Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Acting Matron M. R. Makepeace, Army Nursing Service, later Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Nursing Sister M. R. Makepeace) officially re-impressed naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, no clasp (Nursing Sister M. R. Makepeace.) officially impressed naming; British War Medal 1914-20 (A. Matron. M. R. Makepeace.) toned, good very fine (3) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Boer War Medals to Medical Services, the Church and the Press.

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Mary Ridley Makepeace was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 7 January 1860. She trained at the London Hospital 1890-92, and was Staff Nurse at the Throat Hospital and at Croydon General Hospital 1893-94. She first enlisted into the Army Nursing Service as a Nursing Sister on 15 October 1894, and was renamed Sister when the A.N.S. became Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1902. She was formally appointed to Q.A.I.M.N.S. as a Sister on 17 February 1903. She served at Netley 1894-97, and at Shorncliffe 1897-99. The entry in the Army List for 1921 under “War Services” states:

‘Makepeace, Miss M. R. (Sister)
S. African War, 1899-1902 - Served on Hosp. Ship “Spartan” Oct 1899 to Jan 00 and “Avoca” Feb 00 to Oct 01. Operations in the Orange River Colony, Nov 01 to 31 May 02. Queen’s Medal.’

Nurse Makepeace is identified in a group photograph on board the Spartan published in the Black and White Budget of Jan. 6, 1900.

Sold with copied research including medal rolls for both Boer War medals and Great War Medal Index Card which shows entitlement to British War and Victory Medals and to Silver War Badge.