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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 600

A rare and most unusual Great War 1914 Star group of three to Sister Illingworth of the Civil Hospital Reserve who served in France from the earliest months of the war - receiving many good reports along the way - until her resignation due to marriage in late-1917

1914 Star (Miss E.A. Illingworth. Civ: Hosp: Res.); British War and Victory Medals (Sister E.A. Illingworth.), good very fine

Edith Annie Illingworth was born around 1877 in Shipley, Yorkshire, and was one of four nurses who joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (Civil Hospital Reserve) from the London Homeopathic Hospital in November 1914. Swiftly progressing to the Western Front (thereby just qualifying for the 1914 Star), Sister Illingworth performed good work in major military hospitals including those at Rouen and Abbeville.

Her Confidential Reports indicate she was an entirely professional and conscientious nurse, including such comments as: 'Miss Illingworth has...carried out her duties in a thoroughly efficient & capable manner.' and: 'Good tempered & cheerful. Very kind to her patients.'

Renewing her contract in February 1916, Sister Illingworth tendered her resignation in October 1917 in order to get married; her conduct was assessed as of such a satisfactory nature to warrant a £30 gratuity, which was duly granted. It is, however, interesting to note that in 1919 Mrs. Armstrong (as Sister Illingworth became) wrote to the War Office to claim a further gratuity of £12; this again appears to have been granted.
Sold with a quantity of copied paperwork and some research.

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Sold for
£380

Starting price
£280