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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 279

A Great War R.R.C. group of four to Sister R. E. Lumsden, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, who was decorated and twice 'mentioned' for service in Salonika

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., in silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (S. Nurse R. E. Lumsden. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister R. E. Lumsden), mounted for wear with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Medal good very fine or better (5)

Ex-Dr Riddick Collection, March 2007.

R.R.C. London Gazette 3 June 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 July 1917 & 11 June 1918.

Rose Emmeline Lumsden was born at Sunderland in 10 November 1880 and served as a Probationer at the Sunderland Infirmary from 17 November 1905. Enlisting with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 12 August 1914, she arrived in London on 17 August 1914 for duty.

Posted to Salonika on 10 November 1915 she arrived on 1 February 1916. Her diary states that she left Southampton aboard Aquitaine via Naples. Upon departing that port on 17 November Aquitaine was pursued for 50 miles by a U-Boat.

Surviving this experience she was presented with her R.R.C. on the 30 June 1917 by General Milne. Lumsden was also present at the Great Fire in Salonika on 18 August which resulted in 80,000 refugees. Her skills are expounded upon in a glowing report from the commander of No. 25 Casualty Clearing Station, Lieutenant Colonel P. H. Collingwood on 29 December 1917, in which he stated:

'A very competent operating room and surgical nurse. Has acted as Sister i/c here all this year. Very much liked by subordinates and patients.'

Lumsden returned home on 25 July 1918, and returned to Newcastle for leave. She was then transferred to the War Hospital at Dartford, Kent on 29 August 1918 where she remained until 24 December 1919. This hospital was taken over by the Government for the use of badly wounded Germans, many of whom died and were buried in the hospital grounds. Those who recovered were sent away to a prisoner-of-war camp. On the completion of her service Lumsden returned to Newcastle and died at the Lemington Hospital, Newburn on 19 February 1963; sold together with assorted copied research including her photocopied diary.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£600