Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine ‘Korean War’ A.R.R.C. group of eight awarded to Major Florence Victoria Hynes, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), E.II.R., silver and enamel, reverse dated ‘1953’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; U.N. Korea 1950-54, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Major F. V. Hynes. R.R.C. Q.A.R.A.N.C.) mounted for wear, very fine and better (8) £450-550

Florence Victoria Hynes was born in Dublin on 20 July 1908, the daughter of William Francis and Rachel Hynes. In 1927 Florence left Ireland and became a Nurse in the Haringay, Hornsey Isolation Hospital, London. Just before the outbreak of the War on 15 April 1939 she joined the Queen Alexander's Imperial Nursing Service and on 4 April 1940 was promoted to Sister. During the war she served as a Sister in North Africa and Italy. After the War she continued to serve in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, being promoted to Captain on 15 April 1947 and Junior Commander on 15 April 1949. She was then promoted Major and posted to the Commonwealth Hospital in Kure, Japan serving as Senior Nurse in Charge of the Operating Theatre. It was here in Japan she was recommended for the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class, "Her contribution towards the surgical operative treatment of all Commonwealth patients has been outstanding". The recommendation was approved by Queen Mary in Marlborough House on 18 December 1952 and the award was listed in the London Gazette of 1 January 1953.

Her recommendation reads:

‘This Nursing Officer has served continuously with the British Commonwealth General Hospital in Japan since November 1950. During this period she has performed nursing duties in the medical and surgical wards and in the operating theatre. As Senior Nursing Officer in charge of all four operating rooms she has been responsible for organising and training the operating theatre staff, for ensuring the efficient running at all times (both day and night) of the four operating tables, and for the maintenance of operating theatre equipment ready for emergency use at any time. In the course of these duties she has contributed towards the operative treatment of all Commonwealth battle-casualties, injured and others requiring surgical operation. She has carried out these duties in an exemplary manner, by her personal example, initiative, zeal and drive, together with a determination to ensure that the operating theatre facilities shall be maintained in as high a state of efficiency as possible. She has maintained an excellent influence over her subordinate staff. In my opinion, her contribution towards the surgical operative treatment of all Commonwealth patients, has been outstanding.’

Florence Hynes then served in Malaya and was promoted Substantive Major. She retired on 20 July 1964, aged 56 years and then returned to Dublin where she became Hospital Matron of the Royal College of Nursing. She never married and was living  at 1 Castle Park, Monkstown, Dublin when she died on 4 October 1989, aged 81 years. She was buried in the Shandanagh Cemetary, Shankhill, Co. Dublin.

With copied recommendations and gazette extracts.