British War Medal

This British War Medal was awarded to Sister E M Fairchild for her service with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service during World War I. One of the criteria for the award of the British War Medal was the rendering of approved services overseas during the war.

Establishment

The British War Medal was approved by King George V in 1919 in recognition of the successful conclusion of 'the Great War' (World War I) for the Allies, and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces. The medal was issued in both silver and bronze. Throughout the British Empire, 6.5 million were issued in silver, and 110,000 in bronze.

Details

The front, or obverse side, shows the head of the reigning British monarch, King George V. The head is based on the sculpture by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The reverse shows Saint George on a horse, trampling the eagle shields of the defeated 'Central Powers' (Germany and Austria-Hungary) as well as a skull and crossbones (an emblem of death). Above, the sun has risen victoriously.

Edith Fairchild

Edith Fairchild was born in Auckland on 17 July 1870, the third daughter of Captain John Fairchild and Mary Fairchild. She trained as a nurse at Addenbrokes Hospital, Cambridge, for three years and was appointed a staff nurse in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service in 1904. She served for sixteen years, working at various military hospitals in England and South Africa.

During the First World War Edith was posted to a base hospital in Boulogne, France, and was attached to one of the ambulance trains bringing the wounded from the front. Other postings were at the Military Hospital at Le Havre and the Belmont Hospital in Surrey. She was promoted to Acting Matron in 1916 and awarded the Royal Red Cross (First Class) in 1918.

Edith developed deep-seated varicose veins because of the stress and strains of her nursing duties, and in 1920 was deemed to be ‘permanently unfit’ for service. She retired with a disability pension and continued to live in England until about 1929, when she decided to move back to New Zealand and be nearer her relatives. Edith died in Greytown on 8 October 1944, age 74.

For more on Edith, see:

• Fairchild, Edith Maud, Online Cenotaph, Auckland Museum website.
• Fairchild, Edith Maud, Probate, Archives New Zealand, R23159709.
• Fairchild, Edith, Nursing Service Record, The National Archives, Kew, WO 399/2619.
• ‘People Talked About’, The New Zealand Graphic, 28 January 1905.
• ‘Personal’, Feilding Star, 5 June 1915.
• ‘Royal Red Cross’, Kai Tiaki: The Journal of the Nurses of New Zealand 11, no. 4 (1 October 1918).