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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 369

(x) The 'Post-War' R.R.C. group of six awarded to Matron E. Prescott, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, who was further 'mentioned' for her services in Sicily in March 1944

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially dated '1949', mounted for wear upon a lady's bow riband in its fitted Garrard & Co. box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-42; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, sold together with original material including the R.R.C. slip of issue named 'Matron E. Prescott, R.R.C.' and the envelope of issue named to the same, overall nearly extremely fine (6)

R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1949.

Ethel Prescott was born at Lund near Driffield, East Riding, Yorkshire on 22 October 1893, the daughter of Thomas and Jane Prescott. She was educated at Dame Chatterton's School for Young Ladies, North Dalton and after a brief spell as a housekeeper she went to train as a nurse with the Royal London Hospital.

Qualifying as a state registered nurse and midwife she joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 15 August 1927 at Shorncliff, Kent as a Staff Nurse. Posted to India, Prescott was stationed at Rawalpindi in 1928 and saw a further six years of service on the subcontinent with postings at Murree, Peshawar, Nowshera and Quetta.

Returning to service as a Sister on 30 May 1941, her first wartime posting was the Hospital Ship H.M.H.S. Aba. Later posted to South Africa she served at Pietermaritzburg in 1943 before being transferred to service in Italy. It was here that Prescott was 'mentioned' (London Gazette 23 March 1944, refers) before being posted to New York with the rank of Matron swiftly following.

She remained in North America and Britain between 1944-45 before finally returning to the front in Germany in 1945. Prescott served in Burma in 1946 and finally at Wheatley in a hospital well known for its treatment of head injuries.

After the war Prescott went on to serve as Matron at Dulverton Hall, Scarborough, a home for retired clergymen. Her medals were sent to her on 31 August 1948 at The Woods, Beckingham, Doncaster and she retired from Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service on 22 October 1948 with the rank of Honorary Principle Matron. She was admitted into the Royal Red Cross the next year, her award was sent to her at 72 Greengate, Malton, Yorkshire.

Sold together with copied research and an original archive comprising a named slip of issue for the R.R.C., photograph of the recipient in uniform, newspaper cutting announcing the award, box and addressed envelope of issue and corresponding riband bar for the campaign medals.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320