Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second World War R.R.C. group of four awarded to Acting Matron Elizabeth Wilson, Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service, afterwards Lady Rook, the wife of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Alan Rook, K.B.E., C.B., of the R.A.F’s Medical Branch

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R., gold, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the lower arm officially dated ‘1943’, on Lady’s riband bow, with its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their original addressed Air Ministry card forwarding box to ‘Lady E. Rook, 18 Sedley Taylor Road, Cambridge’, with matching issuance slip; Coronation 1937, on Lady’s bow, with its card box of issue, extremely fine (4) £500-600

R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘Since the R.A.F. Hospital, Iceland [a Coastal Command establishment] opened on the 1 March 1942, this lady has shown exceptional efficiency in dealing with the problems that have arisen in connection with a pioneer establishment and her wise direction of the nursing staff has contributed in a great measure to the happy atmosphere of the hospital. She is most popular not only with the three British Services but also with the Americans and has further consolidated the position of the P.M.R.A.F.N.S.’

Elizabeth Wilson had earlier qualified for the Coronation Medal in 1937, for services as a Sister on duty in Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service that day (the official roll refers), in addition to having been awarded the A.R.R.C. as an Acting Matron in the New Year’s Honours List in 1941, ‘For loyal and efficient service in hospitals at home and abroad’ (the relevant recommendation refers). She married Air Vice-Marshal Alan Rook, C.B., in 1946, and he was created K.B.E. two years later, having latterly served as a Consultant in Medicine to the R.A.F. - Who’s Who confirms his address as 18 Sedley Taylor Road, Cambridge.