Bridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscountess Monckton
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Lady Monckton in 1934 (then known as Lady Carlisle)
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
| In office 1963–1982 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bridget Helen Hore-Ruthven
27 July 1896 |
| Died | 17 April 1982 (aged 85) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle
(m. 1918; div. 1947) |
| Children | 2, including Charles |
| Parents | Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland Jean Lampson |
| Relatives | Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven (sister) Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven (sister) |
Bridget Helen Monckton (born July 27, 1896 – died April 17, 1982) was an important British woman. She was known as the 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland and later as the Dowager Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley. She also received the CBE award.
Bridget was a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. She belonged to the Conservative Party. She is best remembered for leading women's military services in India during World War II.
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Bridget Monckton's Early Life
Bridget Hore-Ruthven was born in 1896. She was the oldest of four daughters. Her father was Major-General Walter Hore-Ruthven, 10th Lord Ruthven of Freeland. Her mother was Jean Lampson.
Bridget had three sisters. One sister was Hon. Jean Elisabeth St Loe Hore-Ruthven. Another was Hon. Alison Mary Hore-Ruthven. Her third sister was Hon. Margaret Leslie Hore-Ruthven.
Her family had many important connections. Her grandfather was the 9th Lord Ruthven of Freeland. Her uncle was Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn. Her cousin was Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie.
Bridget Monckton's Career and Service
When World War II began, Bridget was known as Lady Carlisle. She was a Senior Controller in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). This was a women's branch of the British Army.
Later, she was promoted. She became the Director of the Women's Auxiliary Corps (India). This was like the ATS, but for India. She also led the Women's Royal Indian Naval Service (WRINS). These groups helped with the war effort.
For her excellent leadership, she received the CBE award in 1947. This award recognized her military service.
After the war, Lady Monckton continued to help others. From 1962 to 1974, she was the Chairman of a charity called Attend. This group helped hospital friends' leagues. She later became the President of Attend from 1977 to 1978.
How Bridget Monckton Became a Peeress
Bridget's father held a special title called a "peerage." This title, "Lord Ruthven of Freeland," began in 1651. It was a Scottish peerage. Unlike many English titles, Scottish peerages could be passed down to a daughter.
So, when her father passed away in 1956, Bridget inherited his title. She became the Lady Ruthven of Freeland in her own right. This means she held the title herself.
In 1957, her second husband also received a peerage. He became the first Viscount Monckton of Brenchley. So, Bridget's title became the Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.
Even though she had a Scottish peerage, Bridget could not initially sit in the House of Lords. This changed in 1963. A new law, the Peerage Act 1963, allowed all Scottish peers to join. It also allowed all women who held hereditary peerages to sit in the House of Lords.
From 1963, Bridget took her seat in the House of Lords. This was unusual because her son and her second husband also sat there at the same time.
Bridget Monckton's Family Life
On January 17, 1918, Bridget married George Howard, 11th Earl of Carlisle. She then became the Countess of Carlisle. They had two children together:
- Lady Carolyn Bridget Dacre Howard, born in 1919.
- Charles James Ruthven Howard, born in 1923. He later became the 12th Earl of Carlisle.
In 1947, Bridget and Lord Carlisle divorced. Later that year, on August 13, 1947, she married Sir Walter Monckton. She then became Lady Monckton.
Sir Walter had children from his first marriage. Bridget and Sir Walter did not have children together.
Bridget Monckton passed away in April 1982. She was 85 years old. Her son, who was already the Earl of Carlisle, inherited her title.
