Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Salonika’ R.R.C. group of three awarded to Matron Elsie E. Harlow, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, with Garrard, London, case of issue; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (A/Matron. E. E. Harlow) mounted for display, good very fine (3) £600-800

R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Elsie Emma Harlow was born on 11 December 1882, and joined Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve on 28 April 1915, having previously been employed as a Ward Sister at the Hospital for Sick and Wounded Soldiers, Boscombe, Hampshire. She served during the Great War in the Salonika theatre from 4 July 1917, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 28 November 1917) whilst serving with No. 64 General Hospital. Awarded the Royal Red Cross in the 1918 New Year’s Honours List, she transferred to No. 36 General Hospital on 12 March 1918, and subsequently served with No. 23 Hospital in Baghdad from 20 April 1920 until 14 January 1923. She was presented with her R.R.C. by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia, on 20 January 1921. She was demobilised on 29 September 1923, suffering from chest trouble contracted in April 1917 whilst serving in Malta, and from defective vision as a result of the glare of the sun contracted in November 1922 whilst serving in Iraq.

Sold together with the recipient’s Mention in Despatches Certificate, dated 25 October 1917, and various copied research.