Edith Mary Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Mary Douglas
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| Born |
Edith Mary Dale
November 13, 1877 |
| Died | November 30, 1962 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Major Clifford Hugh Douglas |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | George Desborough Dale |
Edith Mary Douglas (born Edith Mary Dale) was a remarkable British engineer and a director of a shipyard. She was also the first woman to fly in an experimental bomber aircraft! She was born on November 13, 1877, and passed away on November 30, 1962.
Contents
About Edith Mary Douglas
Her Early Life
Edith Mary Dale was born in Kanpur, India. Her father, George Desborough Dale, worked for the Indian Civil Service. When she was young, Edith was sent to England to go to school.
In 1915, she married Major Clifford Hugh Douglas. She was his second wife, and they had one daughter together. People often called her Mrs. C. H. Douglas, which was a common way to refer to married women back then.
Getting into Engineering
Edith Douglas learned a lot about engineering and finance from her husband. He was one of the people who started the Social Credit movement in the 1920s.
During the First World War, her husband worked as an Assistant Superintendent at the Royal Aircraft Factory Farnborough. Edith worked alongside him and became very involved in the technical parts of his job. Because of this, she made history as the first woman to fly in an experimental bomber aircraft! She also traveled around the world twice and attended the 1926 World Engineering Conference in Tokyo. She was known for telling amazing stories about her travels.
Leading a Shipyard
Edith Douglas became a co-director of the Swanwick Shipyard, also known as the Hamble River Yacht & Engineering Co. This shipyard built boats powered by sails, steam, or motors. It even made its own electricity and pumped its own water! The shipyard had a special ramp for boats up to 250 tons. During the Second World War, the company built small boats for the British Navy.
Edith Douglas also worked hard to create organizations for women.
Her Role in the Women's Engineering Society
In 1932, Edith Douglas joined the Women's Engineering Society (WES). She became the Vice President when the famous pilot Amy Johnson was President. Edith often stepped in to help when Amy Johnson was busy.
In 1938, Edith Douglas became the President of the Women's Engineering Society herself! After her, Caroline Haslett took over the role, and electrical engineer Gertrude Entwistle was her Vice President.
An article from 1937 described Mrs. Douglas as someone who "starts work most days round about 8 a.m. in Southampton ship-building yard." It said she wore a blue flannel suit and an old yachting cap, and that this "handsome, dark-eyed woman directs gangs of men and organises the business of the yard." She told the interviewer that "more women should go in for planning yachts." She believed that because yachts are like homes, women should help design them from a woman's point of view.
A Talented Sailor
Edith Douglas was also a very successful competitive sailor and yachtsman. She won many awards in sailing races with her own sloop boat named 'Enid'. She loved playing sports, especially tennis and golf, and had a wonderful sense of humor.
After the Second World War ended, she retired and moved to Scotland. Edith Mary Douglas passed away on November 30, 1962.
