Isabel Crowdy
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Isabel Crowdy
OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
(1878 - 25 July 1941) was an English
Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the World War I, First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in ...
member and social reformer. The inaugural secretary of the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women, she campaigned for the ongoing employment of women who had served in
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and worked to make agricultural work and countryside holidays respected and accessible.


Early life

She was the daughter of solicitor James Crowdy and his wife Mary, ''née'' Fuidge, one of five children including Edith Crowdy and
Rachel Crowdy Dame Rachel Eleanor Crowdy, Mrs Thornhill, Order of the British Empire, DBE (3 March 1884, Paddington – 10 October 1964, Outwood, Surrey, Outwood, Surrey) was an English nurse and social reformer.Alice Prochaska‘Crowdy, Dame Rachel Eleanor (1 ...
, both of whom also served in WWI and were interested in social reform. One of Isabel's areas of interest was the value of women's handicrafts in rural areas. She also served as
Secretary of the Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...
and Navy Male Nurses’ Co-operative.


World War I

During World War I, she supported the
Voluntary Aid Detachment The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The most important periods of operation for these units we ...
, where her sister Rachel was a member, along with her friend
Katharine Furse Dame Katharine Furse, ( Symonds; 23 November 1875 – 25 November 1952) was a British nursing and military administrator. She led the British Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment force during the First World War, and served as the inaugural Direc ...
. She was awarded the OBE on 23 June 1918 for her work as Commandant of Voluntary Aid Detachment Area for the
British Red Cross The British Red Cross Society () is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with 1 ...
Commission in France. She then transferred to the Women's Royal Naval Service, where her sister Edith was deputy director, and was appointed assistant director of Inspection and Training on 9 March 1918. She held an administrative role in the Association of Wrens, a society that held reunions for WRNS members, in 1921.


Later career and activism

In 1920, Isabel was appointed General Secretary of the newly formed Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women, where she became a member of the Council in 1922. Collaborating with the
Women's Institute The Women's Institute (WI) is a community-based organization for women in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. The movement was founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, by Erland and Janet Lee with Adelaide Hoodless being the ...
, she undertook publicity tours of rural areas, promoting agricultural work as beneficial and patriotic for women. The aim was to provide ongoing employment for women who had served during the war. In the early 1930s she spent some time in Australia on the staff of
Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometime ...
Sir
Philip Game Sir Philip Woolcott Game (30 March 1876 – 4 February 1961) was a Royal Air Force commander, who later served as Governor of New South Wales and Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London). Born in Surrey in 1876, Game was educated at Cha ...
,
Governor of New South Wales The governor of New South Wales is the representative of the monarch, King Charles III, in the state of New South Wales. In an analogous way to the governor-general of Australia, Governor-General of Australia at the national level, the governor ...
, where she was estimated 'probably the most popular private secretary in Government House annals.' She was then appointed information officer to the
Orient Line The Orient Steam Navigation Company, also known as the Orient Line, was a UK, British shipping company with roots going back to the late 18th century. From the early 20th century onwards, an association began with P&O (company), P&O which bec ...
in 1934. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, she worked as secretary to the Children's Country Holiday Fund, organising country holidays for city children.


Death

She died in London, 25 July 1941.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crowdy, Isabel 1878 births 1941 deaths Women's Royal Naval Service officers Women's Royal Naval Service personnel of World War I Officers of the Order of the British Empire