Gertrude Richards | |
---|---|
Born | Nottingham, England | 16 September 1864
Died | 18 September 1944 West Bridgford, England | (aged 80)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Army Nursing Service |
Years of service | 1904–1919 |
Rank | Principal Matron |
Unit | Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Royal Red Cross |
Gertrude Mary Richards, CBE, RRC (16 September 1864 – 18 September 1944) was a British nurse and military nursing leader during the First World War.[1][2] She was matron and principal matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service from 1904 until her retirement in 1919.[3][4][5]
Richards was born in Nottingham on 16 September 1864,[5] and was one of at least six children born to her parents William, a solicitor and mother Harriette.[6]
Richards lived at home until she undertook nurse training at The London Hospital between 1891 and 1893, under Eva Luckes.[7][8][3] Richards remained there as a sister until she became matron of Moorfields Hospital in 1899.[8][7][9][3][10] In 1904 she was appointed as matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, and her first posting was to the Royal Herbert Military Hospital in Woolwich.[5][11][12][13] In 1917 Richards became principal matron in the War Office, until her retirement in 1919.[5] She was one of twenty-seven military matrons who served in the First World War and who trained under Eva Luckes, including Sarah Oram, Maud McCarthy and Ethel Becher.[3]
Richards was awarded the Royal Red Cross in July 1915 and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by 1941.[14][15]
After her retirement in 1919, Richards moved back to Nottinghamshire and in 1939 was living with her younger sister, Lily, in West Bridgford.[16]
Richards died on 18 September 1944, and left her estate to her sister Lily.[17]