Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 369

A good R.A.F. 'Home Front' R.R.C. nursing group of four awarded to Matron M. B. Charlesworth, Royal Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Reserve, who served on R.A.F. base Hospitals in Britain throughout the war

Royal Red Cross, 2nd class, (A.R.R.C.), G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1943', silver and enamel, with bow riband; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Sister M. B. Charlesworth. P.M.R.A.F.N.S.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court style for display, good very fine (4)

A.R.R.C. London Gazette 2 June 1943, the recommendation states:

‘This lady has sown competency and devotion to duty in RAF Hospitals at home and abroad’

Provenance:
D.N.W. 9 December 1999

Mary Beresford Charlesworth was born at Congleton, Cheshire on 26 April 1892, the daughter of Edward and Sarah Charlesworth. Training at the London Hospital from 1915-17 she was registered in November 1921 whilst working in Wombwell, Yorkshire. Appointed Sister at Huntingdon Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Women and Children she was later confirmed as a Staff Nurse with Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Reserve on 1 July 1926. Prior to the Second World War Charlesworth served in a number of postings including Baghdad, Palestine, Aden and Iraq, sailing for Palestine on 8 December 1923. With the outbreak of the Second World War she was serving in Britain as an Acting Matron, in Royal Air Force Hospitals including R.A.F. Henlow in 1941 and later R.A.F. Matlock from which she was recommended for the R.R.C. Confirmed in the rank of Matron in January 1947 and she retired on 24 May 1949. Later she served attended a service for the opening of St. Clement Danes church, the which had been consecrated as the official church of the R.A.F.; sold together with copied research including auction listing, extracts from The British Journal of Nursing, Sky Wards and the London Gazette as well as census data.

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

Sold for
£600

Starting price
£270