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Gertrude Mary Richards CBE RRC (16 September 1864 – 18 September 1944) was a British nurse and military nursing leader during the First World War. She was matron and principal matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service from 1904 until her retirement in 1919.

Early life

Richards was born in Nottingham on 16 September 1864, and was one of at least six children born to her parents William, a solicitor and mother Harriette.

Nursing career

Richards lived at home until she undertook nurse training at The London Hospital between 1891 and 1893, under Eva Luckes. Richards remained there as a sister until she became matron of Moorfields Hospital in 1899. 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. In 1917 Richards became principal matron in the War Office, until her retirement in 1919. 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.

Honours

Richards was awarded the Royal Red Cross in July 1915 and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by 1941.

Personal life

After her retirement in 1919, Richards moved back to Nottinghamshire and in 1939 was living with her younger sister, Lily, in West Bridgford.

Richards died on 18 September 1944, and left her estate to her sister Lily.

References

1. Gertrude Mary Richards, Birth Certificate, 16 September 1864, Nottingham; General Register Office for England and Wales
2. Gertrude Mary Richards, Death Certificate, 18 September 1944, Beeston, Nottinghamshire; General Register Office for England and Wales
3. ^ Rogers, Sarah (2022). A Maker of Matrons’? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919 (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022
4. Matron's Annual Letter, No.11; Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.11, April 1904, 13; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
5. ^ Gertrude Mary Richards, British Army Nurses’ Service Records 1914–1918; WO399/6988; The National Archives, Kew
6. The Richards Family, RG11/333, 132; The General Record Office, The England and Wales Census 1881 for Beeston, Nottinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew
7. ^ Gertrude Mary Richards, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1, 141; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
8. ^ Gertrude Mary Richards, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/3, 240; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
9. Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)
10. "Appointments". The Nursing Record. 23: 311. 14 October 1899 – via www.rcn.org.
11. "Appointments". The Hospital. 36 (916): 27. 16 April 1904.
12. The Minutes of the Twenty-seventh Nursing Board, 30 September 1903; Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service: Proceedings and Reports; April 1903 – March 1904; WO243/21, Vol.2, 76; The National Archives, Kew.
13. Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.11, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.11, April 1904, 13, 29; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
14. "Royal Red Cross". The Nursing Record. 55 (1422): 7. 3 July 1915 – via www.rcn.org.
15. Richards, Gertrude , CBE, RRC, Army List, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service -Retired Pay, 1941, 1650.
16. Richards, Gertrude M., RG101/6245l; 1939 England and Wales Register for West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire; The National Archives, Kew
17. Richards Gertrude Mary, died 18 September 1944, Probate granted 17 February 1945; Probate Search Service

• 1864 births
• 1944 deaths
• British Army personnel of World War I
• British nurses
• Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
• Members of the Royal Red Cross