overturned in 1945.
Irving was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in February 1943, and had 20,000 women serving under her when the AWAS reached its peak strength in 1944. At the end of the war she encouraged AWAS members to undertake further training to prepare them for the civilian labour force, but only a small proportion of servicewomen did so. Irving left the Army in January 1947 when the AWAS was disbanded. She later wrote to all her former officers to inquire after their welfare and what they were doing in the post-war world.
Later life
Irving returned to social work after completing her military service. In 1947, she became general secretary of the Victorian Division of the Red Cross and held this position until 1959. She was also appointed Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) when the Army re-formed its women's service in 1951. In 1960–61 she took a 13 month long holiday in Britain and Europe, during which time she resigned from the WRAAC in 1961.After returning to Australia Irving worked as a consultant for the Victorian Old People's Welfare Council organising elderly citizens' clubs until she retired in 1971. She died on 28 March 1973 at her home in South Yarra
South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Stonnington and Melbourne...
and was buried with full military honours at Fawkner cemetery
Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park
Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park is located in the north western Melbourne suburb of Fawkner, Victoria, Australia. It is the largest cemetery by land size in the state....
. Following her death Irving's friends and former colleagues raised funds for memorials to her in all of the Australian capital cities.