Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve,Silver Badge.

A Large and heavy Silver(not marked as such)Badge for the Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve formed in March 1897.It's members,who worked as Nurses in civilian Hospitals,were to be mobilised in times of conflict to staff the Army's Hospitals.Their major debut was in the 2nd Boer War in South Africa where many served bravely.
I recommend the site;
http://britisharmynurses.com/wiki/index.php?title=Nurses

The badge has the issue number 19 which was first issued to Sister Mary E Jefferys,who had trained at Bristol General Hospital and enlisted on May 6th 1897. This badge was,however,later reissued to Sister May Leonard who had trained at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin and enlisted on October 21st 1898.She went on to see service in South Africa,serving at Hospitals in Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
Condition fair with Considerable surface rubbing and some pitting,as pictured.Despite this a lovely item with early links to our Army Nursing Services and now becoming more difficult to source.A large and impressive badge being some 50mm high.

Code: 50928