Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan

Helen Fraser was born in 1879. She was department head and later Professor of Botany at Birkbeck College (1909-17, 1921-39, and 1941-44).

She became and authority on fungi. Her career was interrupted in both World Wars. In WWI she was organizer, and controller of the Women's Army Auxiliary Air Force in France (1917), and commandant of the Auxiliary (1918-19).

She then created DBE. In WWII she was chief controller of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (1939-41). She died in 1967.