Alexandra Mary Freesia Pelham, Lady Worsley,

CBE 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 ...

(née Vivian; 27 February 1890–21 September 1963) was a British

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and courtier.

Biography

Alexandra was a daughter of

Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian Hussey Crespigny Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian, (19 June 1834 – 21 October 1893) was a British diplomat from the Vivian family. Background Born at Connaught Place, London, Vivian was the eldest son of Charles Vivian, 2nd Baron Vivian, and was edu ...

and a godchild of

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...

. Among her siblings were

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Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879-1939), who married

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...

Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (; 19 June 1861 – 29 January 1928) was a senior officer of the British Army. During the First World War he commanded the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front from late 1915 until t ...

, commander of the British Expeditionary Force during

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 George Vivian, 4th Baron Vivian (1878-1940). On 31 January 1911, she married Lt. Charles Pelham, Lord Worsley, the eldest son and heir of the 4th Earl of Yarborough. In 1914, Lady Worsley's husband was killed on active service in

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during

after only three years of marriage. She purchased the land where Lord Worsley's body was buried in the town of Zandvoorde, and after Worsley's body was re-interred, the land became the site of the Household Cavalry Memorial. The couple did not have any children and Lady Worsley did not remarry. In 1945, she was appointed an

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 ...

for her service to the

war effort War effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and civilian—towards the support of a military force, particular during a state of war. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative si ...

with the WVS and became an Extra

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in 1947. In 1953, she was promoted to a

for her work with the

Victoria League The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship (1901–present) is a voluntary charitable organisation that connects people from Commonwealth countries. There are currently branches in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand with affiliated organisatio ...

and died, aged 73, in 1963.

References

Sources

The London GazetteBurke's Peerage & Gentry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worsley, Alexandra Pelham, Lady Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Daughters of barons British courtesy baronesses and ladies of Parliament 1890 births 1963 deaths