Unusual WW1 South African Military Nursing Service Badge

[Brian Conyngham]

Steven

Not sure if you have one of these rarities:

Quote from page 178 from the Military Nursing in SA 1914-1994.

"A navy-blue, double breasted tailored style gaberdine coat of the same length as the dress was worn with a self-coloured two inch wide belt. On each shoulder of the coat the words "South Africa" were woven in gold lettering onto a band that was stiched in place."

I was very fortunate to pick up a pair of these with a WW1 BWM to a attractive SA nurse Alice Ross along with loads of documents and bit and pieces. Her named nursing badge is illustrated and can be seen on her cloak (circled in red). She led a sad life with a philandering husband with whom she had a baby girl whom died on the day of her birth. She kept diaries for the rest of her life which she kept updated daily into the 1950's and make sad reading.

I passed on one of the pair to a fellow Forum member, I hope he still has it?

Brian

Brian