The Barrett J Carr Collection of Nurses’ Medals

A Great War R.R.C. and Kaisar-i-Hind group of five to Matron Mary L. Harris, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, late Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve

Royal Red Cross, 1st class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold and enamel; Kaisar-i-Hind, G.V.R., 2nd Class, 2nd type, silver, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Nursing Sister M. L. Harris.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, no clasp (Nursing Sister M. L. Harris.); British War Medal 1914-20 (A. Matron M. L. Harris); Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Badge, silver, good very fine (6) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J Carr Collection of Nurses’ Medals.

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Collection

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, November 1991; Colonel D. G. B. Riddick Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2007.

R.R.C. London Gazette 23 February 1917.

Mary Louise Harris trained at the Royal Free Hospital and enrolled in the Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve on 30 June 1899, being given the number ‘23’. She served in South Africa at No. 2 General Hospital at Pretoria, No. 3 General Hospital at Kroonstadt and at No. 8 General Hospital at Bloemfontein. She was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 10 September 1901) and awarded the Queen's and King's Medals without clasps. In July, 1903 she was selected for Q.A.I.M.N.S. in the rank of Staff Nurse and was promoted Sister on 10 November 1904. During the 1914-18 War she was acting Matron throughout and served overseas in Malta, arriving there on 7 May 1915 (therefore entitled to the British War Medal only). She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, in 1917, whilst serving as Acting Matron, Military Hospital, Felixstowe. She was promoted Matron on 8 April, 1922 and retired from the service in the following year. The award of the Kaisar-i-Hind has not been confirmed.

Sold together with the recipient’s Service Record and other copied research.