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{{short description|British Army officer}}
{{short description|British Army officer}}
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{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name = Sheila Heaney
|name = Sheila Heaney
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|image_upright =
|image_upright =
|alt =
|alt =
|caption =
|caption = Heaney as a colonel (1967–70)
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1917|06|11}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1917|06|11}}
|birth_place = Liverpool, England
|birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1991|02|01|1917|06|11}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1991|02|01|1917|06|11}}
|death_place = Edinburgh, Scotland
|death_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
|placeofburial =
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|placeofburial_label =
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|allegiance = [[British Army]]
|allegiance = [[British Army]]
|branch = [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] & [[Women's Royal Army Corps]]
|branch = [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] & [[Women's Royal Army Corps]]
|serviceyears = 1939-1973
|serviceyears = 1939–1973
|rank = Director
|rank = Director
|battles = [[Second World War]] <br/> [[1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine]]
|battles = [[Second World War]] <br/> [[1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine]]
|awards = [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]
|awards = [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]
}}
}}
'''Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney''', [[Companion of the Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Territorial Decoration|TD]] (11 June 1917 – 1 February 1991) was a British Army officer. She joined the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] shortly before the [[Second World War]] and served in the UK, East Africa and Palestine. In 1949 she transferred to the newly formed [[Women's Royal Army Corps]] (WRAC). Heaney rose through the ranks and was honoured with appointment as a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]]. She was promoted to the rank of brigadier, appointed director of WRAC and [[Aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1970. As part of her role Heaney visited the United States to study their [[Women in the United States Army|ongoing integration of women into the army]] and recommended that the process proceed in the UK on a gradual basis. She instituted changes to make it easier for women in the British Army to choose their branch of service. After her retirement in 1973, she lived in Edinburgh where she volunteered with the [[Women's Royal Voluntary Service]] and supported a local hospice.
'''Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney''', [[Companion of the Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Territorial Decoration|TD]] (11 June 1917 – 1 February 1991) was a British Army officer. She joined the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] shortly before the [[Second World War]] and served in the UK, East Africa and Palestine. In 1949 she transferred to the newly formed [[Women's Royal Army Corps]] (WRAC). Heaney rose through the ranks and was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]]. She was promoted to the rank of brigadier, appointed director of the WRAC and [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1970. As part of her role as director Heaney visited the United States to study [[Women in the United States Army|the integration of women into their army]] and recommended that the process proceed in the UK on a more gradual basis. She instituted changes to make it easier for women in the British Army to choose their branch of service. After her retirement in 1973, she lived in Edinburgh where she volunteered with the [[Women's Royal Voluntary Service]] and supported a local hospice.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney was born in [[Liverpool]] on 11 June 1917. She was the second of four children of Francis Heaney, a surgeon, and his wife Anne Summers, who was American. As a child she was a keen horse rider and [[hunt follower]] and holidayed with her family in Cornwall, the Lake District and Ireland.<ref name=dnb>{{cite ODNB |last1=Corsar |first1=Mary |title=Heaney, Sheila Anne Elizabeth (1917–1991), army officer |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-49771 |year=2004 |access-date=17 September 2019 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/49771}}</ref>
Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney was born in [[Liverpool]] on 11 June 1917. She was the second of four children of Francis Heaney, a surgeon, and his wife Anne {{nee|Summers}}, who was American. As a child she was a keen horse rider and [[hunt follower]] and holidayed with her family in [[Cornwall]], the [[Lake District]] and Ireland.<ref name=dnb>{{cite ODNB |last1=Corsar |first1=Mary |title=Heaney, Sheila Anne Elizabeth (1917–1991), army officer |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-49771 |year=2004 |access-date=17 September 2019 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/49771}}</ref>


Heaney developed an interest in [[sociology]] after visiting the poorer parts of London with her father on his work. She studied at [[Huyton College]] and graduated from the [[University of Liverpool]] in 1938. Heaney then attended the [[Loughborough College of Technology]] before finding work at the [[human resources]] department of retailer [[Marks & Spencer]].<ref name=dnb/>
Heaney developed an interest in [[sociology]] after visiting the poorer parts of London with her father on his work. She studied at [[Huyton College]] and graduated from the [[University of Liverpool]] in 1938. Heaney then attended the [[Loughborough College of Technology]] before finding work at the [[human resources]] department of retailer [[Marks & Spencer]].<ref name=dnb/>


== Auxiliary Territorial Service ==
== Auxiliary Territorial Service ==
As tensions increased in the lead-up to the [[Second World War]] Heaney joined the [[British Army]]'s [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] (ATS) and encouraged her co-workers to join up.<ref name=dnb/> On 26 January 1939 she was appointed company assistant (equivalent to [[second lieutenant]]) and served in the 1st West Lancashire Platoon.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34819|date=26 March 1940|page=1843|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney afterwards spent a year at the ATS training centre before being appointed second in command of the Salisbury Plain District Group.<ref name=dnb/> When the ATS reformed its rank structure on 30 May 1941 she transferred to the rank of second subaltern.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35230|date=25 July 1941|page=4346|supp=y }}</ref>
As tensions increased in the lead-up to the [[Second World War]] Heaney joined the [[British Army]]'s [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] (ATS) and encouraged her co-workers to join up.<ref name=dnb/> On 26 January 1939 she was appointed company assistant (equivalent to [[second lieutenant]]) and served in the 1st West Lancashire Platoon.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34819|date=26 March 1940|page=1843|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney afterwards spent a year at the ATS training centre before being appointed second in command of the [[Salisbury_Plain#Military_use|Salisbury Plain]] District Group.<ref name=dnb/> When the ATS reformed its rank structure on 30 May 1941 she transferred to the rank of second subaltern (equivalent to her previous rank).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35230|date=25 July 1941|page=4346|supp=y }}</ref>


From January to April 1944 Heaney attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] in [[Fort Leavenworth]], Kansas. Afterwards she carried out administrative work on a posting to [[British East Africa]]. From 1946 she served in [[Mandatory Palestine]], a posting that included the period of the [[1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine|1947-48 civil war]].<ref name=dnb/> Heaney transferred from her [[Military_rank#Types|war substantive commission]] to a permanent commission on 1 January 1947 and was promoted to junior commander (captain) the following month.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38383|date=17 August 1948|page=4628|supp=y }}</ref> On 20 March 1947 she was awarded the [[Efficiency Medal]] for long service, at which point she held the rank of temporary senior commander (equivalent to major).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37909|date=18 March 1947|page=1319|supp=y }}</ref>
From January to April 1944 Heaney attended the [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]] in [[Fort Leavenworth]], Kansas. Afterwards she carried out administrative work on a posting to [[British East Africa]]. From 1946 she served in [[Mandatory Palestine]], a posting that included the period of the [[1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine|1947-48 civil war]].<ref name=dnb/> Heaney transferred from her [[Military_rank#Types|war substantive commission]] to a permanent commission on 1 January 1947 and was promoted to junior commander (equivalent to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]]) the following month.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38383|date=17 August 1948|page=4628|supp=y }}</ref> On 20 March 1947 she was awarded the [[Efficiency Medal]] for long service, at which point she held the rank of temporary senior commander (equivalent to [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]]).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37909|date=18 March 1947|page=1319|supp=y }}</ref>


Heaney returned to the UK in July 1948 and was awarded the [[War Medal 1939–1945]] and the [[General Service Medal (1918)|General Service Medal]] with Palestine clasp for her service.<ref name=dnb/> She served at the ATS headquarters for 3 months before being appointed [[Adjutant_general#United_Kingdom|deputy assistant adjutant-general]] at the [[War Office]].<ref name=dnb/>
Heaney returned to the UK in July 1948 and was entitled to the [[War Medal 1939–1945]] and the [[General Service Medal (1918)|General Service Medal]] with Palestine clasp for her service.<ref name=dnb/> She served at the ATS headquarters for three months before being appointed [[Adjutant_general#United_Kingdom|deputy assistant adjutant-general]] at the [[War Office]].<ref name=dnb/>


== Women's Royal Army Corps ==
== Women's Royal Army Corps ==
Heaney decided on a permanent career in the army in 1949 and transferred to the [[Women's Royal Army Corps]] (WRAC) when it was founded on 1 February 1949. She transferred initially in the rank of subaltern (with seniority of 2 September 1941) but was immediately promoted to junior commander (with seniority of 2 September 1945).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39024|date=26 September 1950|page=4791|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney was awarded the [[Efficiency Decoration]] on 13 April 1951. By this time the WRAC had adopted the British Army's officer ranks and she held the substantive rank of captain and temporary rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39200|date=10 April 1951|page=2062|supp=y }}</ref> During 1952 Heaney served on the headquarters of 79th Anti-Aircraft Brigade of the [[Royal Artillery]] and on 2 September was promoted to the permanent rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39637|date=2 September 1952|page=4697|supp=y }}</ref>
Heaney decided on a permanent career in the army in 1949 and transferred to the [[Women's Royal Army Corps]] (WRAC) when it was founded on 1 February 1949. She transferred initially in the rank of subaltern (equivalent to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]]), with seniority from 2 September 1941, but was immediately promoted to junior commander (equivalent to captain), with seniority from 2 September 1945.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39024|date=26 September 1950|page=4791|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney was awarded the [[Efficiency Decoration]] on 13 April 1951. By this time the WRAC had adopted the British Army's officer ranks and she held the substantive rank of captain and temporary rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39200|date=10 April 1951|page=2062|supp=y }}</ref> During 1952 Heaney served on the headquarters of 79th Anti-Aircraft Brigade of the [[Royal Artillery]] and on 2 September her rank of major was made permanent.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39637|date=2 September 1952|page=4697|supp=y }}</ref>


From 1952 to 1955 Heaney served as a trainer in [[Western Command (United Kingdom)|Western Command]] and in 1955 was posted to 1 Independent Company WRAC.<ref name=dnb/> Her service was recognised with appointment as a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] on 9 June 1955.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40497|date=3 June 1955|page=3264|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney spent two years with 140 Provost Company before being posted to the War Office in September 1959. From July 1961 she served at the WRAC School of Instruction and from April 1962 with the organisation's medical unit, followed by a stint in the records office.<ref name=dnb/> Heaney was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel on 24 February 1963 and from October 1965 served as assistant director, WRAC at [[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|Northern Command]].<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=43099|date=3 September 1963|page=7417|supp=y }}</ref> She was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1967 and from July served as assistant adjutant-general at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=44357|date=30 June 1967|page=7383|supp=y }}</ref>
From 1952 to 1955 Heaney served as a trainer in [[Western Command (United Kingdom)|Western Command]] and in 1955 was posted to 1 Independent Company WRAC.<ref name=dnb/> She was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] on 9 June 1955.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40497|date=3 June 1955|page=3264|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney spent two years with 140 Provost Company before being posted to the War Office in September 1959. From July 1961 she served at the WRAC School of Instruction and from April 1962 with the organisation's medical unit, followed by a stint in the records office.<ref name=dnb/> Heaney was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]] on 24 February 1963 and from October 1965 served as assistant director, WRAC at [[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|Northern Command]].<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=43099|date=3 September 1963|page=7417|supp=y }}</ref> She was promoted to [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] on 30 June 1967 and from July served as assistant adjutant-general at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=44357|date=30 June 1967|page=7383|supp=y }}</ref>


Heaney was promoted to the rank of brigadier on 30 June 1970 and was appointed director of the WRAC on 1 September.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45138|date=26 June 1970|page=7186|supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45182|date=28 August 1970|page=9683|supp=y }}</ref> On 29 September she was appointed an [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45210|date=13 October 1970|page=11173|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney visited the United States in 1972 to study the [[Women in the United States Army|ongoing integration of women into its army]]. She advocated similar change in the United Kingdom but on a more gradual basis; full integration in the British Army was achieved, and the WRAC disbanded, in 1992. One key change Heaney was able to introduce was the ability of women in the British Army to choose their arm of service or branch.<ref name=dnb/> Heaney was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 2 June 1973 and retired on 18 June.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45984|date=22 May 1973|page=6474|supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46007|date=18 June 1973|page=7409|supp=y }}</ref>
Heaney was promoted to the rank of [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]] on 30 June 1970 and was appointed director of the WRAC on 1 September.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45138|date=26 June 1970|page=7186|supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45182|date=28 August 1970|page=9683|supp=y }}</ref> On 29 September she was appointed an [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45210|date=13 October 1970|page=11173|supp=y }}</ref> Heaney visited the United States in 1972 to study the [[Women in the United States Army|ongoing integration of women into its army]]. She advocated similar change in the United Kingdom but on a more gradual basis; full integration in the British Army was achieved, and the WRAC disbanded, in 1992. One key change Heaney was able to introduce was the ability of women in the British Army to choose their arm of service or branch.<ref name=dnb/> Heaney was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 2 June 1973 and retired on 18 June.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45984|date=22 May 1973|page=6474|supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46007|date=18 June 1973|page=7409|supp=y }}</ref>


== Later life ==
== Later life ==
After retirement Heaney moved to Edinburgh to look after her widowed mother. She served on the military education committee of the [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]] and [[Heriot-Watt University|Heriot-Watt]] [[Officers' Training Corps|University Officers' Training Corps]] and joined the [[Women's Royal Voluntary Service]] (WRVS). Heaney helped the WRVS with delivery of [[meals on wheels]] and assisted the elderly with shopping and travel.<ref name=dnb/> She later became WRVS district organiser for Edinburgh and was its chairman for Scotland from Spring 1977.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Beauman |first1=Katharine Bentley |title=Green sleeves, the story of WVS/WRVS |date=1977 |publisher=Seely Service |location=London |isbn=978-0-85422-097-7 |page=167 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Green_Sleeves_the_Story_of_WVS_WRVS/L3okAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref>
After retirement Heaney, who never married, moved to [[Edinburgh]] to look after her widowed mother. She served on the military education committee of the [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]] and [[Heriot-Watt University|Heriot-Watt]] [[Officers' Training Corps|University Officers' Training Corps]] and joined the [[Women's Royal Voluntary Service]] (WRVS). Heaney helped the WRVS with delivery of [[meals on wheels]] and assisted the elderly with shopping and travel.<ref name=dnb/> She later became WRVS district organiser for Edinburgh and was its chairman for Scotland from spring 1977.<ref name=dnb/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Beauman |first1=Katharine Bentley |title=Green sleeves, the story of WVS/WRVS |date=1977 |publisher=Seely Service |location=London |isbn=978-0-85422-097-7 |page=167 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3okAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref>


Heaney became disabled in later life, possibly as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms while serving with the army in Kenya. She retired from the WRVS in 1981 and afterwards served on the committee of St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh. A heavy smoker throughout her life, Heaney developed lung cancer and died in the hospice. She was cremated and her funeral was held at St James's Episcopal Church in [[Goldenacre]], Edinburgh on 6 February 1991.<ref name=dnb/>
Heaney became disabled in later life, possibly as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms while serving with the army in Kenya. She retired from the WRVS in 1981 and afterwards served on the committee of St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh. A heavy smoker throughout her life, Heaney developed lung cancer and died in the hospice on 1 February 1991. She was cremated and her funeral was held at St James's Episcopal Church in [[Goldenacre]], Edinburgh on 6 February 1991.<ref name=dnb/>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 64: Line 65:
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Liverpool]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Liverpool]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Scotland]]

Latest revision as of 18:59, 11 June 2024

Sheila Heaney
Heaney as a colonel (1967–70)
Born(1917-06-11)11 June 1917
Liverpool, England
Died1 February 1991(1991-02-01) (aged 73)
Edinburgh, Scotland
AllegianceBritish Army
Service/branchAuxiliary Territorial Service & Women's Royal Army Corps
Years of service1939–1973
RankDirector
Battles/warsSecond World War
1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine
AwardsMember of the Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Order of the Bath

Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney, CB, MBE, TD (11 June 1917 – 1 February 1991) was a British Army officer. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service shortly before the Second World War and served in the UK, East Africa and Palestine. In 1949 she transferred to the newly formed Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC). Heaney rose through the ranks and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. She was promoted to the rank of brigadier, appointed director of the WRAC and aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. As part of her role as director Heaney visited the United States to study the integration of women into their army and recommended that the process proceed in the UK on a more gradual basis. She instituted changes to make it easier for women in the British Army to choose their branch of service. After her retirement in 1973, she lived in Edinburgh where she volunteered with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and supported a local hospice.

Early life

[edit]

Sheila Anne Elizabeth Heaney was born in Liverpool on 11 June 1917. She was the second of four children of Francis Heaney, a surgeon, and his wife Anne née Summers, who was American. As a child she was a keen horse rider and hunt follower and holidayed with her family in Cornwall, the Lake District and Ireland.[1]

Heaney developed an interest in sociology after visiting the poorer parts of London with her father on his work. She studied at Huyton College and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1938. Heaney then attended the Loughborough College of Technology before finding work at the human resources department of retailer Marks & Spencer.[1]

Auxiliary Territorial Service

[edit]

As tensions increased in the lead-up to the Second World War Heaney joined the British Army's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and encouraged her co-workers to join up.[1] On 26 January 1939 she was appointed company assistant (equivalent to second lieutenant) and served in the 1st West Lancashire Platoon.[1][2] Heaney afterwards spent a year at the ATS training centre before being appointed second in command of the Salisbury Plain District Group.[1] When the ATS reformed its rank structure on 30 May 1941 she transferred to the rank of second subaltern (equivalent to her previous rank).[3]

From January to April 1944 Heaney attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Afterwards she carried out administrative work on a posting to British East Africa. From 1946 she served in Mandatory Palestine, a posting that included the period of the 1947-48 civil war.[1] Heaney transferred from her war substantive commission to a permanent commission on 1 January 1947 and was promoted to junior commander (equivalent to captain) the following month.[1][4] On 20 March 1947 she was awarded the Efficiency Medal for long service, at which point she held the rank of temporary senior commander (equivalent to major).[5]

Heaney returned to the UK in July 1948 and was entitled to the War Medal 1939–1945 and the General Service Medal with Palestine clasp for her service.[1] She served at the ATS headquarters for three months before being appointed deputy assistant adjutant-general at the War Office.[1]

Women's Royal Army Corps

[edit]

Heaney decided on a permanent career in the army in 1949 and transferred to the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) when it was founded on 1 February 1949. She transferred initially in the rank of subaltern (equivalent to lieutenant), with seniority from 2 September 1941, but was immediately promoted to junior commander (equivalent to captain), with seniority from 2 September 1945.[6] Heaney was awarded the Efficiency Decoration on 13 April 1951. By this time the WRAC had adopted the British Army's officer ranks and she held the substantive rank of captain and temporary rank of major.[7] During 1952 Heaney served on the headquarters of 79th Anti-Aircraft Brigade of the Royal Artillery and on 2 September her rank of major was made permanent.[8]

From 1952 to 1955 Heaney served as a trainer in Western Command and in 1955 was posted to 1 Independent Company WRAC.[1] She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire on 9 June 1955.[9] Heaney spent two years with 140 Provost Company before being posted to the War Office in September 1959. From July 1961 she served at the WRAC School of Instruction and from April 1962 with the organisation's medical unit, followed by a stint in the records office.[1] Heaney was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on 24 February 1963 and from October 1965 served as assistant director, WRAC at Northern Command.[1][10] She was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1967 and from July served as assistant adjutant-general at the Ministry of Defence.[11]

Heaney was promoted to the rank of brigadier on 30 June 1970 and was appointed director of the WRAC on 1 September.[12][13] On 29 September she was appointed an aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II.[14] Heaney visited the United States in 1972 to study the ongoing integration of women into its army. She advocated similar change in the United Kingdom but on a more gradual basis; full integration in the British Army was achieved, and the WRAC disbanded, in 1992. One key change Heaney was able to introduce was the ability of women in the British Army to choose their arm of service or branch.[1] Heaney was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 2 June 1973 and retired on 18 June.[15][16]

Later life

[edit]

After retirement Heaney, who never married, moved to Edinburgh to look after her widowed mother. She served on the military education committee of the Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University Officers' Training Corps and joined the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS). Heaney helped the WRVS with delivery of meals on wheels and assisted the elderly with shopping and travel.[1] She later became WRVS district organiser for Edinburgh and was its chairman for Scotland from spring 1977.[1][17]

Heaney became disabled in later life, possibly as a result of eating poisonous mushrooms while serving with the army in Kenya. She retired from the WRVS in 1981 and afterwards served on the committee of St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh. A heavy smoker throughout her life, Heaney developed lung cancer and died in the hospice on 1 February 1991. She was cremated and her funeral was held at St James's Episcopal Church in Goldenacre, Edinburgh on 6 February 1991.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Corsar, Mary (2004). "Heaney, Sheila Anne Elizabeth (1917–1991), army officer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49771. Retrieved 17 September 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "No. 34819". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 March 1940. p. 1843.
  3. ^ "No. 35230". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 July 1941. p. 4346.
  4. ^ "No. 38383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 August 1948. p. 4628.
  5. ^ "No. 37909". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 1947. p. 1319.
  6. ^ "No. 39024". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1950. p. 4791.
  7. ^ "No. 39200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 April 1951. p. 2062.
  8. ^ "No. 39637". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 September 1952. p. 4697.
  9. ^ "No. 40497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1955. p. 3264.
  10. ^ "No. 43099". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 September 1963. p. 7417.
  11. ^ "No. 44357". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1967. p. 7383.
  12. ^ "No. 45138". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1970. p. 7186.
  13. ^ "No. 45182". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 August 1970. p. 9683.
  14. ^ "No. 45210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1970. p. 11173.
  15. ^ "No. 45984". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1973. p. 6474.
  16. ^ "No. 46007". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 June 1973. p. 7409.
  17. ^ Beauman, Katharine Bentley (1977). Green sleeves, the story of WVS/WRVS. London: Seely Service. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-85422-097-7.
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