Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War A.R.R.C. group of six awarded to Matron K. M. Hawkins, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, late Queen Alexandra’s Military Families Nursing Service and Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (S. Nurse K. M. Hawkins. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister K. M. Hawkins.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6) £400-£500

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

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A.R.R.C. London Gazette 31 July 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 June 1918.

Keziah Millicent Hawkins served with the Q.A.I.M.N.S. Reserve in France and Flanders from 9 December 1914 to 9 November 1915. Transferred to Egypt and then Macedonia from 1 February 1916 to 9 May 1918, she returned to England and served as Sister at the Military Hospital in Shorncliffe. Mentioned in Despatches, she later received the A.R.R.C. at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 3 December 1919.

Appointed post-War to the permanent establishment of the Military Families and Military Isolation Hospitals as Staff Nurse, she soon became Sister in Charge upon the reorganisation of the service, her new rank confirmed in Queen Alexandra’s Military Families Nursing Service on 20 March 1924. Posted variously to Palestine, Egypt and Devonport, her unit was absorbed into the Q.A.I.M.N.S. in 1926. Hawkins went on to serve in Shanghai from 1927 to 1929 and at Delhi and Jubblepore from 1936 to 1940. She retired from the service soon thereafter, although the Indian Army List notes her re-employed until at least 1942.