A Rare WW1 & WW2 M.I.D. Order of St. John Ambulance Family Group of Medals awarded to Nursing Sisters, E.M. Mackenzie & N.M. Mackenzie, No.7 Dis S.J.A.B. (Shrewsbury).

Edith Mary Mackenzie was born on the 17th of June, 1892, at Much Wenlock, Shropshire, and Nora Millurge Mackenzie was born on the 14th of October, 1893, also at Much Wenlock.

During WW1, Edith commenced service during November 1915, working full time as the Secretary and Assistant Quartermaster at the St John Auxiliary Hospital, Shrewsbury, serving throughout the whole of the War. It was for this service that she was ‘Mentioned’, service card refers. She continued to serve through WW2, being awarded the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister Breast Badge (3rd type, Skeletal), London Gazette, 2nd of January 1940 refers. Edith went on to accumulate four 5 year service bars to her Service Medal of the Order of St. John.

The medals are sold with copied research, mounted for display, and are as follows -

The Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Sister Breast Badge (3rd type, Skeletal), unnamed as issued; 1939/45 Defence Medal, with WW1 M.I.D oakleaf, unnamed as issued; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with 4 service bars, 11444 A/SIS E.M. MACKENZIE. SHREWSBURY No1. NSG DIV. No7 DIS S.J.A.B. 1931 - there is also a small British Medical Association Medal with ‘SHROPSHIRE AND MID-WALES BRANCH’, but it is not clear which sister is the recipient.

Condition, extremely fine

Edith Mackenzie is also entitled to the WW1 British War Medal

Nora Mackenzie served during WW1 from November 1915, though to November 1916, working part time as a swab maker with the Shrewsbury Red Cross Work Party No.1386. She served again during WW2, with the 1939 Census showing both the sisters as being with the S.J.A.B., and both being single.

The medals are sold with the same copied research, are mounted for display, and are as follows -

1939/45 Defence Medal, unnamed as issued: Service Medal of the Order of St. John, 15496 A/SIS. N.M. MACKENZIE. SHREWSBURY No1 NSG DIV. No7 DIS. S.J.A.B. 1937

Condition, heavy toning , otherwise extremely fine

Nora is also entitled to the WW1 British War Medal.

During WW1, their brother, Lieutenant Allan Victor Mackenzie, was awarded the Military Cross for ‘Conspicuous Gallantry and Devotion to duty’, leading a trench raid and carrying back a wounded comrade over a distance of 300 yards under heavy German artillery barrages, whilst serving with the 6th Shropshire Light Infantry.