17 Facts About Sybil Irving

Sybil Howy Irving was an Australian military officer who was the founder and controller of the Australian Women's Army Service during World War II.

Sybil Irving served in this position from 1941 to 1946, and was active in charity and social organisations until she was aged 74.

Sybil Irving was the oldest of three children and her father, Godfrey Irving, was an Army officer who later held senior positions in the Australian Army.

Sybil Irving worked in several social welfare positions after leaving school.

Sybil Irving was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire on 2 January 1939 for her services to social welfare services in Victoria.

Sybil Irving left the Girl Guides Association in 1940 to work as Assistant-Secretary of the Victorian Red Cross Society.

In September 1941, Sybil Irving accepted an offer from the Army's Adjutant-General, Major General Victor Stantke, to lead the newly formed Australian Women's Army Service.

Sybil Irving was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1942, and successfully established a framework into which 24,000 female soldiers eventually enlisted.

Sybil Irving was based at the AWAS' headquarters in Melbourne throughout the war.

Sybil Irving used Guiding as the basis for the AWAS, and this practice drew both praise and criticism.

Sybil Irving did not support the Government's restriction against servicewomen being deployed to operational areas in the South West Pacific Area, and succeeded in having this overturned in 1945.

Sybil 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.

Sybil Irving left the Army in January 1947 when the AWAS was disbanded.

Sybil Irving later wrote to all her former officers to inquire after their welfare and ask what they were doing in the post-war world.

Sybil Irving returned to social work after completing her military service.

Sybil Irving was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps when the Army re-formed its women's service in 1951.

Sybil Irving died on 28 March 1973 at her home in South Yarra and was buried with full military honours at Fawkner cemetery.