Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘double-issue’ British War Medal group of three awarded to Nursing Sister Minnie A. Mitchell, British Committee of the French Red Cross, later Canadian Army Medical Corps, who was awarded the rare l’Insigne Special en bronze by the French Authorities on 17 January 1918

British War Medal 1914-20 (2) (M. A. Mitchell.; N.Sister M. A. Mitchell.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (M. A. Mitchell.) generally very fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Norman Gooding Collection.

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Christie’s, March 1990.

Minnie Alice Mitchell was born in Durham-Sud, Canada, on 31 October 1880, and came to Britain as a Sister with the British Committee of the French Red Cross. Initially posted to the Johnstone Reckitt French Military Hospital (V.R. 76) from May 1916 to April 1918, she transferred to the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served as Nursing Sister at No. 15 Canadian General Hospital from 24 May 1918 to 12 June 1919. Located on the Astor Estate at Clivedon, the former tennis pavilion and bowling alley became one of the most fully equipped military hospitals in England.

Sold with the Insignia in bronze with enamel red cross mounted upon a white riband; the original award certificate to ‘Mademoiselle Minnie Mitchell’ of the General Infirmary, No. 1044, from the French Ministry of War; a fine enamel badge from the Johnstone Reckitt Military Hospital, unnamed; Canadian Honourable Service Badge, No. 24292.; and copied C.A.M.C. service record.