A rare Royal Red Cross group of three awarded to Nursing Sister Marcia Barker, one of six nurses on the Nile Expedition

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, gold centres; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Nursing Sister M. Barker); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, the first with some enamel chips to left and lower arms, otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Egypt and Sudan Medals 1882-1891 from the Collection of Jack Webb.

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R.R.C. London Gazette 23 October 1885; insignia sent to G.O.C. Egypt.

Six nurses served on the Nile Expedition, two of whom already held the 1882 medal. All six were awarded the R.R.C.

Jane Marcia Caroline Barker was born on 30 March 1857. She entered service as a military nurse on 1 October 1882, as a temporary augmentation owing to an absence of nurses in Egypt. She was stationed at the Guards’ Hospital, London, from 26 November 1882, and remained there for nearly two years. Placed under orders for Egypt, she embarked on 8 October 1884, and arrived there on the 21st of the same month. Her services were commended by the P.M.O. Nile Expeditionary Force in July 1885, and she was recommended by the Director General for the Royal Red Cross, which she duly received.

She proceeded from Ramleh to Cairo in September 1885, and onwards to Asswan in January 1886. Nursing Sister Barker arrived in England on three months sick leave at the end of July 1886 and resigned her appointment the following September. She applied to be readmitted in March 1888 and, although informed that her name would be placed on the List, does not appear to have seen any further service with the Military Nursing Establishment.

The following ‘Death’ was announced in The Times of 23 January 1913: ‘Brunker, on the 21st Jan. 1913, at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Marcia (Liza) Brunker, R.R.C., the beloved wife of Col. Capel Brunker, D.S.O., late Lancashire Fusiliers. Funeral at Rowner Church near Gosport, at 3pm on Friday, 24th.’ Sold with copy record of service and medal roll.