QARNNS Officers Waistbelt Clasp QC

[jermil]

The above clasp has been eluding me for many years. I know it exists as I have seen pictures of it, but have not seen one come up for sale.

Does anyone have one in their collection?

I have the Victorian Crown version and the King’s Crown one and both the white metal and chrome plated ward dress clasps.

[badgecollector]

hi
sorry i dont have one but there were a few several years ago on ebay uk.
the seller had about 20 different buckles.
i bought all the aussie ones.
are you saying you have the Victorian Crown version which was worn by the QARNNS?
bc

[Guzzman]

Hi!

The Victorian QARNNS belt clasp you have is not in fact for QARNNS at all as they didn't come into existence until 1902. The first belt clasp worn was the King's Crown version you show.

The Victorian clasp is actually the sword belt clasp of the Naval Forces of the colony of Victoria in Australia. Their belt clasps and buttons were all in silver. I have both the Victorian Naval Forces sword belt clasp and the dirk belt clasp (slightly smaller) in my collection.

Following the King's Crown version came the Queen's Crown version - that is the one you appear to be missing.

Until 1962 all members of QARNNS were officers. It was in that year that a QARNNS Ratings Branch was established and it was in that year that the training of QARNNS ratings as State Registered Nurses and State Enrolled Nurses commenced. These wore the third of the belt clasps you show.

I have examples of all the belt clasps. Until a few years ago they were fairly easy to find but like all QARNNS badges and insignia they are now much more scarce. But they do turn up so keep looking!

Pete

[Milmed]

Hi Pete,
You are partially correct in your information regarding the QARNNS been formed in 1902. The 1902 date is when they were renamed Queen Alexandra's Royal Navy Nursing service when Queen Alexandra became president of the nursing staff. They were actually formed in 1884 as the Navy Nursing Service and photographic evidence does show the silver QVC belt buckle been worn.

They also wore the Geneva red cross on white circle, all on a black silk rosette armband as badge. I have one of these in my collection.

Regards
Steven

[jermil]

I should have stated that the Victorian one was not QARNNS, but from the Naval Nursing Service.

As stated the QARNNS were not formed until 1902, apologies for any confusion.

It’s good to know there are some of the QC versions out there, I will continue to search.

[Guzzman]

The Naval Nursing Service reached it's largest size in 1900 - at which point there were only 29 Sisters in the service. Yes, it is true that from 1889 onwards all qualified Sisters were on the Navy List (i.e., recognised as officers) but I can find no record of them wearing waistbelt clasps similar to those we are discussing. Don't get me wrong - I would love to find out they did!

The uniform is listed as being a navy-blue serge dress, white apron, small navy-blue serge shoulder capes and white frilled caps with strings. They wore a badge with a white 'Geneva' cross on a white background on their right arm (on an armband as described by Milmed). From the 1890s they also had a summer uniform consisting of a white blouse and blue skirt. The uniform was changed when the service became QARNNS.

I love the fact that the Sisters were addressed as 'Madam' by both staff and patients!

If anyone has any pictures of members of the Naval Nursing Service I would really appreciate seeing them. Anything to help boost the limited information I have on the Naval Nursing Service!

One point does bother me - if they did wear a silver waistbelt clasp, how would you differentiate between the ones they wore and the ones worn by the Victorian Naval Forces? This was a proportionately much larger service with more officers than the Naval Nursing Service and a significant amount of their insignia does turn up in the UK. In other words, can you be sure that what you have is actually a Naval Nursing Service waistbelt clasp?

Pete