Thomas Coke, 5th Earl of Leicester

Thomas William Edward Coke, 5th Earl of Leicester MVO DL (16 May 1908 – 3 September 1976), was a British peer.^[1]

Major Thomas William Edward Coke, 5th Earl of Leicester of Holkham, was born on 16 May 1908. He was the son of Thomas William Coke, 4th Earl of Leicester, and Marion Gertrude Trefusis. He was educated at Eton, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He succeeded to the title of 5th Viscount Coke and 5th Earl of Leicester of Holkham on 21 August 1949.

Courtier

He was Equerry to the Duke of York between 1934 and 1937, and was invested as a Member, Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) in 1937. When the Duke of York became King George VI, the Earl became Extra Equerry to HM the King between 1937 and 1952, and continued as Extra Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II. He was decorated with the award of Royal Order of George I of Greece in 1963.

Military career

He served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East in World War II, reaching the rank of major, and later becoming an Honorary Colonel of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Norfolk from 1944.

Marriage and family

Leicester married Lady Elizabeth Mary Yorke (born 10 March 1912, died 1985), daughter of Charles Yorke, 8th Earl of Hardwicke and Ellen Russell, on 1 October 1931.

They had three daughters together:^[2]

• Lady Anne Veronica Coke (born 16 July 1932). Lady Anne was one of Queen Elizabeth II's Maids of Honour at the coronation in 1953.^[3] She married the Scottish peer Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner on 21 April 1956.
• Lady Carey Elizabeth Coke (born 5 May 1934)
• Lady Sarah Marion Coke (born 23 July 1944)

Leicester died on 3 September 1976 at age 68. Because he had no sons, on his death he was succeeded in the earldom and other titles by his cousin Anthony Coke, 6th Earl of Leicester.

References