Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Order of St. John, Second War B.E.M. group of six awarded to Miss Violet A. Reading, St. John Ambulance Brigade, who served during the Portsmouth Blitz as a Lay Superintendent, Civil Defence First Aid Post

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) shoulder badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles, on lady’s bow riband; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister’s shoulder badge, 1st type (1892-1939), circular badge with white enamel cross with heraldic beasts in angles raised above the background; British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Miss Violet A. Reading) on lady’s bow riband; Defence Medal; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Service Medal of the Order of St John, with Additional Award Bar (8401 L/A/Offr. V. Reading. Portsmouth Nsg. Div. No. 2 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1930.) the pre-Second War awards mounted as worn, the Second War awards loose, generally nearly extremely fine (6) £600-£800

B.E.M. London Gazette 9 January 1946: Miss Violet Ann Reading, lately, Lay Superintendent, Civil Defence First Aid Post, Portsmouth.’

Miss Violet Ann Reading was born in Portsea, Hampshire, on 17 March 1892 and was a school teacher by profession, as well as a long-serving volunteer with the St. John Ambulance Brigade. She volunteered for part-time service with the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the Great War, and served with distinction throughout the Second World War, including the Portsmouth Blitz, as a Lay Superintendent, Civil Defence First Aid Post. She was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 as a ‘Lay Divisional Superintendent, Provincial Ambulance Services), and was appointed a Serving Sister of the Order of St. John in 1939 (London Gazette 23 June 1939), being advanced to Officer in 1943 (London Gazette 25 June 1943). She died in Portsmouth in 1966.

Note: In light of her long service with the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Miss Reading is likely to have been entitled to further award bars to her Service Medal of the Order of St. John; clearly these were never fitted.

Sold with a copy of Smitten City, The Story of Portsmouth under Blitz; and copied research.