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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 237

The exceptional and extremely rare B.E.M. group of seven to Head Naval Nurse M. M. Dickinson, Q.A.R.N.N.S.), late Army V.A.D. and Royal Navy V.A.D., who served with distinction in North-West Europe and the Malaya campaign, and was a trusted adviser to the government on X-Ray machines during her role at the Naval Medical Board

British Empire Medal, Military Division, E.II.R. (Head Naval Nurse Marea M. Dickinson, 0003. Q.A.R.N.N.S.; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1916-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Miss M.M. Dickinson); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (0003 M.M. Dickinson, H.N.N.A. R.N.H. Chatham.); Voluntary Medical Long Service Medal (Miss Mary Dickinson), with three sets of corresponding riband bars, and three British Red Cross Society 3 Years' Service Decorations, gilt and enamel, by J. R. Gaunt & Son, 5 Warwick Street, London, mounted with gilt riband bars, very fine (7)

12 B.E.M.s awarded to Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1968. The original recommendation states:

'Head Naval Nurse Dickinson has a long and excellent record of service to the Crown. She served in the Army VAD from 1941 to the end of 1945, spent 9 months in Government of India Service and joined the Royal Naval VAD in 1947 transferring to the QARNNS in February 1960. She has consistently received the highest possible efficiency rating since 1952.

During her previous appointment at the Naval Medical Board, she showed herself a person of outstanding industry, integrity and reliability. She carried out numerous professional assignments away from the Board to senior officers, Ministers and others, with skill and tact, and learnt how to operate X-ray machines and carry out other complicated techniques far beyond the necessities of her appointment, so becoming an even more valuable member of the nursing staff. Her splendid qualities have been further tested in her appointment at Royal Naval Hospital, Mauritius and she has thoroughly confirmed the excellent initial impression she made there.'

Marea Mary Dickinson was born at Stretton, Rutland on 15 March 1921, the daughter of George Dickinson, a Rutland farmer, and Norma Seymour. Brought up at 58 Riggindale Road, Streatham, London, she joined the British Red Cross Society aged 18 in April 1939, earning the 3 Years' Service Decoration. On 14 November 1941 she enlisted in the Army Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.), serving initially at Colchester Military Hospital. Following D-Day, she was kept very busy at Casualty Receiving Stations in Kent. On 29 March 1945 she was posted to North-West Europe, where she served until the end of the war. She kept a handwritten diary which records her daily exploits as a V.A.D. during this period. Extracts include:

'May 5th - Two more German armies have unconditionally surrendered to U.S. army, got ready to go to a dance, but Engineers did not turn up. Canadian patients had a fight with some of the orderlies and a Royal Signals Sergeant was injured at about 10.30 p.m.'

'May 8th - "V" Day. Had plenty to drink. Went out to dance in the evening till 4.30 a.m. Had a grand time, still lots of people around. Churchill spoke at 3 p.m. and the King spoke at 9 p.m. and was very good.'

'August 13th - Japan has just about given in, and great excitement as the second "Atom Bomb" has fallen on Japan and has left a terrific mess.'

Dickinson was stationed at 113 British General Hospital, Belgium when the War in Europe came to an end. She attended 2nd Army's Service of Thanksgiving on 5 May 1945, and kept the programme as a memento. She did not qualify for the 1939-45 Star. On 21 September 1945 Dickinson transferred to the Government of India Service, before joining the Royal Naval V.A.D. on 22 February 1947. After initial training at the R.N. Hospital, Dartmouth, she was posted to the R.N. Hospital, Trincomalee, Ceylon in order to support the hard-fought campaign in Malaya which began soon after the Second World War (Medal and clasp). She advanced to Senior V.A.D. in May 1949 and Supervising V.A.D. four months later. In November 1949, the V.A.D. Commandant at Trincomalee wrote a report on Dickinson's service which hints at the rigours of nursing life:

'Has plenty of common sense. Very good nurse - inclined to be abrupt in manner. This may be due to having been in this climate for nearly 2 years.'

On 29 April 1950, Dickinson signed on to serve as a Naval V.A.D. at the Admiral Medical Board, Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster. In this role she provided expert advice on X-Ray machines to senior officers and Ministers at the heart of government. After seven months the Board's President described her as 'very willing, even tempered and reliable'. On 29 December 1953 she transferred as Senior V.A.D. to H.M. Hospital, Malta, where she supervised junior nurses and was described as 'helpful and very popular in Quarters'. Returning to England on 23 January 1957, she took up a prestigious appointment as Head Naval Nurse at R.N. Hospital, Haslar, interrupted by a 17-month posting to R.N. Hospital, Mauritius in 1966-67. She was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal while stationed at R.N. Hospital, Chatham on 1 February 1960, its rim bearing the low service number '0003'. She also received three Good Conduct Badges.

Dickinson's long and distinguished career was further recognised by the award of a British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours of 1968. The B.E.M. was presented to her on behalf of the Queen by the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, in a special ceremony aboard H.M.S. Victory on 4 April 1968. Dickinson's mother and brother attended this proud occasion.

On 8 January 1970, Dickinson re-engaged for a further five years' service, dividing her time equally between R.N. Hospital, Malta and R.N. Hospital, Haslar. She was finally discharged on 15 March 1976, and died of carcinomatosis at 58 Riggindale Road, Streatham on 13 July 1982.

Sold together with a comprehensive archive, comprising:

(i) The original B.E.M. bestowal documents and O.H.M.S. box addressed to 'Miss M. M. Dickinson, Royal Naval Hospital, Bighi, Malta, G.C.'; also the original Buckingham Palace B.E.M. bestowal letter, signed by Queen Elizabeth II, with its envelope by Waterlow & Sons.

(ii) The recipient's bound handwritten diary, covering her service as a V.A.D. in daily entries between 21 March and 24 August. A personal letter written by the recipient to a friend is enclosed within.

(iii) The J. R. Gaunt & Son card boxes of issue for two of the recipients' British Red Cross Society 3 Years' Service Decorations, with original bestowal certificate dated 6 September 1944, in addition to a British Red Cross Society enamel lapel badge and cloth badge.

(iv) Her Naval Nursing uniform, with riband bars.

(v) The recipient's annotated programme for the 2nd Army's Thanksgiving Service on 5 May 1945.

(vi) A colour photograph of the recipient in old age, standing on the gangplank of H.M.S. Victory.

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Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£700