Ethel Ellen Hutchings A.R.R.C. (1884-1977)

1907 – 1911. Nurse training at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary

7th August 1912. Took her CMB examination in Midwifery

Midwifery became legally recognised in Britain in 1902 with the first Midwives Act. The Central Midwives Board (CMB) was established as part of the Midwives Act. Its function was to approve training programmes, define ‘Rules of Practice’ and set an expectation of moral good character, which was to be demonstrated in written proof submitted by individuals considered acceptable to the Board.

1914-1918: Served as a Military Nurse in World War I.

During the First World War, Ethel served as a military nurse. She was awarded the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal and The Victory Medal. The Victory Medal has an oak leaf stitched to the ribbon, which represents the fact that she was mentioned in dispatches.

1916: Awarded the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Medal (QAIMNS)

During the First World War Ethel was also awarded the QAIMNS Medal for her services to military nursing. Throughout the war there were over 10,000 regular and reserve QAIMNS serving in countries such as France, India, East Africa, Italy, Palestine, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Salonika and Russia.

1918: Awarded the Royal Red Cross Military Services Medal, 2nd Class.

At the end of the War, Ethel was awarded the Royal Red Cross as part of the New Years Honours list for “exceptional services in military nursing”.

Recipients of the Royal Red Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "RRC" or "ARRC" for Members and Associates respectively.

14th June 1919: Left for Bombay via Liverpool

We know Ethel left for Bombay due to the ship records. The records show Ethel’s profession as “hospital nurse.”

Click document to enlarge

1920: Awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal

Ethel was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal in 1920 for “exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded in conflict or exemplar service in areas of public health or nurse education.”

1926: Registered as a Nurse at Sassoon Hospital, Poona

1931 - 1948: Registered as Matron at Lady Dufferin Victoria Hospital, Calcutta

During her time spent here, Ethel was Matron and played a key role in the passing of the Bengal Nurses Act in 1934. The Act ensured the registration and better training of nurses, midwives and health visitors in Bengal. As shown here in this article from the British Journal of Nursing, June 1934 (click to enlarge):

1937: Awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind medal

In 1937, Ethel was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind medal. Recipients of this medal are few and it is awarded to “any person without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex ... who shall have distinguished himself (or herself) by important and useful service in the advancement of the public interest in India."

4th January 1944: Awarded the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem medal.

On the 4th January 1944, Ethel was awarded the 'Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem' silver medal. The medal is a British Royal order of chivalry constituted in 1888 by royal charter from Queen Victoria and dedicated to St John the Baptist.

13th June 1946: Awarded an O.B.E from George VI.

On the 13th June 1946, Ethel was awarded an OBE. The London Gazette, 13th June 1946, described her as "Miss Ethel Ellen HUTCHINGS, A.R.R.C., Chief Lady Superintendent, Auxiliary Nursing Service, in the Office of the Director-General, Indian Medical Service."

16th February 1948: Left India and returned to England

1977: Died in Cheltenham at the age of 92.