Rosamund King Everard-Steenkamp was born in 1907, near Carolina, South Africa, to British parents. She grew up on their farm in Mpumalanga in the shadow of the Everard Group – the famous collection of artists made up of the women in her family.

In the 1920s Rosamund visited Europe with her mother and sister to further their artistic studies. Art wasn’t her only passion. She was an excellent rider and shot, spoke French and siSwati. She dreamed of flying, though, and in 1935 she began to learn.

She quickly gained experience flying across Africa to Britain, touring Europe, North Africa and Turkey. Soon she was passing on her considerable knowledge as a flying instructor at Witwatersrand Technical College.

Many of the pilots trained by Rosumand would go on to distinguish themselves in the South African Air Force thanks to her tutelage.

When the Second World War began she was commissioned as a captain continuing to teach and fly but now for the South African Air Force. In 1940 she met and married fellow pilot Nicolaas Steenkamp. Tragically, within two years he was dead.

Despite being recently widowed, her service continued, flying between South Africa and Cairo transporting important officials between military bases.

By 1944 Rosamund’s global career in the air force took another turn as she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in the UK. As an ATA pilot she had the often-dangerous job of ferrying military aircraft from factory to base.

It is believed that she became the first woman to fly a jet aircraft during her time in the UK.

Rosamund continued her service with the ATA until 19 March 1946 when she was killed in a flying accident while at the controls of a Spitfire. She was 32 years old.

Her body was brought to All Saints’ Cemetery in Maidenhead, Berkshire, for burial alongside 19 fellow members of the ATA.