Lady Lettice Ashley-Cooper

Lettice Mildred Ashley-Cooper

Lady Lettice Mildred Mary Ashley-Cooper OStJ (12 February 1911 – 24 November 1990) was a British aristocrat, socialite, and airwoman. One of the Bright Young Things of the 1920s,[1] she served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during World War II.[2]

Biography

Lady Lettice Mildred Mary Ashley-Cooper was born in Wimbledon, London in 1911,[3][4] the daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury and Constance Sibell Grosvenor.[4]

In 1936, her name was linked with the name of Edward VIII as a possible future wife; the King had declared that the future queen had to be "English, good, beautiful and a sportswoman", and the newspaper identified four names: Lady Anne Hope, daughter of the viceroy of India; Lady Mary Grosvenor, daughter of the Duke of Westminster; Lady Angela Montagu-Douglas-Scott, sister of the Duchess of Gloucester; and Lady Lettice Ashley-Cooper.[5]

In the World War II, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, promoted Corporal in charge of the Orderly Room in October 1939[6] and commissioned as an Assistant Section Officer in June 1941.[7]

She was appointed Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (O.St.J.).[4]

In 1974, she wrote Two 17th Century Dorset Inventories and in 1986 Unusual Behaviour, published by Gollancz.

References

1. "Amusing Turns Brighten Coming-of-Age Party - 16 Jul 1927, Sat • Page 33". The Winnipeg Tribune: 33. 1927. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
2. "Lady Lettice Mildred Mary Ashley-Cooper". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
3. Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910–1950
4. Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003
5. "Names Linked with King - 13 Apr 1936, Mon • Page 4". Des Moines Tribune: 4. 1936. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
6. "Memories of the Phoney War-October 1939 — June 1940". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
7. "No. 35222". The London Gazette. 18 July 1941. p. 4143.