Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 333

The Scottish Women's Hospital French Medal of Honour awarded to Matron O. Aked for her work nursing sick and wounded French soldiers, one of the second batch of nurses sent to Antwerp on 28 August 1914 who went on to see service in France

Medal of Honour, Ministry of War Silver Medal for Epidemics, silver-gilt, reverse embossed 'Miss O. Aked 1917', in fitted, named case of issue, very fine

Olive Aked was born on 28 January 1885 at Bingley, Bradford, the daughter of George and Emma Aked. Her father was a Mill owner and her sister Muriel went on to work in film alongside such stars as Jack Buchanan, Laurence Olivier and Sandy Powell. Aked was trained at Pendlebury Hospital, Manchester Hospital and Edinburgh Hospital. When on 24 August a telegram was sent from Antwerp requesting trained nurses three were sent out, another telegram arrived on 28 August request eight further nurses and Aked was one of those chosen to go. Her Medal Index Card notes that the Brussels Unit was considered ineligible for award and consequently she is considered to have entered the war in December 1915, despite having seen some of the earliest service of any nurse in British service.

Aked is noted as having remained in Antwerp for some weeks after its capture by the Germans and after some rehabilitation in Britain she joined the Scottish Women’s Hospital at Royaumont. Soon she was offered a post managing the Hospital Complimentaire at Salies-du-Salat Haute Garonne where she served as Matron. An article in the Yorkshire Evening Post on 1 August 1917 notes that she was awarded the King Albert Medal in Antwerp, a medal awarded for humanitarian efforts to Belgium during the war. Aked died on 10 May 1962 at York; sold together with copied research including newspaper articles, census data, a biographical note on the recipient’s sister Muriel Akad as well as medal rolls, M.I.C. and extracts for The British Journal of Nursing.

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

Sold for
£220

Starting price
£70