Nursing services

Nurses´ testimonials from women wishing to nurse in the Crimea are in WO 25/264. The Army Nursing Service was established in 1884, and became Queen Alexandra´s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in 1902. Two reserve services were also created: Princess Christian´s Nursing Reserve in 1894, which became Queen Alexandra´s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve in 1908; and the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) in 1908 which became the Territorial Army Nursing Service in 1921.

Recommendations for appointments of staff nurses in QAIMNS are in WO 25/3956 for the period 1903 to 1926. A few pension records for nurses appointed before 1905 are in WO 23/93-95 and 181.

Service records for Queen Alexandra´s Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Reserve and the Territorial Force Nursing Service are in two sub-series in WO 399. For an example, see our First World War exhibition. They are arranged alphabetically by name and are searchable on the online catalogue. Registers of disability pensions for nurses are in PMG 42/1-12 with a few case files in PIN 26/19985-20826.

Details of volunteer nursing services, the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANYs) and the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs), are held by the British Red Cross.

Link to 'The story of the British Army in the First World War': www.1914-1918.net
Link to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission: www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx

Royal Red Cross

The Royal Red Cross was instituted as a decoration in 1883 for award to women who showed special devotion while nursing the sick and wounded of the Army and Navy. In November 1915, the Royal Red Cross was expanded to two classes: First Class, or Member (RRC); and Second Class, or Associate (ARRC). Registers are in WO 145.