A most outstanding Great War group four awarded to Staff Nurse B. E Barrett, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, who was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm by the French Government for her bravery during an enemy air raid on No. 37 General Hospital, Vertekop (now Skydra), Salonika - “during the bombardment of that hospital by enemy aeroplanes showed a perfect contempt of danger by going to the help of the wounded in spite of continuous explosions”.
Group of Four: British War and Victory Medals (S. NURSE B. E. BARRETT); France, Croix de Guerre, 1914-15, with Palm; Serbia, Cross of Mercy, mounted as worn, the last with ribbon bow.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with:
- The large format bestowal document for the Serbian Cross of Mercy.
- Certified True Copy of the 37th General Hospital Company Orders of 18th September 1916, including the citation for the award of the Croix de Guerre.
- Postcard photograph of a Scottish doctor at Honby Camp, with whom the recipient had a brief relationship.
- Postcard photograph of a hospital ward (Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool) with nursing staff, sent to Mrs H. G. Barratt at Rathmole, Churchdown, nr Gloucester, on 13 Jan 1916.
- Postcard of Salonica street and building entitled Salonique - Facade de l’Elise S. Sophie, censor passed and dated 26 March 1917; addressed to the recipient’s father, Mr A Barratt at Rathmole, Churchdown, nr Gloucester> sent to her parents wishing them a Happy Easter.
- Portrait miniature of the recipient in nurses uniform - erroneously depicted wearing a 1914-15 Star trio. In white metal display frame.
- Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing service Reserve cape badge 30mm x 39mm, hallmarks for 1916.
- Royal Southern Hospital (Liverpool) hand engraved silver badge, the reverse named B. E. BARRETT with dates 1908 - 1912. Complete with safety chain but lacking a receiving hook.
- I.D. bracelet formed from a Serbian 2 Anhap Dinar silver coin, 1915 dated, the obverse polished free from detail prior to being engraved “SISTER. B. E. BARRETT - Q.A.I,.M.N.S.R. - C OF E -“
Nursing Sister B. E. Barrett of Churchdown, Gloucester, trained and worked at the Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool from 1908 to 1912. During the Great War she embarked for Salonika on 1 July 1917 and very soon found herself under enemy air attack when posted to No.37 General Hospital at Vertekop.
Decorated by the French Government for her bravery, the citation states:
“Miss B. E. Barrett, of No.37 General Hospital, during the bombardment of that hospital by enemy aeroplanes showed a perfect contempt of danger but going to the help of the wounded in spite of the continuous explosions.
The Commanding Officer has much pleasure in announcing that the French Government has conferred upon Sister Barrett the Croix de Guerre with palm.”
