Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War A.R.R.C. group of three awarded to Nursing Sister Alexandra E. Lowe, South African Military Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard & Co. case of issue; British War and Victory Medals, with copy M.I.D. oak leaves (N/Sister. A. E. Lowe.) good very fine and better (3) £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 3 June 1919. The original recommendation states:
‘For devotion to duty at Fort Johnston, where she has carried out her duties both day and night as Sister-in-charge.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 31 January 1919.

Alexandra Elizabeth Lowe, a professional nurse, was appointed to the South African Military Nursing Service as Nursing Sister on 23 July 1917. Proceeding to Central Africa via Beira on 8 August 1917, she arrived at Zomba for duty at No. 2 Hospital on 19 August 1917. Mentioned in General Hawthorn’s Despatch for ‘excellent services during the period 1 December, 1917, to 31 July, 1918’, Lowe was later decorated for her work at Fort Johnston in Nyasaland. Founded by Sir Harry Johnston in the 1890s to defend the southern tip of Lake Nyasa, the Fort provided barracks for the 1/4th King’s African Rifles during the Great War and offered a staging post for counter-operations against enemy troops under the command of Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.

Lowe left Nyasaland in January 1919 and returned home to Pretoria on 4 February 1919. Released from service, she gave her future address as 39 Newbury Road, Durban. Sold with copied research.