Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War R.R.C. group of three awarded to Matron K. M. Hewetson, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; British War and Victory Medals, with copy M.I.D. oak leaves (A. Matron K. M. Hewetson.); together with the recipient’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service cape badge; and a Red Cross Society Medal for War Service 1914-18, good very fine (5) £600-£800

R.R.C. London Gazette 8 April 1919: Miss Katharine Milligan Hewetson, Asst. Matron, Royal Herbert Hosp., Woolwich
‘In recognition of valuable nursing services in connection with the War.'

Miss Katharine Milligan Hewetson was born at Penpont, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on 2 July 1868. She qualified as a Midwife on 7 August 1913, before emigrating to the small village of Kaslo, British Columbia, not long thereafter. Returned to England at her own expense, she reported for duty on 10 May 1915 at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich. Transferred to France as Assistant Matron on 22 February 1918, she served at the Villa Tino, Le Touquet, and was later attached to the 24th General Hospital at Etaples. Struck off strength on 10 May 1919, her reference was most impressive:
‘As Matron in charge of the Sick Sister's Hospital at Le Touquet she has shown very good administration capacity, and when occasion arises, of initiation well carried out. She has a sound knowledge of professional work. Her energy and zeal are unlimited and directed with consummate ease. Punctual and thoroughly reliable, and her influence generally has been the best.'

It is believed that Miss Hewetson returned to British Columbia in 1919. It is later noted in her Service Record that she could be contacted at an address in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the mid 1930s. She later died in hospital in Edinburgh on 28 December 1944.