Irving, Sybil Howy (1897-1973)

Field of activity
Servicewoman; army officer; Girl Guides’ leader; Voluntary Aid Detachment personnel
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-753079

Biographies

IRVING, SYBIL HOWY (1897-1973), founder and controller of the Australian Women's Army Service, was born on 25 February 1897 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, eldest of three children of Victorian-born parents Godfrey George Howy Irving, army officer, and his wife Ada Minnie Margueritha, daughter of Frederick Thomas Derham. As a result of her father's army postings, Sybil lived in every mainland State during her girlhood. 'We got used to all the travelling after a while', she later reflected. 'We had the most travelled canary I have ever known—and each trip we lost another piece of the dinner set'. She was educated at various schools, including Lauriston Girls' High School, Melbourne, which had been founded by her aunts Margaret and Lillian Irving, and the Queen's School, Perth.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Sybil Irving was the founder and Controller of the Australian Women's Army Service. On 2 January 1939 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for social welfare services in Victoria. Throughout her life Irving was a faithful member of the Church. Her Funeral Service on 30 March 1973, and a Memorial Service on 23 February 1975 were held in Christ Church, South Yarra, Victoria.

The eldest child of army officer Major General Godfrey George Howy and Ada Minni Margueritha (née Derham) Irving, Sybil Irving's education was conducted at the various postings her father obtained. This included attending Lauriston Girls' High School, which had been founded by her aunts Margaret and Lillian Irving.

During World War I Irving was a Voluntary Aid Detachment member with the the Australian Red Cross. From 1924 until 1940 she was secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. In 1940 she was appointed assistant-secretary of the Australian Red Cross Victorian Division. Invited in 1941 to establish and head the Australian Women's Army Service, Sybil Irving held this position until 1946. She later became Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps. After the war Sybil Irving became general secretary of the Victorian Division of the Red Cross. Upon her retirement in 1959 she was made an honorary life member of the society.

Sybil Irving died on 28 March 1973 and was buried at Fawkner cemetery with full military honours.

  • 1924 - 1940 Secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. Tragic results of Poliomyolitis led Miss Irving to use her talent for needlework to teach the physically handicapped through the Girl Guide Extension Branch.
  • 1935 - 1973 Foundation member of the Victorian Society for Crippled Children (and Adults). Sybil Irving's was one of the two original signatures on the Articles of Association, and she continued to work for VSCCA all her life.
  • 2 January 1939 Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
  • 1940 - 1941 Assistant Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division
  • 6 October 1941 - 31 December 1946 Controller of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Appointed to establish and administer the Service which subsequently numbered 26,000.
  • January 1942 Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
  • February 1943 Promoted to Colonel
  • 1947 - 1959 General Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division. Awarded Honorary Life Membership and the Medal for Meritorious Service.
  • 1951 - 1961 Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC)
  • 1961 - 1971 Consultant to Elderly Citizens Clubs, with the Old Peoples Welfare Council, Victoria (later Victorian Council on the Ageing).

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Sybil Howy Irving

Selected resources (21)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. IRVING, SYBIL HOWYWorld War 2 Nominal Roll Department of Veterans' Affairs : IRVING, SYBIL HOWY
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    Series: http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=584987
  2. Irving, Sybil Howy (1897-1973)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 14 : Irving, Sybil Howy (1897-1973)
    Bassett, Jan
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140610b.htm
  3. Sybil Howy Irving, M.B.E. : 1897-1973
    Irving, Sybil Howy
    [[1979]]
  4. Colonel Best and her soldiers: The Story of the 33 years of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps
    Ollif, Lorna
    [1985]
    Published: Ollif Publishing Company
  5. You'll be sorry!
    Howard, Ann
    [1990]
    Published: Tarka
  6. A Stroll down memory lane
    WRAAC Association
    [2001]
  7. Soldiers of the Queen : women in the Australian Army
    Bomford, Janette
    [2001]
    Published: Oxford University Press
  8. Who's who in Australia 1962
    Alexander, Joseph A
    [1962]
    Published: Colorgravure Publications
  9. Australian women at war
    Adam-Smith, Patsy
    [1984]
    Published: Nelson
  10. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Papers of Freda Irving (1932 - 1984)
    Includes correspondence, draft articles for Women’s Day and Australian Women’s Weekly of which Freda Irving was Editor, photographs, souvenirs and published items. Also includes further papers of Sybil Irving, Freda’s sister and first Colonel in Chief of the Australian Women’s Army Service. These papers include correspondence, photographs, memorabilia of army service days, records of service and salary, as well as published material relating to military life.
    MS 12758
  11. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Speech by Colonel Sybil H IRVING (1959)
    speech by Colonel Sybil H IRVING (honorary Colonel of the Corps) made at the opening of the Kathleen Best Memorial Gates, Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) School, Mosman, NSW, 6 November 1959
    Control Symbol 2
  12. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Papers of Sybil Howy Irving (1941 - 1946)
    MS MS seq
  13. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Irving, Sybil Howy (1939 - 1948)
    Service Number - V143893 : Date of birth - 25 Feb 1897 : Place of birth - MELBOURNE VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE VIC : Next of Kin - IRVING F
    2002/05074483
  14. National Archives of Australia, Melbourne Office: [Letters to Miss Sybil Irving congratulating her upon her appointment as Controller of the AWASS] (1941)
    MP508/1
  15. Australian War Memorial Research Centre: Two senior members of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) taking a wreath into the Shrine of Remembrance during the Armistice Day ceremony (11 November 1942)
    Melbourne, Vic. 1942-11-11. Two senior members of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) taking a wreath into the Shrine of Remembrance during the Armistice Day ceremony. VF143893 Lieutenant Colonel S. H. Irving MBE, Commandant, AWAS.
    137038
  16. Australian War Memorial Research Centre: Group of Australian Women's Army Service officers from the Victorian Land Headquarters on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance (24 November 1943)
    Melbourne, Aus. 1943-11-24. Group of Australian Women's Army Service officers from the Victorian Land Headquarters on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance. They are, left to right: front row: VF346533 Lieutenant N. M. Callinan; VF388389 Lieutenant M. J. Watts; VF143893 Colonel S. H. Irving, MBE; VF388264 Lieutenant E. M. Vince; VF346838 Lieutenant B. A. Deering; VF346737 Lieutenant I. L. Johannesen. Centre row: VF346921 Lieutenant R. C. Rainford; VF346530 Lieutenant E. I. Pascoe; Lieutenant D. E. Dodd; VF346720 Lieutenant L. E. Coghland; VF387942 Lieutenant F. M. Creeley; VF388758 Lieutenant V. L. Earle. Back row: VF388283 Captain L. D. Crane; VF345014 Lieutenant D. L. Madden; VF396342 Lieutenant G. J. E. H. Davis; NF435329 Major J. Wood.
    060336
  17. Australian War Memorial Research Centre: [Inspections - General - Report on Australian Women's Army Service visit by Colonel Sybil H Irving - Letter to Major-General E C P Plant] (1944)
    491/1/5007
  18. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Audio tape - Christmas message from Colonel Sybil H IRVING (1956)
    Christmas message from Colonel Sybil H IRVING (honorary Colonel of the Corps HONCOL) and Colonel Kathleen BEST (Director, Women's Royal Australian Army Corps DWRAAC) 1956
    A7483/1
  19. Australian War Memorial Research Centre: [Papers of Lieut Gen Sir Iven G Mackay:] (1943)
    [Correspondence "I-J" - includes: Col Sybil Irving, Capt Jamison] (Aug-Sep)
    AWM92
  20. National Archives of Australia, Melbourne Office: Irving, Freda Mary Howy: Service Number - VF398095 : Date of birth - 16 Sep 1903 : Place of birth - MELBOURNE VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE VIC : Next of Kin - IRVING SYBIL (1941 - 1972)
    B884/0

Resources by Sybil Howy Irving (1)

  1. Sybil Howy Irving, M.B.E. : 1897-1973 / [by Friends and Colleagues]
    Irving, Sybil Howy, 1897-1973
    [ Book : 1979 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.006)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.006)

Resources about Sybil Howy Irving (5)

  1. Sybil Howy Irving, M.B.E. : 1897-1973 / [by Friends and Colleagues]
    Irving, Sybil Howy, 1897-1973
    [ Book : 1979 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.508)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 44.508)

  2. Papers
    Irving, Sybil Howy
    [ Unpublished : 1941-1946 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.179)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 15.179)

  3. Papers relating to Royal visits to Australia
    Irving, Godfrey George Howy, 1867-1937
    [ Unpublished : 1920-1970 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.144)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.144)

  4. Papers
    Irving, Freda, d. 1984
    [ Unpublished : 1932-1984 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.47)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.47)

  5. Oral history interview with Mary-Agnes Brown
    Brown, Mary-Agnes
    [ Sound : 1975 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.32)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.32)

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  1. Irving, Sybil Howy (1897-1973)
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  2. Irving, Freda Mary Howy (1903-1984)
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  1. U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1969 July - December
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  1. Papers
    Irving, Sybil Howy, Colonel, 1897-1973
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    Hughes, W. M. (William Morris), 1862-1952
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  1. EPEOPLE OPLEPEOPLE [?]EPEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE Wildflower painting as "an emotional experience"
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 4 October 1978 p 20 Article Illustrated
    ... ney's Wynyard Street in memory of Sybil Howy Irving. lt is one of the final pieces in a pattern of ... picture of the late Sybil Irving. Salute to the friend and old comrade At 11am on Tuesday October 3, Lady ... usually a tree, seat and plaque, have been unveiled in most main cities. Sybil Irving was "one of ... 1830 words
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  2. ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY. SENIOR PUBLIC EXAMINATION.
    The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Wednesday 5 February 1913 p 8 Article
    ... 12, 14: Henry William Heseltine, 7, 8, 9; Sybil Howy Irving, 2a, 4, 5; Char les Thomas Johnson, 1, 7, ... 1834 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.003)

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  3. UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE. PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS BOARD. SENIOR PUBLIC EXAMINATION, 1912. A—HONOR LISTS.
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Saturday 25 January 1913 p 16 Article
    ... Leemon, 2a, 4, 14; Irving, Sybil Howy, 2a, 4, 5; Jamieson, Neil Liver-ore, 1, 4, 9; Jarvis, Norman ... 5281 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

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