Lady of the Army – Stefanie Van Steelandt

She was Beatrice Banning Ayer until she became Mrs. George S. Patton.

In Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton, Stefanie Van Steelandt presents a stellar biography of the woman who was the emotional support and confidant to one of the most powerful men in the history of the United States military.

Born on January 12, 1886, Beatrice met George in the summer of 1902. Stefanie Van Steelandt describes them as:

 …the worldly sixteen-year-old was mature beyond her years and exuded an air of confidence which dwarfed her unsophisticated seventeen-year-old escort.

The stage was set for their lives together, with Beatrice (subsequently, Mrs. Patton) directing the home front. Both were 24 years old when they married on May 26, 1910, their union lasting 35 years, cut short by General Patton’s death at age 60 due to a car accident. 

An exemplary trailing spouse, Mrs. Patton adapted to military life. She gained the trust of other military wives and often mentored them. However, as a self-assured woman with a privileged upbringing, Mrs. Patton went beyond her role as a wealthy early twentieth-century housewife. She spent much time on her interests outside of military life. An accomplished sailor, equestrian, and writer, she chose activities that fed her skills and joy.

Beatrice and “Georgie,” her pet name for her husband, especially enjoyed time together on the ocean:

After crossing the Pacific Ocean twice in a schooner—from Los Angeles to Hawaii and back, in 1935 and 1937, respectively—the Pattons were convinced they wanted to circumnavigate the globe one day. They sold the “Arcturus” but vowed to build their own schooner, keeping detailed notes in a little book titled “When and If we ever build a boat.”

While living in Hawaii, Mrs. Patton developed a deep interest in the land, culture, and traditions. It inspired her published writing in books she authored, essays, and poetry for magazines.

Not surprisingly, much of what Stefanie Van Steelandt learned about Mrs. Patton was intertwined with her husband, General George S. Patton Jr., dictating the book as a dual biography. It begins with their lineage and how each family acquired wealth – a commonality that factored toward their union.

Another source used was the boxes of letters at the Library of Congress. Many were written to each other revealing their private personalities, though Mrs. Pattern had burned those too intimate.

During her extensive research, Stefanie Van Steelandt discovered a need for more of Mrs. Patton than in other books about the Pattons. Some people didn’t even know General Patton had a wife. She also noticed that the movie Patton, starring George C. Scott, included questionable depictions of General Patton.

Reading Lady of the Army will take you into the fullness of Beatrice Ayers Patton and her husband. It will emphasize the importance and contributions of overshadowed women. Stefanie Van Steelandt included facets of the Pattons that other biographies did not. However, it is not all honor and glory, as there are accounts of racism, infidelity, and jealousy. Her lists of notes, illustration credits, the bibliography and index, articles, and interviews – all are intriguing. Perusing these areas of Lady of the Army gives insight into its depth.

Stefanie Van Steelandt spent nearly four years working on Lady of the Army. The pandemic, ironically, graced her with the needed time and solitude to write the bulk of it. Her website bio explains her initial interest, stemming from her love of biographies and seeing Patton’s name numerous times in history books.

 In the case of General Patton, the woman behind the man had to be someone extraordinary, and Beatrice Ayer Patton did not disappoint. I did some research, quickly realizing there was a bigger story to be told. I finally met the subject of the book I had always dreamed of writing. 

For an introduction and overview to Lady of the Army, visit Stefanie Van Steelandt\’s website. You\’ll enjoy photos, family trees, articles, and much more. There are also links to her social media and contact page.

What a perfect postcard, Stefanie, to represent your imagined coexistence with Beatrice Ayers Patton! Though it took significant effort, I’m glad you found it, and I enjoy having it.

I wish you continued success in keeping Lady of the Army on the bookshelves of history lovers, historians, and otherwise curious readers.

Congratulations on your win of an IBPA Benjamin Franklin award!

Thank you 🙂

~Anita~

Dear Anita,

Imagine my excitement when I came upon @postcardsandauthors. I love sending handwritten notes, but never have enough opportunities. After furtively searching NY for a card that did not feature the Empire State Bldg, I resorted to Ebay. I can just imagine one of these women being Beatrice Ayer, watching her sweetheart, Cadet George Patton, in 1906.

With warm personal regards,
Stefanie Van Steelandt