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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 700

A fine Great War Royal Red Cross group of four to Nursing Sister M. Symonds, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, who was decorated for her outstanding medical work

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class, G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady's bow riband; 1914-15 Star (N. Sister M. Symonds, Q.A.R.N.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals (N. Sister . M. Symonds. Q.A.R.N.N.S.), with a Norfolk and Norwich Hospital nursing Badge by Vaughton, Birmingham, comprised of a cross pattée with Norwich's coat of arms at centre, bronze, the reverse engraved 'MAUD SYMONDS. MAR. 31. 1904. MAY. 31. 1907. CERTIFICATED NURSE', fitted with a bronze top riband buckle, also Symonds' silver identity tag, hallmarked Birmingham 1917 on reverse, engraved 'M. SYMONDS. 2 A.R.N.N.S.R. C OF E.' on obverse, suspended from its original silver chain with carbine clip, and a 1 Shilling piece mounted as a breast Badge, the Great War trio mounted as worn, good very fine (4)



A.R.R.C. London Gazette 9 May 1919.

Maud Symonds lived near Holt, Norfolk and was serving at the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham in the Q.A.R.N.N.S. Reverse at the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914. Her first active posting was to H.M.H.S. Garth Castle on 16 June 1915. Garth Castle operated mainly at Scapa Flow. Symonds' service papers reveal that her work aboard this hospital ship was 'well above average', since she possessed a 'special knowledge of operating room work.' On 21 January 1916 she was appointed to the Royal Marine Infirmary, Deal. Her conduct here was described as 'exceptional', and on 21 December 1917 she was nominated to Malta Hospital. She transferred to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar on 1 November 1919. Her Royal Red Cross decoration was bestowed upon her personally by King George V in an award ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 4 December that year; sold with copied service records and London Gazette entries.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£420