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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 321

The unique Mesopotamia Great War R.R.C. and Second Award Bar to Matron A. L. Earle, Territorial Force Nursing Service

The Royal Red Cross (R.R.C.), G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Matron A. L. Earle.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Sister A. L. Earle. T.F.N.S.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Matron A. L. Earle.); Belgium, Kingdom, Elizabeth Medal (Matron A. L. Earle), mounted as worn, good very fine (6)

R.R.C. London Gazette 26 August 1918.

Bar to the R.R.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 August 1918.

Annie Louisa Earle originally trained at the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool, in Medical, Surgical and Gynaecological Nursing, after which she had two years' experience on the private nursing staff. Earle was then appointed Sister of a Medical Ward, and four years later Night Superintendent and was then promoted to the position of Assistant Lady Superintendent and Matron at the Royal Liverpool Royal Infirmary. Whilst serving there she gained much experience in ward supervision, general superintendence of nurses, the inspection of the domestic department, housekeeping, and the system of inventories of linen and furniture, as well as in the care and teaching of probationers. She was then appointed Matron and Lady Superintendent at the Royal Hospital, Sheffield.

She enlisted with the Indian General Hospitals section of the Territorial Force Nursing Service on 15 August 1914 and joined the 3rd Northern General Hospital based at Sheffield.

Earle was presented to the King in early October 1915 when he visited the Military Hospital at the Collegiate Hall, Eccleshall Road, Sheffield, which formed part of the 3rd Northern General Hospital. At that time she was Assistant Matron but was soon after appointed to Matron. She formed part of the party of nurses which left Sheffield for Southampton which was toon 15 May 1916 to serve a Welsh General Hospital in the Eastern Campaign under the command of Colonel Sheen. Embarking for Bombay on 17 May 1916 on the Hospital Ship Valdivia

Earle served as Matron of the 34th (The Welsh) General Hospital at Deolali, India from 15 May 1916 - 26 June 1917 before moving to a hospital in Mesopotamia from 9 July 1917 - 12 March 1919. This service saw some extremely harsh conditions for nursing, with many of the hospitals she worked at being not all that far from the frontlines. During this time she suffered two bouts of Malaria between 17 June-1 July 1918 and again on 23-28 July 1918. After fighting hard to gain the ability to travel overseas to assist the wounded, she accepted these trials.

She was then Matron of the 40th British General Hospital at Inarina, Mesopotamia from 12 March-18 September 1919 and was then Matron-in-Charge of No. 8 and No. 9 Indian General Hospital at Basra, Mesopotamia, with a total of 2,800 beds from in September 1920. The hospitals in Basra transported the wounded along the Tigris and were unloaded onto wooden piers to then be shuttled into the hospital tents to receive treatment from nurses such as Earle. She then embarked at Basra on 12 September 1920 disembarking at Bombay on 18 September 1920 where she had 42 days leave before returning to Southampton on 28 December 1920.

Earle was presented with her Royal Red Cross on 8 March 1921 by the King at Buckingham Palace. The investiture is recorded in the Westminster Gazette, 8 March 1921:

'The King's Investiture at Buckingham Palace to-day was a brilliant function. A guard of honour of the Coldstream Guards was formed in the quadrangle, and the band of the regiment played during the progress of the investiture.'

She left the Royal Hospital, Sheffield on 31 May 1924 on retirement and resigned her appointment with the T.F.N.S. on 1 July 1924. Earle moved to Axminster, Devon and died on 5 June 1952; sold together with her India War Service 1914-19 Badge and detailed copied service papers and correspondence.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2600