Peterhastie Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Came across this obit whilst looking for other, almost totally unconnected, stuff Staff Nurse Margaret Ellison Duckers, Q.A.I.M.N.S. ( R ) , elder daughter of Mr and Mrs J.S. Duckers, Edencroft, Wetheral, died in Salonica on 16th May, aged 25 years. She was trained at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary by Miss Cummins, late Matron of Cumberland Infirmary, and took a first in medicine and also in surgery. She joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) and was at the hospital at 71 Vincent Square, London. When volunteers were asked for foreign service she offered and was sent to Salonica last July. At first she was in a camp nursing our own men. Then the hospital went to Italy and became attached to a hospital for Serbians, originally a French Red Cross, but now taken over by the British, in Macedonia. Her strength gave way under the strain of tent life in winter and malaria, and she was sent to a convalescent camp and transferred to hospital. She was found unconcious on the floor of the bathroom, and passed away in about two hours. Her death caused much grief. She had a military funeral, many Matrons and Sisters coming long distances to be present. Many wreaths were received from British, Australian and other friends. Among those present at the funeral was Sister Annie Ladbrook of No 43 General Hospital, Salonica, a Wetheral friend, who was awarded a Croix de Guerre for her bravery for rescuing soldiers from a burning train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 11 September , 2012 Share Posted 11 September , 2012 Interesting piece Peter. I wonder where Sister Ladbrook won her decoration for the rescues from burning train anyone have the story.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterhastie Posted 11 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 11 September , 2012 ME Duckers appears on the Lytchgate Memorial at Wetheral Holy Trinity Church http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/peterhastie/IMG_2066.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf mcm Posted 12 September , 2012 Share Posted 12 September , 2012 Peter, Margaret Duckers is buried in the Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece. Regards, Alf McM, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterhastie Posted 12 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 12 September , 2012 Deborah Ann Ladbrook, Royal Red Cross 2nd Class. http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13381/pages/119/page.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 12 September , 2012 Share Posted 12 September , 2012 Interesting piece Peter. I wonder where Sister Ladbrook won her decoration for the rescues from burning train anyone have the story.john I'm not sure about the burning train, but she received her award on 14th April 1917, 'in the field' from General Ruotte, for her actions during a bombardment of 36 General Hospital, Salonika, where she was working. Of course, it could be that a hospital train was alongside at the time. It seems that the correct award was never notified to the British authorities at the time, who seemed to think it was a mention in despatches. It was finally published in the London Gazette of 7 May 1920. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 12 September , 2012 Share Posted 12 September , 2012 I can see now that she was also mentioned in despatches by General Whitehead in relation to a 'railway accident at Vertikop' at the end of 1916, so a different piece of 'action.' In addition to the Croix-de-Guerre and the ARRC, she also received the Greek Medal of Merit, 4th Class. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jermil Posted 6 January , 2019 Share Posted 6 January , 2019 I have most of Deborah Ladbrook’s medal entitlement in my collection. The group consists of ARRC, Territorial Force War Medal, Croix de Guerre (France) Medal of Military Merit (Greece) and a TFNS Tippet badge. I am unfortunately missing the British War and Victory medals. interestingly a Serbian War Medal turned up at auction in a box named to Deborah Ladbrook. It obviously never found its way to her but would be a nice addition to the group. I missed it at auction and also when it was sold on by a dealer but hopefully it will surface again and do will the WW1 pair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 6 January , 2019 Admin Share Posted 6 January , 2019 Margaret Duckers' service record is here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10795094 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGong Posted 6 January , 2019 Share Posted 6 January , 2019 5 hours ago, jermil said: interestingly a Serbian War Medal turned up at auction in a box named to Deborah Ladbrook. It obviously never found its way to her but would be a nice addition to the group. The British authorities made it very clear from the start, that if anyone accepted a foreign war service medal, then they were not entitled to British war service medals. Therefore the Serbian medal would not be allowed to be accepted as she had a British War Medal and Victory Medal as well as her TFWM. But still a very impressive Group to a Lady, hope you can reunite the BWM & VM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 6 January , 2019 Share Posted 6 January , 2019 Dear jermil and ForeignGong, The British authorities may well have made such a typically Catch-22 statement, but this was certainly not always carried through. For example I have the K-i-H (1946) named on the presentation box to Matron Sally Round. I researched her life thoroughly and found that her Great War Pair (S. Round) had been auctioned, together with various Serbian decorations. My research has confirmed at least one of these... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGong Posted 7 January , 2019 Share Posted 7 January , 2019 (edited) Kim There is a big difference with SERVICE awards and then Honours and Decorations as you show above. French & Serb Service medals below. Edited 7 January , 2019 by ForeignGong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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