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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 346

The splendid and unique 'Gibraltar Naval Hospital' R.R.C., 'Plymouth Naval Hospital' Second Award Bar group of two awarded to Head-Sister-in-Chief M. L. Hughes, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel; British War Medal 1914-20 (Hd. Sister M. L. Hughes. Q.A.R.N.N.S.), good very fine (2)

R.R.C. London Gazette 16 December 1916.

Second Award Bar to R.R.C. London Gazette 9 May 1919.

Mildred Lloyd Hughes was born at Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales on 9 March 1879, the daughter of Joseph and Jane Hughes of 2 Church Street, Lampeter-Pont-Stephen, Lampeter. Training at St. Thomas Hospital joined Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service on 28 December 1908, posted to Haslar Hospital on 15 September 1909 as a Nursing Sister.

Seeing further pre-war service at Plymouth Hospital from 16 September she returned to Haslar Hospital several years later on 18 November 1911 as Superintending Sister. Posted to Gibraltar Hospital on 14 January 1913 she was still here when war broke out in 1914. Soon the staff were forced to deal with an influx of casualties from the Gallipoli theatre, enough even to strain a Nurse of Hughes' experience and capacity. Despite this she proved her worth and after the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula she was posted back to the Royal Haslar Hospital from 14 April 1916. Not however before she was recommended for the R.R.C. for her sterling work under trying circumstances.

Promoted Head Sister on 22 November 1916 Hughes was posted to Plymouth Naval Hospital the same day were she was to serve for the rest of the war. It was here that she received her unprecedented Second Award Bar to the R.R.C. After the Great War she continued to serve in this position at Plymouth, being promoted Head-Sister-in-Chief on 14 March 1929. Hughes retired on 9 March 1934 to her home at 7 Princes Avenue, West Kirby, Cheshire. She died at Wirral, Cheshire in 1962; sold together with copied service papers.

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Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£420