Order of the British Empire, Dame Commander Star awarded to Dame Florence Leach, Controller in Chief, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps

Florence Edith Victoria Simpson (née Way, formerly Leach) (1874-1956) served with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) during World War One (1914-1918). She had earlier been Commandant of the Military Cookery section of the Women's Legion. Simpson initially served as Controller of Recruiting in the WAAC before being appointed its Chief Controller at the War Office in February 1918. Later that year she was promoted to Controller-in-Chief with the rank of major-general. The Corps became the Queen Mary's Auxiliary Army Corps (QMAAC) and Simpson (then married to Brigadier Henry Leach) was elected President. She retired from the QMAAC in 1920. For her wartime services Simpson was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), the first Dame Commander of the Military Division.

Donated by the Trustees of the WRAC Museum from the Corps Collection