Four: Head Naval Nursing Auxiliary Mary E. Handel, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and British Red Cross Society

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (0083 M. E. Handel. H.N.N.A. H.M.S. Ariel.); Voluntary Medical Service Medal, silver (Miss Mary E. Handel); together with the recipient’s British Red Cross Society Medal (012931 M. E. Handel) with top ‘Proficiency in Red Cross First Aid’ riband bar, nearly extremely fine (5) £120-£160

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

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Mary Eileen Handel enrolled in the British Red Cross on 8 July 1941, serving with No. 212 (East Grinstead) Voluntary Aid Detachment. Transferring to the Royal Navy on 27 September 1944, she served at Haslar and H.M.S. Vernon, before moving from nursing to clerical duties at Chatham Naval Hospital on 24 March 1948. Posted to Malta, she qualified for her Voluntary Medical Service Medal on 8 July 1957. Three years later, all remaining V.A.D.s in the Royal Navy were taken into service with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service - Handel was allocated number 83. As regular personnel, all those who had served the requisite 15 years were awarded the L.S.G.C. Medal, the recipient receiving hers on 17 May 1961.

Sold with the original forwarding document for Voluntary Medical Service Medal, and B.R.C.S. proficiency notification slip confirming entitlement to last, dated 13 August 1942.