Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 2071    SESSION 8 (2.30PM WEDNESDAY 29TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $440

PAIR TO NURSE: 1914-15 Star; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Cape Badge. Sister M.W.Milburn. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. on first medal, the badge unnamed. The named medal impressed. No ribbons, the badge with gauze glued to reverse, otherwise very fine.

Together with King's Silver War badge, reverse numbered A73603; French patriotic medal by H.Dupre, featuring General Joffre on obverse and two women's heads above a 75mm field gun, 1914-1915 on reverse; W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union) award medal in silver, reverse inscribed, '1st Prize/Elocution/M.W.Milburn'; other nursing badges relating to a relative (possibly a niece), includes St Luke's Hospital Nurses Training School badge in silver, reverse inscribed, 'No.245/M.W.Milburn/1956' (brooch bar replaced and enamel centrepiece missing); another identical badge (undamaged and unnamed); Royal Hospital For Women Paddington badge (KC), reverse numbered 1975 (some enamel loss); The General Nursing Council For England & Wales, reverse inscribed, 'S.R.N/252039/11.57' (brooch bar replaced).

Mary Wilhelmina Milburn was born at Casterton, Vic. and educated at Casterton Ladies College; trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Jan1900-Oct1904; Registered Nurses Society Sep1907-Nov1908; Matron on Ocean Island, Central Pacific 1910-1913 (also known as Banaba Island, part of Kiribati); Sep1914 on a visit to Malay States when she applied for war service with QAIMNS; when advised her appointment would involve home service for a time she accepted the offer made by Dr Norris of the Australian Commonwealth Office, London, who appointed her to the Australian Voluntary Hospital, France, for 6 months; 19Dec1914 joined Aust Voluntary Hospital at Wimereux, France as a Staff Nurse; 01Aug1915 joined QAIMNSR and posted to 2nd Gen Hospital, Havre 03Aug1915; 15Apr1916 to hospital ship Western Australia; 02-20May1916 UK leave; 08Jul1916 sick to Netley (Military) Hospital, England; 22Jul1916 rejoined Western Australia; 31Jul1916 trf to hospital ship Goorkha; 11Aug1916 rejoined Western Australia; 25Aug1916 to 7th Stationary Hospital; applied for leave to visit sick father in Sydney - approved but as she had insufficient funds for fare she resigned and hence would receive free passage to Singapore - unfortunately suffered several bouts of illness requiring hospitalisation; finally embarked for Australia on 05Apr1917 by working for her passage, arriving 05Jul1917; applied for AANS and posted to No 5 AGH, Melbourne 31Jan1918; 22May1918 Staff Nurse at Garrison Hosp, 2nd MD; 26Jun1918 appt terminated; died 28Jan1947 at Beecroft, NSW, never married.

Mary Wilhelmina 'Mil' Milburn (13Mar1927 - 06Jul2016) late of North Turramurra and formerly Epping, nursed at London and Sydney.