Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Second World War ‘Middle East service’ M.B.E., R.R.C. group of nine awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Mildred Elizabeth Harris, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service and Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

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, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, rev. dated, ‘1944’, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, on bow ribbon, in Garrard, London case of issue, each with named forwarding note and in card boxes of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Q.A.I.M.N.S. Cape Badge, unnamed, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1926; Badge of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, 40mm., silver and blue enamel maltese cross, rev. inscribed, ‘Mildred E. Harris, 1921’, in John Pinches, London case of issue, this with minor enamel damage; two Q.A.I.M.N.S. badges and two Q.A.R.A.N.C. badges, medals generally extremely fine except where stated (lot) £800-£1,000

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2007.

M.B.E. London Gazette 30 December 1941 Miss Mildred Elizabeth Harris (206196), Sister (acting Matron), Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service:
‘In recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk) during the period February, 1941, to to July, 1941’.

The original Recommendation states: ‘During the Syrian Campaign 1941, the considerable and rapid expansion of No. 62 Gen. Hosp. necessitated a great deal of difficult and extra work by the Nursing sisters and orderlies, whose efficiency was due to the professional ability and devotion to duty shown by Miss Harris’.

R.R.C. London Gazette 6 January 1944 Miss Mildred Elizabeth Harris (206196), Sister (acting Matron), Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Portishead, Somerset):
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East’.

The original Recommendation states: ‘For the past 31⁄2 years in the Middle East this lady has been first Acting Matron 62 General Hospital (11⁄2 years), Acting Matron 42 General Hospital and now Acting Matron 90 General Hospital. Throughout this period she has carried out splendid work, always running a first-class nursing service. Capable, self-reliant and most popular with all she has shown great devotion to duty making for the comfort and happiness of patients and nursing staff alike’.

Mildred Elizabeth Harris was born on 7 January 1895. After completing her training at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing in 1921, she entered the Q.A.I.M.N.S. in November 1922 and was appointed a Staff Nurse in March 1923 and Sister in July 1926. She served in India, 1926-31 and was in China in 1934. During the War she was appointed Acting Matron in June 1943 and served in the Middle East. Then in the Q.A.R.A.N.C. she was appointed Senior Commander (Major) in April 1943 and Temporary Chief Commander (Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel) in February 1949. Promoted to that rank in April 1950, Lieutenant-Colonel Harris retired from the Q.A.R.A.N.C. on 7 January 1952. Sold with copied research details.