A Second War A.R.R.C. group of six awarded to Principal Matron Sheila H. McDowall, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, who was decorated for her work at No. 63 General Hospital in Tobruk

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver and enamel, reverse dated ‘1942’, on lady’s bow riband; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Sister. S. H. McDowall. Q.A.I.M.N.S.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, nearly extremely fine (6) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Norman Gooding Collection.

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A.R.R.C. London Gazette 9 September 1942. The original recommendation by the Officer Commanding states:
‘This lady has worked at this hospital for a year. During this period she has always held posts of great responsibility and she deserves the highest credit for her powers of organisation, her nursing ability and her tact. She has fired her juniors with equal enthusiasm for their work. Her own work here is worthy of high reward.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 June 1942.

Sheila Helen McDowall was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, on 4 October 1909. She trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London from 1931 to 1934, being registered SRN No. 72871 on 22 June 1934. Appointed Staff Nurse on probation in the Q.A.I.M.N.S. on 1 May 1937, she was sent to Millbank in London and on to Cambridge Military Hospital at Aldershot in December 1937. Posted overseas to Palestine in November 1938, she was raised Sister and went on to render extensive service at No. 63 General Hospital in Cairo from November 1940. Transferred to Tobruk in April 1942, she was later Mentioned in Despatches and decorated with the A.R.R.C.

Returned to England, McDowall received her award at an investiture held by the King at Buckingham Palace in November 1943. She subsequently nursed at hospitals in York and Catterick, before being sent to Accra in West Africa as Principal Matron. Following post-War duties in Johannesburg and Ceylon, McDowall returned home and retired from the service on 6 March 1948. She married Cecil R. Mullins in Winchester in 1956 and died there in March 2001 at the age of 91.

Sold with copied research.