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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 866

The scarce and exciting 'Italy M.I.D.' group of five awarded to County Director F. M. Stockley, British Red Cross

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine (5)

Florence Mary Stockley was born on 12 November 1905 at Smethwick, Staffordshire, the daughter of John and Eliza Stockley of 47 Arden Road, Smethwick. Joining the British Red Cross in 1937 as a Volunteer, she was working as a Clerk in an omnibus works when the war broke out in 1939. Volunteering for war service Stockley attended a music hall performance the night before travelling to North Africa in 1941 entitled George Blake and the Rising Generation (an annotated programme included with the Lot).

Arriving in North Africa she later joined British Forces in Sicily in the wake of Operation Husky. Treating the wounded from No. 5 British General Hospital, Catania, here she wrote a number of letters to her sweetheart, Lieutenant-Commander John Douglas Maitland who was to win the D.S.C. in April 1944.

Following the forcing of the Messina Straits, Stockley joined No. 64 British General Hospital at Ancona; it was likely here that she received her 'mention' for gallant service caring for the sick and wounded. Returning to Britain on 3 January 1946 by Dakota, she remained with the Red Cross after the war. Such was her administrative and medical ability that Stockley was appointed County Director for Staffordshire. The first test of her capacity in this position was during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 when the Red Cross operated a Refugee Centre at Hednesford, Staffordshire. Here she was such a presence in caring for the displaced Hungarians that one young couple made her Godmother to their newly born son, Jan. Stockley continued in the role of County Director until 31 March 1973 when she finally took well-deserved retirement. She died at Sandwell, West Midlands in July 2004 having reached the impressive age of 98; sold together with a copied census transcription as well as an archive of original material comprising:

i)
Certificate of Baptism.

ii)
County Borough of Smethwick, Grant of Right of Burial for one Eliza Stockley.

iii)
George Black and the Rising Generation programme.

iv)
Handwritten letters.

v)
Christmas and New Year card from the British Red Cross.

vi)
Newspaper cuttings.

vii)
Red Cross Annual Report, Staffordshire Branch.

viii)
Passport.

ix)
Transport Command ticket to Blackburne, England dated 3 January 1946.

x)
A large number of original photographs.

xi)
A folder of copied research relating to the life of Lieutenant-Commander J. D. Maitland, D.S.C.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£80