Lady Lettice Ashley-Cooper

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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 became a Flight Officer of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during World War II.[2]

Biography[edit]

Lady Lettice Mildred Mary Ashley-Cooper was born on 12 February 1911,[3] the daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury and Constance Sibell Grosvenor.[3]

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.[4]

During World War II she was a Flight Officer of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, promoted to Corporal in charge of the Orderly Room.[2][5]

She was appointed Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (O.St.J.).[3]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Amusing Turns Brighten Coming-of-Age Party - 16 Jul 1927, Sat • Page 33". The Winnipeg Tribune: 33. 1927. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003
  3. ^ "Names Linked with King - 13 Apr 1936, Mon • Page 4". Des Moines Tribune: 4. 1936. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Memories of the Phoney War-OCTOBER 1939 — JUNE 1940". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2018.