Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War R.R.C. group of ten awarded to Matron M. Russell, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, a veteran of the operations in North Russia in 1919

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the lower arm officially dated ‘1943’; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel; British War and Victory Medals (Sister M. Russell); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, M.I.D. oakleaf, unnamed; Defence and War Medals; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, together with Q.A.I.M.N.S. badge, generally good very fine (10) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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R.R.C. London Gazette 2 June 1943.

Margaret Russell was born in Renfrewshire in 1890, trained as a nurse at the Royal Infirmary Glasgow from April 1912 until July 1916, and joined Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) in December 1917. But she did not go overseas until May 1919, when embarked for North Russia as a Staff Nurse, in which theatre of operations she served in No. 86 General Hospital until August of the same year, gaining advancement to Sister - and the British War and Victory Medals.

Transferring to a regular appointment in Q.A.I.M.N.S in August 1921, she was advanced to Matron in November 1939, serving variously in the interim in Egypt and Palestine, in which latter theatre of operations she won a mention in despatches ‘in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the period April-October 1936’ (London Gazette 23 July 1937 refers), and remained employed in this capacity until 1939, thereby gaining entitlement to the General Service Medal.

She had, meanwhile, been awarded the A.R.R.C. (London Gazette 3 June 1935 refers), which insignia she received at Buckingham Palace that July and was promoted to R.R.C. in the 1939-45 War, once again attending an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 23 November 1943. Russell retired in 1947; sold with copied service record.