Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War R.R.C. group of seven awarded to Chief Principal Matron Emily V. Forrest, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) breast badge in frosted silver (1926-36), on lady’s bow riband; 1914 Star (Sister E. V. Forrest. Q.A.I.M.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals (A. Matron E. V. Forrest.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, the first lacking top wearing pin, good very fine and better (7) £600-£800

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

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R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Emily Vaughan Forrest was born in Brockley, Kent, on 15 July 1882, the daughter of a Superintendent at the Board of Trade. Educated at the Royal Naval School in Twickenham, she trained as a nurse at the Poplar Hospital in East London from March 1905 to March 1908. Appointed to the Q.A.I.M.N.S. as Staff Nurse on 4 August 1908, she went on to witness pre-War service at Woolwich, York and London. Sent to France on 17 August 1914, Forrest was raised Sister on 18 May 1917 and Acting Matron from 3 November 1918 to 29 March 1919. She was awarded the A.R.R.C. on 1 January 1917 and promoted to R.R.C. for service in France. The latter award was conferred by the King at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 2 November 1920.

Remaining in the service of the Q.A.I.M.N.S., Forrest was posted to Hong Kong from 1922 to 1924, and then enjoyed a series of postings in India from 1930 to 1938, including Poona, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Simla. Promoted Chief Principal Matron in India on 24 June 1934, she was admitted as an Officer Sister of the Order of St. John on 20 July 1934 upon appointment as Chief of the Nursing Corps and Divisions, Empire of India, St. John Ambulance Brigade, the honour published in the London Gazette of 1 January 1935. Entitled to both the Jubilee and Coronation Medals, Forrest died on 6 January 1964. A much admired personality, her obituary adds:

‘She was very popular, kind, but firm when required and she certainly brought out the best in her staff... She had a great understanding and a very great charm of manner. Her sense of humour was infectious; it was always a pleasure to see her smile often break into laughter at some amusing incident on or off duty.’

Sold with the recipient’s silver cape badge, hallmarked Birmingham 1917.