The unique Great War 'Gibraltar Naval Hospital' R.R.C. and 'Plymouth Naval Hospital' Second Award Bar pair awarded to Head-Sister-in-Chief M. L. Hughes, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt, gold, and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hd. Sister M. L. Hughes. Q.A.R.N.N.S.) mounted court-style for display, with lady’s bow riband to the RRC, good very fine; the award of a Second Award Bar to the RRC unique to the QARRNS for the Great War (2) £1,400-£1,800

Only 8 Royal Red Crosses First Class and 1 Second Award Bar were awarded to Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service during the Great War.

R.R.C. London Gazette 16 December 1916.

R.R.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 9 May 1919.

Miss Mildred Lloyd Hughes was born at Lampeter, Cardiganshire, on 9 March 1879, and trained at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, joining Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service on 28 December 1908. Posted initially to Haslar Hospital as a Nursing Sister on 15 September 1909, she was advanced Superintending Sister in 1911, before being posted to Gibraltar Hospital on 14 January 1913. She served in Gibraltar during the first two years of the Great War, where the hospital was, from the start of May 1915 onwards, dealing with the influx of casualties from Gallipoli. For her services dealing with both the administrative and medical needs of the wounded, she was awarded the R.R.C.

Following the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula Miss Hughes was posted back to the U.K. in April 1916, and on 22 November 1916 was posted to Plymouth Naval Hospital as Head Sister. For her services at Plymouth Naval Hospital she was awarded the unprecedented Second Award Bar to the R.R.C. After the Great War she continued to serve in this position at Plymouth, being promoted Head-Sister-in-Chief on 14 March 1929. She retired on 9 March 1934 and died in Cheshire in 1962.