Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War R.R.C. group of four awarded to Principal Matron Miss Ada A. E. Burman, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), E.II.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1964, on lady’s bow riband, in Collingwood, London, case of issue; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the recipient’s Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), E.II.R., silver and enamel, reverse officially dated 1955, on lady’s bow riband, in Collingwood, London, case of issue, extremely fine (5) £800-£1,200

R.R.C. London Gazette 13 June 1964.

A.R.R.C. London Gazette 9 June 1955.

Order of St. John, Serving Sister London Gazette 14 January 1964.

Miss Ada Agnes Elizabeth Burman was born in Bristol on 3 December 1911, and trained as a nurse at Bristol General Hospital. She served during the Second World War with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, as a Nursing Sister at the Royal Naval Hospital Plymouth, and remained in the Service following the cessation of hostilities. She was advanced Senior Nursing Sister on 1 February 1949, and served as Superintending Sister at the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta, from 6 April 1953, being awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class in the 1955 Birthday Honours’ List. Advanced Principal Matron, her final appointment was at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, from 5 September 1961, and for her services there she was advanced to the Royal Red Cross 1st Class. She retired on 1 October 1964, and died in Bristol on 10 April 1996.

Sold with various rank shoulder boards and cloth insignia; Invitation to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, 12 July 1963; Invitation from Lord Mountbatten of Burma to a Cocktail Party at Admiralty House, Valetta, 7 July 1953; various Central Chancery letters regarding the awards of the Royal Cross; other letters to the recipient, including one from the First Lord of the Admiralty, and one from Anthony Eden; the recipient’s passport; various photographs; and other ephemera.