Violet Douglas-Pennant

Violet Blanche Douglas-Pennant (31 January 1869 – 12 October 1945) was a British philanthropist and supporter of local government who served as the second commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) until her dismissal in August 1918.

Born into the aristocracy, Douglas-Pennant became interested in youth clubs for girls which led her to charity work with the unemployed and with disabled children.

[2] She also served as a governor of the University College of South Wales and a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association (although she was not a suffragette herself).

[4] In 1914 she helped fund a 500-bed hospital in Belgium, and as a Lady-in-Waiting accompanied Louise on visits to Red Cross facilities during the First World War.

[2] There were also problems with shortages of various pieces of equipment, including uniforms and medical tools, and many of the WRAF members were living in poor quality accommodation.

[1] In addition she was not given an Air Ministry pass, meaning that every time she entered the building she was forced to fill in a form before being escorted to her office "presumably to call on myself".

[4][5] Her dismissal was looked upon unfavourably by politicians and trade unionists, and Lord Ampthill, Jimmy Thomas and Mary Reid Macarthur wrote a letter to The Daily Telegraph complaining about Weir's conduct.

The final report was produced in December 1919, and found that Douglas-Pennant had been completely unable to substantiate her claims and was deserving "of the gravest censure".

The committee's decision led two of the parties (Colonels Janson and Bersey) to sue her for libel, and both cases were successful,[10] forcing her to pay "substantial" damages.