Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.B.E. group of five awarded to Commandant Flora Gladys Davenport, Voluntary Aid Detachment and British Red Cross Society

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1917, mounted ‘bow and tails’; British War and Victory Medals (F. G. Davenport, V.A.D.); Voluntary Medical Service Medal, 1 clasp (Flora G. Davenport); Belgium, Queen Elizabeth Medal, bronze, without red cross, unnamed, mounted for wear, good very fine (5) £400-450

M.B.E. London Gazette 30 March 1920. ‘Commandant, Voluntary Aid Detachment, No. 4, London, and of Weir Hospital; Voluntary services in connection with War Refugees.’

Flora Gladys Davenport was born on 6 October 1881, daughter of John Davies Davenport, of 17 Kensington Park Gardens and Lincoln’s Inn. She was educated privately at home. Her records at the British Red Cross show she enrolled in March 1910. During the period 7 August-8 October 1914 she served on requisition and organising work for the Kensington Division; 8-20 October 1914 on work for the War Refugees Committee, Aldwych; 20 October 1914-18 January 1917 - in charge of the War Refugees Dispensary, 265 The Strand and also occasional night air raid duty; January-April 1917, miscellaneous work; 18 April-18 October 1917 in charge of the B.R.C.S. hut and canteen at No.7 Convalescent Camp, Boulogne; 11 November 1917-6 January 1918 nursing work at the Hospital of St. John & St. James, St. Johns Wood; and from 21 January 1918 was Commandant of the Red Cross (Weir) Hospital at Balham. The Belgian award is confirmed in B.R.C.S. records.

With copied gazette extracts, m.i.c. and other research.