Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and extremely well documented Great War group of seven awarded to Sister Adelaide R. Poole, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, later United States Army Nursing Service, who served with both British and American Forces during the Great War, before post-War service in Serbia and Montenegro with the American Red Cross; her entire service is chronicled in her detailed, most comprehensive, and often poignant hand-written diaries covering the years 1908-21

1914-15 Star (Nurse A. R. Poole); British War and Victory Medals (Sister A. R. Poole); Serbia, Kingdom, Order of St. Sava, Fifth Class badge, silver and enamel, Bishop with green robes; Red Cross Medal of Merit, silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; United States of America, Victory Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, France; New York State Service Medal 1917-19, bronze; together with the recipient’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve cape badge, silver; and United States of America Red Cross Service Medal, gilt and enamel, with top ‘Foreign Service’ riband bar, traces of verdigis particularly to the British Victory Medal, otherwise generally very fine (9) £800-£1,200

Adelaide Rebecca Poole was born in Kilburn, London on 30 July 1876, ands was educated at Westbourne Park High School. Moving to the United States of America, she trained as a nurse at New York City Hospital, before working as a private nurse whilst living in Rochester, New York State, where she was also actively engaged in work to combat the spread of tuberculosis. Returning to the United Kingdom, she enlisted in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve on 24 October 1910, whilst working at View Mount Nursing Home, Inverness.

Mobilised for War service, Miss Poole served during the Great War in the Hospital Ship Dieppe from 15 May 1915, before resigning her position in an emotive letter dated 25 February 1916, citing her need to avoid ‘a complete breakdown in health’, whilst serving at No. 1 Stationary Hospital, Rouen. Released on 15 April 1916, she returned to the United States of America.

After recovering her health Miss Poole subsequently enlisted in the United States Army Nursing Service, taking her oath of office on 25 March 1918, and was posted to Base Hospital 19 in Vichy-Allier on 19 June 1918, before further service at a number of hospitals in France. Honourably discharged on 20 August 1919, she subsequently saw foreign service with the American Red Cross in Serbia and Montenegro until January 1921, before returning to the United States of America. On 2 December 1927, the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department, Washington, informed her that she had been awarded the Order of St. Sava, Fifth Class, for her service in Serbia and Montenegro. (Original notification enclosed).

Later retiring to Sussex, United Kingdom, Miss Poole died on 10 November 1961, aged 85.

Sold together with an astonishing archive of original material including her original service records; an original Chartwell headed letter from Grace Hamblin, personal secretary to Sir Winston and Lady Churchill; Various press cuttings relating to her nursing work in the United States of America and the award of the Order of St. Sava; Original Carte de Viste photos from when she was a child and young lady; an archive of photos from her time nursing in Serbia and Montenegro; newspaper cutting from Rochester, USA. dated 1921 including an interview ‘Nurse, last to return of those who went out with Base Hospital No. 19’; together with her detailed, most comprehensive and often poignant hand-written diaries covering the years 1908-21, this a rare archive, worthy of publication.