Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine post-War M.B.E., Great War A.R.R.C. group of six awarded to Sister Anne E. Musson, Territorial Force Nursing Service, later Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, who displayed ‘outstanding work’ in France

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type lady’s shoulder badge, silver, on lady’s bow riband; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel, on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard & Co. fitted case of issue; 1914 Star (Miss A. E. Musson. T.F.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sister A. E. Musson.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued, on lady’s bow riband, nearly extremely fine (6) £600-£800

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

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M.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1949:
‘For services to the nursing profession in Northern Ireland.’

A.R.R.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 May 1917.

Anne Elizabeth Musson was born in West Bridgford, Nottingham, in 1881, and trained in nursing at the Nottingham General Hospital from 1904 to 1907. An experienced practitioner, she joined the staff of the 3rd Western Hospital of the T.F.N.S. and served in France from 22 October 1914. Posted to dressing stations and base hospitals, and placed in charge of ambulance trains full of wounded men, she received the A.R.R.C. whilst on the staff of No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen.

Impressed by her abilities, she was later invited by Mr. Andrew Fullerton to take up the post of Assistant Matron at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Promoted Matron in 1922, she remained at this hospital until retirement on 1 May 1946. An article published in the Nursing Journal around that time, adds: ‘She was awarded the MBE on her retirement. She was regarded as rather aloof, though an excellent and fair matron. She had artistic gifts, being a frequent exhibitor at the Ulster Academy of Arts.’

An original member of the Joint Nursing and Midwives Council, Musson was heavily involved in drafting the rules and regulations governing the training, examination and registration of qualified nurses. For 18 years she represented the Joint Council on the Northern Ireland executive committee of the Queen’s Institute of District Nurses, whilst she also served as a founder member of the Belfast branch of the Royal College of Nurses. She was also instrumental in forming the first Irish unit of the Student Nurses’ Association at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She died on 3 February 1958.

Sold with the recipient’s original T.F.N.S. cape badge, newspaper clippings and copied research.