Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 345

Five: Senior Nursing Sister H. M. Whitburn, East Africa Medical Service & Colonial Nursing Association

1914-15 Star (Sr. N:Sister H. M. Whitburn.); Victory Medal (Sr. N. Sister H. M. Whitburn.); Overseas Nursing Association Medal; Colonial Nursing Association Medal, with bar, engraved (1912-1923), in Spink & Son case of issue; Italy, Kingdom, Italian Red Silver Medal of Merit, in case of issue, slight pitting and bruising to first and second, overall very fine (5)

Helena Maude Whitburn was born at Truro, Cornwall in 1875, the daughter of James and Mary Whitburn. Her father worked as a pilot/boatman in Barry and Whitburn grew up here. Passing her midwife’s examination in July 1908 she worked at Newport & Monmouthshire Hospital. She received the substantial sum of £252 under sad circumstances in 1911 when her brother Henry James Whitburn shot himself in Australia, leaving his entire estate to her.

Receiving the Colonial Nursing Association’s silver medal in 1912 she was still nursing on the outbreak of war when she disembarked in East Africa on 6 August 1914. The bulk of her service was spent here, although she did volunteer her services unpaid while on leave in Britain in February 1916 as noted in the Straits Times. Whitburn retired from Civil Government on 1 January 1917, although the roll she was performing is not noted.

After the war she is noted in the East Africa Gazette as being appointed Acting Matron of the European Hospital Nairobi on 4 April 1920. Whitburn was awarded the Italian Red Cross Silver Medal of Merit on 10 June 1921 for her services in treating Italian volunteers in East Africa. She died at Woodlands, 653 Chepstow Road, Newport on 26 May 1946; sold together with an original photograph of the recipient with original documents of issue for the Italian Red Cross Silver Medal of Merit as well as copied research including extracts from the London Gazette, East Africa Gazette, Straits Times and The British Journal of Nursing Supplement along with an M.I.C. and typed biographical note.

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

Sold for
£230

Starting price
£110