Nurse's Military Medal in Ireland

[wig]

Found this at the Ulster Musem, will be of interest to all those Sherwood Forester fans.

Miss Louisa Nolan's Military Medal

A remarkable story surrounds the Military Medal awarded to Miss Louisa Nolan for the part she played as a civilian in helping British soldiers involved in the Easter Rising, 1916. Specifically it was in recognition 'for her bravery in tending wounded officers and men at Mount Street Bridge during the fighting there on Wednesday of Easter Week. Miss Nolan went calmly though a hail of bullets and carried water and other comforts to the wounded men. She is the daughter of ex-Head Constable Nolan of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who resides at Ringsend.'

At the time of her award Miss Nolan was employed at the Gaiety Theatre and after the rebellion she travelled to London where she appeared as one of the 'Ladies of the Chorus' in 'Three Cheers', a review at the Shaftsbury Theatre [The Stage 28 December 1916] in which Harry Lauder also appeared (though the show was temporarily closed owing to the death in action of Lauder's only son, Capt J. C. Lauder, of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders). The Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook, compiled by the Weekly Irish Times, Dublin contains an entry in the 'Who's Who in this Handbook' section:

'Two of her sisters are nursing in England, one brother is in the army and another in the navy and a third was killed in August [1915] last on the Western Front. On Saturday 24th February 1917 Miss Nolan was decorated with the medal by His Majesty at Buckingham Palace.'

Image: Miss Louisa Nolan's Military Medal inscription.

[Sue Light]

The citation for Miss Nolan's award reads:

For conspicuous gallantry in the vicinity of the Canal Bridge, Lower Mount Street, Dublin, on the afternoon of the 26th April, 1916, in going out under heavy fire to attend to a wounded officer. Her gallant example inspired other civilians to assist her and the Officer was through Miss Nolan’s initiative, removed to cover. Miss Nolan remained under fire for nearly three hours assisting Doctors and Nurses in removing wounded to places of safety.

The second woman to receive the Military Medal for her actions during the Easter Rising was Florence Williams:

The only daughter of Serjeant Robert Daniel Williams, The Border Regiment was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland, and educated at All Saints’ School in that town.

She was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette, No.29916, of 24 January, 1917) for service rendered to wounded soldiers, in Dublin, during the Irish Rebellion – April, 1916 – whom she assisted from the street to her mother’s house, being repeatedly under fire in so doing.

She also rendered valuable assistance throughout the rebellion (April 24-29, 1916) by bringing bread, medical supplies, bandages, etc., for these wounded men, from the Adelaide Hospital, on every occasion being under fire from the rebels.

She was especially thanked by the Officers of the 10th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who, in recognition of her great service to the soldiers of the Regiment, presented a testimonial to her. During the war she worked in a Shell Factory in Dublin.

Sue

[wig]

Another little story rescued for Ireland. Thank you Sue.

[wig]

Sue,

You don't happen to have any photographs of Nurse Nolan or Williams?

wig