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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 218

A Great War A.R.R.C. and M.M. group of six to Acting Sister E. Hounslow, Voluntary Aid Detachment and St. John Ambulance Brigade

Royal Red Cross (A.R.R.C.) breast Badge, 2nd Class, silver and enamel, in case of issue; Military Medal, G.V.R. (Nurse E. Hounslow. A.R.R.C. St. John's Amb: Bde:); 1914-15 Star (E. Hounslow. V.A.D.); British War and Victory Medals (E. Hounslow. V.A.D.); Service Medal of the Order of St. John (7917 A/Sis E. Hounslow Oxford Nsg. Div No.2 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1929.), mounted as worn, very fine (6)

A.R.R.C. London Gazette1 January 1918.

M.M. London Gazette 26 July 1918.

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. A bomb fell between two of her wards and injured many patients. She behaved with the utmost coolness, and set a fine example, attending wounded under most trying circumstances.'

Edith Hounslow entered the war in France on 2 June 1915 with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (Q.A.I.M.N.S.) and won both the Royal Red Cross (A.R.R.C.) and the Military Medal for her service in France.

The War Diary for 1 June 1918 for 26 General Hospital at Etaples elaborates further on the enemy action:

'A series of air raid took place last night. The Sergt's Mess was wrecked by an aerial torpedo, the sister's quarters received further damage and a bomb fell between two huts. Considerable anxiety was caused by a large fire started in 51 Gen Hosp. This did not however spread to 26. Casualties - 19 pats. Wounded by HE bomb which fell between the huts - one subsequently died. Personnel - Killed 466 A/Sgt BARTLEY A, 95081 Pt EVANS A L. Died of Wounds 51496 A/Sgt KEIR J. Wounded 140186 a LC. KEARS J. Attached Sgts LYNN and OWEN 32 CCS Killed. The personnel casualties were due to the bomb on the Sgts. Mess near which they were sheltering in an open drain.
Protection of huts by sandbags & renetting is proceeding as fast as possible.'

Hounslow left the service in November 1919 and served with the Ministry of Pensions before working with Morris Motors Ltd in June 1926 in Oxfordshire. She featured in The Morris Mirror in February 1936:

'Only those who possess true enthusiasm and a genuine liking for hard work can ever hope to succedd in the nursing profession, and of all jobs in that profession that of a Works nurse is probably the hardest.

We are fortunate in having a nurse who embodies all the attributes necessary to make a success of her job and yet has a knowledge of human nature, which only a wide and varied experience could bring. Her War service was both lengthy and distinguished, and her list of decoration one which is worthy of envy.

Going overseas in 1915 she served in various military hospitals and in 1918 she was awarded the Royal Red Cross in the New Year's Honours for devotion to duty. On Whit-Sunday, 1918, she gained the Military Medal for bravery in the field, and she also possesses the 1914-16 (sic) Star, the General Service Medal, the Victory Medal and the St. John Ambulance Brigade Long Service Medal.

Leaving the Forces in November, 1919, she served with the Ministry of Pensions and finally came to Morris Motors Ltd. in June, 1926. Since then she has ministered to us in no uncertain Manner and has won the respect and admiration of all. With a family of over 5000 to look after it will be appreciated that she has very little leisure time, but it may come as a suprise to some to know that during the past year she has dealt with over 13,000 cases.

Like all enthusiasts, her hobby is her work, but she confesses to enjoying a little skating if the ice is not too hard.'

Sold together with the following archive:

i)
A photograph of her in uniform wearing the uniform riband bar of her two gallantry awards.

ii)
A letter from the St. John Ambulance Brigade confirming the award of the Long Service medal.

iii)

The original page from the Morris Mirror as quoted above.


iv)
Assorted copied research and London Gazette entries.

v)
Assorted uniform riband bars.

For the recipient's dress miniatures, please see Lot 278.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2400