A VERY RARE & DESIRABLE “NURSE’S” 1914-15 Star Trio.

With MENTION IN DESPATCHES (EGYPT)

To:
NURSE ELSIE SHARPE. (Later Mrs E Lawley)
B.R.C.S. & O.J.S.S.
British Red Cross Society & Order of St John of Jerusalem.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Ms Elsie M SHARPE was born on 1st November 1878, in Marylebone, Hackney, London, and lived in Mayfield Villas, Maury Road, Hackney and Upper Gloucester Place and Carlisle Mansions, Westminster.

Elsie joined the Red Cross in June 27 1915 and served as a nurse earning 21/- per week in 1915 until October 31 1917 when her pay was increased to 24/-per week.

She embarked for service in Egypt on 27th June 1915 and her nursing section which was based there was mentioned in Sir Archibald Murray’s Dispatches a year later in his June 1916 to June 1917 dispatch.

Elsie Norman married Ernest Norman Lawley, on 25th October 1917 in Cairo and on returning from active service they landed in Liverpool on 8th January 1918 returning on the P&O liner SS Nankin after being discharged from the Red Cross.

Ernest Lawley was born April 25 1879 at Lewisham, Bromley, Kent and lived in Breakspear Road, Deptford and Church Road, Upper Norwood.

He joined the Red Cross as a driver on March 29 1915 and served until discharge on January 9 1919 when he was a chauffeur.

He also served in France, Romania and Belgium as well as Egypt. While in Egypt he courted and married Elsie Sharpe. It appears that the couple settled somewhere in Scarborough, Yorkshire and it is believed that they adopted a female child or baby who took the name Lawley.

Ernest Norman Lawley died April 6 1956 in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Elsie died on September 24 1976 in Scarborough.







This is the first time in our career that we’ve ever seen a Great War M.I.D. to a female member of the nursing services.

An exceptionally rare & highly recommended trio with various confirming medal rolls, medal index card & papers.
The Group is Practically Mint on Original Ribbons.

£695