Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An M.B.E., A.R.R.C. group of seven awarded to Matron Eliza May Ball, Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service, late Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type lady’s shoulder badge, silver, mounted ‘bow and tails’, in Royal Mint case of issue; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver and enamel, on bow ribbon, in Garrard, London case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (S. Nurse M. E. Ball); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Coronation 1937, unnamed, on bow ribbon, in card box of issue, extremely fine (7) £600-700

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1948. ‘Acting Matron May Eliza Ball, A.R.R.C. (5015), Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service.’

A.R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1941. ‘Senior Sister, Miss Mary (sic) Eliza Ball.’

Sister May Eliza Ball, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. entered the Italian theatre of war on 12 March 1918. She gained registration from the General Nursing Council in October 1922. Staff Nurse Ball transferred from the Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. to the P.M.R.A.F.N.S. in 1923 (London Gazette 4 September 1923). Advanced to Senior Sister on 1 October 1935. Awarded the A.R.R.C. early on in the war; she was further rewarded with the M.B.E. as an Acting Matron in the P.M.R.A.F.N.S. in the New Years Honours of 1948.

With a number of original papers and documents including: recipient’s Certificate of the General Nursing Council of England and Wales, dated 27 October 1922; bestowal document for the M.B.E., dated 1 January 1948, with associated letter, in envelope addressed to ‘Miss M. E. Ball, M.B.E., A.R.R.C., Royal Air Force Hospital, Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks.’; award certificate for the Coronation Medal 1937, named to Senior Sister Miss May E. Ball’; Certificate of the Chartered Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics - for passing the teachers’ examination, dated 15 March 1935; a hardback copy of The Form and Order of the Service .... of Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 12 May 1937; Admittance Ticket for the Coronation 1937, named to ‘Sister Miss May E. Ball’; letters (2) from the Air Ministry re her retirement, dated 1948 and 1950; registered envelope addressed to ‘Miss M. Ball, Neville Cottage, Houghton Road, St. Ives, Nr. Huntingdon’. Also with an embroidered arm band and a quantity of copied research.