Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce post-war R.R.C. group of six awarded to Colonel E. Pullom, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, who had earlier been awarded the A.R.R.C. for her services in Malaya in the early 1950s

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), E.II.R., Member’s breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, the reverse of the lower limb officially dated ‘1960’; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Major, Q.A.R.A.N.C.), generally good very fine (6) £800-1000

R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1960. The original recommendation states:

‘An officer who during her 26 years of service has given consistent devotion to duty both in the general welfare of her patients and staff. During recent periods of running a busy hospital [British Military Hospital, Hanover] with a shortage of nursing personnel and influenza epidemics, she has maintained a cheerful and stoical attitude, never once losing her head or betraying unreasonable ill-temper. Furthermore, she has maintained a very happy atmosphere in the unit, thus keeping up morale. This officer is considered most worthy of the award of the R.R.C. First Class.’

Elsie Pullom, who was born in July 1909, was commissioned into the Q.A.R.A.N.C. in April 1933 and gained advancement to Sister in August 1935. While further research is required to establish the nature of her subsequent services in North-West Europe 1944-45, the details of her post-war career are better recorded, commencing with her advancement to Temporary Principle Matron in January 1946 and to Major in February 1949, shortly before her valuable services during the Malaya emergency, services that resulted in her appointment to A.R.R.C. The original recommendation for this award, which was announced in the London Gazette of 15 April 1952, states:

‘During 18 years of service, Major Pullom has displayed a devotion to duty of the highest order. Throughout her service her professional standards have been quite outstanding and her influence has been exceptionally good amongst her colleagues. Her attention to the nursing and welfare of her patients has resulted in innumerable helpful actions outside the most zealous programme of normal duties. Her loyalty and spirit of co-operation at all times reflect the greatest credit on her efforts. Major Pullom has been Deputy Matron at the British Military Hospital, Singapore, from 10 August 1951 and is still so serving.’

In a letter dated 14 March 1952, Lieutenant-General Sir E. A. Miller, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., M.C., stated that the award did infact reflect the ‘services of this lady during the bandit operations in Malaya’, a fact verified by the actual heading that appeared in the relevant London Gazette entry, namely ‘In recognition of distinguished services in Malaya.’

Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1954, Pullom was appointed R.R.C. in January 1960, retired in the rank of Colonel in July 1966 and settled at Penzance, Cornwall.