Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Mary E. Symons, British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, later French Red Cross, who served as Directress of the Rimberlieu Hospital

1914 Star (M. E. Symons, B.R.C.S. & O. St. J.J.); British War and Victory Medals (M. E. Symons); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917; Reconnaissance Medal, First Class, gilt, with rosette on riband; Medal of Honour, First Class, gold, the reverse inscribed ‘Mme. Symons, Rimberlieu 1915-1917’, with rosette on riband; Medal of the Societe Academique d’Histoire Internationale, gilt, with rosette on riband, good very fine (7) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Female Medics.

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Mary E. Symons, British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, served during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 September 1914. Later, working for the French Red Cross she was the Directress of the Rimberlieu Hospital, at Château Rimberlieu situated to the north of Compiegne. The hospital contained some 80 beds and was from the outset staffed entirely by British personnel. In 1916 an annex containing another 30 beds was added.