Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

An inter-War ‘Civil Division’ O.B.E., Great War ‘Military Division’ M.B.E., ‘Salonika’ R.R.C. group of nine awarded to Principal Matron H. G. Palin, Ministry of Pensions Nursing Service and Territorial Army Nursing ServiceThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1926, on 2nd type lady’s bow riband; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919, on lady’s bow riband; Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold, and enamel, on lady’s bow riband; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Officer’s (Sister’s) small shoulder badge, 30mm, silvered and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles, on lady’s bow riband; 1914-15 Star (Sister H. G. Palin. T.F.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Matron H. G. Palin) VM officially re-impressed; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued, on lady’s bow riband; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, on lady’s bow riband, very fine and better (9) £1,000-£1,400---O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1930.M.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 4 June 1918 (initially gazetted as a Civil Division award; a copy letter in her service papers requested that the M.B.E. be classified as Military Division).R.R.C. London Gazette 3 June 1915.Officer (Sister) Order of St. John of Jerusalem, London Gazette 1 January 1946.Helen Grace Palin was born in India in 1871, the daughter of Lieutenant-General Charles Thomas Palin of the Indian Army. She trained as a nurse at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, London, and in 1909 the Royal College of Nursing journal showed her as Night Superintendent at the Guest Hospital, Dudley. She enrolled in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in November 1911, and was mobilised for service on 17 August 1914, serving until demobilised on 31 July 1919.Miss Palin was appointed to H.M. Hospital Ship Asturias on 24 September 1914, transporting the wounded back from France. She subsequently served in France for a short period prior to being posted to Salonika, where she served with 21st Stationary Hospital from 1 February 1916, and was promoted Matron on 29 October 1916. Noted as ‘a most capable and hard working Matron’, she was Mentioned in General Milne’s Despatch (London Gazette 23 March 1918).Miss Palin returned to England on 19 May 1918, to be Matron of 1 Leicester General Hospital, but in July was sent as Matron to 1 Western General Hospital, Wallasey, Liverpool. Her reports mention her tact, intelligence and organisational ability. Her final appointment with the Territorial Army Nursing Service was with 2 London General Hospital as Matron. She subsequently served as Principal Matron, Ministry of Pensions, and died in Birmingham in 1952.Sold together with copied research including a copied press cutting photograph of the recipient.------For more information, additional images and to bid on this lot please go to the auctioneers website, www.dnw.co.uk