Gertrude Mary Richards, CBE, RRC (16 September 1864 – 18 September 1944) was a British nurse and military nursing leader during the First World War.[1][2] She was matron and principal matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service from 1904 until her retirement in 1919.[3][4][5]
Gertrude Richards | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 September 1864 Nottingham, England |
| Died | 18 September 1944 (aged 80) West Bridgford, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Army Nursing Service |
| Years of service | 1904–1919 |
| Rank | Principal Matron |
| Unit | Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Royal Red Cross |
Early life
editRichards was born in Nottingham on 16 September 1864,[5] and was one of at least six children born to her parents William, a solicitor and mother Harriette.[6]
Nursing career
editRichards lived at home until she undertook nurse training at The London Hospital between 1891 and 1893, under Eva Luckes.[7][8][3] Richards remained there as a sister until she became matron of Moorfields Hospital in 1899.[8][7][9][3][10] In 1904 she was appointed as matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, and her first posting was to the Royal Herbert Military Hospital in Woolwich.[5][11][12][13] In 1917 Richards became principal matron in the War Office, until her retirement in 1919.[5] She was one of twenty-seven military matrons who served in the First World War and who trained under Eva Luckes, including Sarah Oram, Maud McCarthy and Ethel Becher.[3]
Honours
editRichards was awarded the Royal Red Cross in July 1915 and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by 1941.[14][15]
Personal life
editAfter her retirement in 1919, Richards moved back to Nottinghamshire and in 1939 was living with her younger sister, Lily, in West Bridgford.[16]
Richards died on 18 September 1944, and left her estate to her sister Lily.[17]
References
edit- ^ Gertrude Mary Richards, Birth Certificate, 16 September 1864, Nottingham; General Register Office for England and Wales
- ^ Gertrude Mary Richards, Death Certificate, 18 September 1944, Beeston, Nottinghamshire; General Register Office for England and Wales
- ^ a b c d Rogers, Sarah (2022). A Maker of Matrons’? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919 (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022
- ^ Matron's Annual Letter, No.11; Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.11, April 1904, 13; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
- ^ a b c d Gertrude Mary Richards, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/6988; The National Archives, Kew
- ^ The Richards Family, RG11/333, 132; The General Record Office, The England and Wales Census 1881 for Beeston, Nottinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew [Available at: www.findmypast.co.uk, accessed on 20 January 2018]
- ^ a b Gertrude Mary Richards, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1, 141; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
- ^ a b Gertrude Mary Richards, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/3, 240; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
- ^ Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)
- ^ "Appointments". The Nursing Record. 23: 311. 14 October 1899 – via www.rcn.org.
- ^ "Appointments". The Hospital. 36 (916): 27. 16 April 1904.
- ^ The Minutes of the Twenty-seventh Nursing Board, 30 September 1903; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service: Proceedings and Reports; April 1903 – March 1904; WO243/21, Vol.2, 76; The National Archives, Kew.
- ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.11, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.11, April 1904, 13, 29; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
- ^ "Royal Red Cross". The Nursing Record. 55 (1422): 7. 3 July 1915 – via www.rcn.org.
- ^ Richards, Gertrude , CBE, RRC, Army List, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service -Retired Pay, 1941, 1650.
- ^ Richards, Gertrude M., RG101/6245l; 1939 England and Wales Register for West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 20 January 2018]
- ^ Richards Gertrude Mary, died 18 September 1944, Probate granted 17 February 1945; Probate Search Service [Available at: https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk ]