A Great War 1st Class Royal Red Cross group of four awarded to Matron M. B. Williams, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, R.R.C., 1st class, G.V.R., gold, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914 Star (Sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (A. Matron), together with Q.A.I.M.N.S. silver cape badge, nearly extremely fine (5) £200-250

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class London Gazette 3 June 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 15 June 1916.

Margaret Bessie Williams was born on 20 July 1878, and educated at Malvern House School, Reading. She trained at the General Hospital, Hereford, September 1899 to September 1902, when she was appointed Staff Nurse, and served at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, until October 1904. She was appointed Staff Nurse Q.A.I.M.N.S. in May 1905, and became Sister in April 1912. She disembarked in France on 12 August 1914, for service with No. 6 General Hospital and later with No. 14 Stationary Hospital, 1,000 beds at Boulogne. She was invested with the insignia of the R.R.C. by the King at Buckingham Palace on 27 June 1916, having been mentioned in the despatches of Sir John French, dated 30 November 1915, and of Sir Douglas Haig, dated 30 April 1916. After 10 years further service in the UK, Ireland and on the Rhine, she retired on 1 July 1933, and died on 24 November 1878, aged 100 years.