Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Florence Nightingale Medal (Miss Lorna Ellice Mackenzie, 12 Mai 1937), silver, silver-gilt and enamel, with ribbon, extremely fine, scarce £350-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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The medal was established by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1912 at the 9th International Conference of the Red Cross in memory of the great and distinguished services of Florence Nightingale. The medal was originally to be awarded, yearly to up to six nurses and voluntary aids who had distinguished themselves by their devotion to the sick and wounded, in times of peace and war. The awards were made by the International Committee from the candidates put forward by the National Societies - each of which could only recommend one candidate. Because of the Great War, the first awards were made in 1920 when the medal was awarded to 52 nurses. In 1928 it was decided to increase the number of awards from six a year to 36 every two years.

Citation (translated from French) ‘Miss Lorna Ellice Mackenzie, Director of the Health Centre (Lady Bolton Dais) on the north-west frontier of India, born at Poona on 14 September, 1877. For 27 years has worked as a nurse in a number of hospitals in India, at Bombay, Baroda, Calcutta and Delhi. Since 1929 she has directed a health centre in the north-west of India. The working conditions there are extremely hard. Lack of education among the population and the primative methods employed rendered the task of educator very difficult. Her sympathetic personality and remarkable professional qualities succeeded in gaining her the confidence and respect of all’.