ARRC medal for WW1 nurse

[Wendi]

Hi Sue, I hope your enjoying Rootschat !!!

I'm surprised that you got a 'nothing to do with us' response from the BRCS I wonder which address you used for your enquiry.

I was thinking just the same thing, but if Aunt asked the question specifically about the ARRC Medal it is nothing to do with them.

I've learned with some archivists the importance is always in the question you ask 

[Scarletwoman]

Yes Wendi - although I'd honestly have hoped that if the right department got the request they'd have gone one step further - but perhaps not!   

Sue

[sallysmum]

thanks scarlet woman - I have located the archives.  It is fascinating reading and I hope my aunt will enjoy reading them.  Thanks Wendi for the picture of the medal.  I can't quite remember what the Red Cross said - it probably wasn't as dismissive as I made out , but that was hte general gist of it.  I will ask my aunt to recontact them with a better phrased question - you are right, it is knowing the right questions to ask!

I will atttach the download from the NA, but I thought I couldn't do that because of copyright reasons - no doubt it will be removed if I breach these!

Many thanks to all who have replied - my aunt will be so pleased

Sallysmum

[neil1821]

MIC doesn't tell us an awful lot in this case, other than that she also had the British War Medal & Victory Medal.

No Star, so she didn't go abroad until 1916 at the earliest.

[Wendi]

Hi Neil !!

That concurs with the info in the British Journal of Nursing, March 25, 1916 she was deputed for Overseas to Boulogne.

You know sallysmum I recon from that link Sue posted to the RCN archive you probably could patch together much of her early career! it's a great resourse Sue!!!

sallysmum, just out of interest does your Aunt know if she continued a career in nursing after the war?

Wendi 

[Scarletwoman]

No Star, so she didn't go abroad until 1916 at the earliest.

Can I just be a bit of a pedant and say that this doesn't always hold true, and can cause a lot of confusion.  British women who went to France in 1914/15, and who worked for the French Red Cross in the French sector, didn't qualify for the 1914 or 14-15 Star - their entitlement was just the Victory and BWM.

Early on in the war, there was a great rush of British nurses [trained and untrained] who could not be accepted for one reason or another by the War Office, and therefore made their own arrangements with the French.  Many worked for six months or so before returning to England, and some of those later worked for the BRCS or under the auspices of the War Office.

I'm not saying that it's the case here, but just that absence of a Star doesn't necessarily mean no overseas service prior to 1916 - just no overseas service with the British/Commonwealth forces before that date.

Sue

[neil1821]

Thanks, Sue, I've learnt something there then 

It's not about being a pedant, I'd much rather things accurate 

Neil

[Wendi]

Thanks Sue,

This to my recall, is the first time on the Armed Forces, we have had an inquiry regarding a lady, so it's all interesting !!!

As you say I think the RCN website proves the date that Sister Norfield went to France.

I have read of cases of female family members making their own way, to assist their menfolk.

It makes great history, having a post such as sallysmum's (who must thank her Aunt for raising the query in the first place) I've really enjoyed !!!

Wendi 

[sallysmum]

Glad you enjoyed helping me with this research, Aunty Barbara will be thrilled with this info.  I'm sure she will also be so proud of her aunt and once again, many thanks for all your invaluable help and knowledge.

Sallysmum