Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Matron Katherine A. J. Smythe, British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who served aboard Egyptian hospital trains, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type, lady’s shoulder badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918, on lady’s bow riband; The Order of St John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) shoulder badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles, on lady’s bow riband; 1914-15 Star (K. A. J. Smythe. B.R.C.S. & O.S.J.J.); British War and Victory Medals (K. J. A. [sic] Smythe. B.R.C.S. & St. J. J.) good very fine (5) £600-£800

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

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O.B.E. London Gazette 10 June 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 13 October 1916 and 7 July 1917.

Katherine Altamont Jane Smythe was born in 1867 and took her nursing studies at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London from 1892 to 1895. She joined the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem in August 1914, and was posted to Egypt where she was twice Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Archibald Murray and later recognised with the Order of the British Empire. She ended her military service on 17 March 1919 as Matron of Hospital Trains, her address at that time recorded as The Arsenal, Alexandria.