Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Miss A. L. Merrylees, Scottish Women’s Hospital and French Red Cross

British War and Victory Medals (A. L. Merrylees); France, Third Republic, Medal of Honour, Ministère de la Guerre Bronze Medal for Devouement Epidemies, the reverse officially embossed ‘Miss A. Merrylees 1917’, in case of issue with gold blocked lettering to the lid (Ministère de la Guerre - Miss A. Merrylees 1917); together with the related miniature awards, generally very fine (3) (3) £200-£300

Miss Anna Louisa Merrylees was born in Aberdeen in 1879. She first served in Salonika with the Scottish Women’s Hospital and subsequently as a Masseuse and Orderly, in France with the French Red Cross. The medal roll shows her as being a serving member of The Scottish Women’s Hospital, and she served in the Royaumont unit with Miss Ivens. She served from September 1915 until September 1917. She is quoted twice in Eileen Crofton’s book on the unit. In the 1920’s she worked in Kenya, until returning to London and living in Chelsea. She was subsequently employed as a masseuse at St. Bartholemew’s Hospital for 20 years, and died at Harborne Hall, Birmingham, in December 1965.