Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Nursing Sister D. Close, Army Nursing Service

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Nursg. Sister D. Close); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, some edge bruising and pitting, nearly very fine, rare (2) £1,200-£1,600

Provenance: Sotheby’s, July 1986; Tony Sabell Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2012.

Miss D. Close was specially engaged as a Nursing Sister by Mrs. Deeble of Netley for the Egyptian Campaign on 1 August 1882. ‘Miss Florence Nightingale worked at high pressure in selecting them, and arranging details of their outfit. Mrs. Deeble was in command of the female nursing corps, twenty-four strong, in which several old pupils of the Nightingale School and St. Thomas’ were enrolled. Mrs. Deeble made it clear to the Army Hospital Inquiry Commission what sort of people these nurses should be: “A class of women entirely superior to that of the wardmaster and sergeants, because she must be a terror to the wrongdoer. She should also be superior to all the female relations of the patients if she is to have her proper influence.” It was understood by the War Office that the Army Nursing Service was to be socially as well as technically a superior force.’

Miss Close embarked for Ismailia on 23 August 188, and was one of 18 female nursing staff to be awarded the dated Egypt & Sudan Medal without clasp. (Honours and Awards to Women to 1914, by Norman Gooding refers).

Sold with copied research.