Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sister Florence Jenkins, Scottish Women’s Hospitals

British War and Victory Medals (F. Jenkins.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, Fourth Class, silver (1029032); Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, silver, unnamed, traces of old lacquer and scratches to obverse of last, nearly very fine (4) £400-£500

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

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Florence Jenkins was born in Bristol on 23 January 1887 and took her nursing studies at the Mile End Hospital in London from June 1908 to June 1911. She then took her Fever Certificate at the Eastern Hospital and the Southampton Hospital from 1912 to May 1914, before joining the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for service in Russia and Romania with the London Units.

Departing Liverpool on 31 August 1916, she arrived at the northern port of Archangel on 10 September 1916. From here her unit travelled via Moscow and Odessa to Madjidia where they set up a hospital. On 22 October the unit left by road for Galatz, subsequently making their way on to Romania before the winter snows set in. In her book about the unit, author Y. Fitzroy offers an insight into the recipient’s Russian awards:

‘Nov. 13. Our names have all been taken by the Russian C in C for decoration for the Madjidia affair. What fun!!’

Those who had taken part in the retreat from Dobrudja were duly decorated on 20 March 1917 by Prince Dolgourokoff, as a photograph in Fitzroy’s book confirms. Jenkins returned home in November 1917, but served again in Serbia with the American Unit from 14 May to 16 September 1919. She later underwent midwifery training from 1919 to 1920 and served as a Theatre Sister at Bethnal Green Hospital. Appointed Sister at the Poplar Maternity Hospital, she was raised Supervisor of Midwives for Cheshire County Council in 1939, spending the Second World War in this capacity.

Sold with the recipient’s original Nurses and Midwives (Registration for Employment) Order, 1943, listing her qualifications and service.