Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War A.R.R.C. group of six awarded to Assistant Matron Eva D. Murray, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, who maintained the ‘best Florence Nightingale tradition’ whilst under enemy fire at Anzio

Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver and enamel, reverse dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (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 21 December 1944.

The original Recommendation states: ‘On the nights of 14th, 15th and 22nd February, 1944, on the Anzio bridge-head when bombs were bursting all around the Camp, Miss Murray completed tours of all the wards, supervising her patients and Staff with complete disregard for her own personal safety. Her magnificent devotion to duty did much in reassuring the patients and helped to allay their fears which are increased manyfold in bedridden patients. Her administrative and tactful supervision of the Nursing Officers and orderlies of the C.C.S. was excellent, and was in keeping with the best Florence Nightingale tradition. In this way, she did much to encourage the Nursing Staff, as well as improving the morale and comfort of the patients.’

Eva Doris Murray took her nursing studies at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1921 to 1924 and registered as SRN No. 39070 on 18 September 1925. As a pre-War member of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, she was called up upon the outbreak of the Second World War and sent to No.4 General Hospital at La Baule. Evacuated home aboard Dorsetshire on 17 June 1940, she was raised Senior Sister on 1 January 1943 and posted to North Africa as Sister in Charge of No.2 Casualty Clearing Station. Joining her unit as Damascus, No. 2 C.C.S. soon travelled on to Amiriya, Turi and Anzio on 8 February 1944. Awarded the A.R.R.C. for gallant and distinguished service in Italy, Murray was raised Assistant Matron at No. 94 British General Hospital and was finally released from service around 1946.

Sold with original named Buckingham Palace enclosure and copied research.