Sheila Greaves
Sheila Greaves | |
|---|---|
 Greaves photographed at Anzio, March 1944 | |
| Birth name | Sheila Margaret Greaves |
| Born | 1 January 1911 Leicester, Leicestershire, England |
| Died | 30 March 2005 (aged 94) Tayport, Fife, Scotland |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service |
| Years of service | 1938–1948 |
| Rank | Sister |
| Service number | 206174 |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | George Medal |
| Alma mater | Guy's Hospital |
| Spouse(s) |
Humphrey Fox
(m. 1948; died 1995) |
Sheila Margaret Fox, GM (née Greaves; 1 January 1911 – 30 March 2005)[1][2] was a British army nurse and recipient of the George Medal during the Second World War.
Early life
[edit]Sheila Greaves was born in Leicester, England, on New Year's Day 1911, the second daughter of the Reverend Arthur Greaves and Blanche Greaves (née Meadows).[3] Between 1932 and 1936 she was a probationary nurse at Guy's Hospital, London, qualifying as a state registered nurse in June 1936.[4]
Military career
[edit]Greaves enlisted in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) and was made a provisional staff nurse in January 1938.[5] Promotion to sister came in 1943.[6]
Having served in France in 1939–1940, Greaves served in Syria and the Middle East between 1941 and 1943 before the Sicilian and Italian campaigns in 1943.[7] In 1944 Greaves was a nursing sister at No. 15 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in the Anzio bridgehead in Italy.[8] The two casualty clearing stations (Nos. 2 and 15) and other medical facilities was within range of enemy artillery and air attacks.[9] On 14 March the reception camp 200 yards (183 m) away from the CCS came under air attack. Greaves immediately ran to the reception camp to treat the wounded while the air attacks continued. Her actions were noticed by senior officers and a recommendation for the award of the George Medal was made.[10] The recommendation noted that:
Her prompt action undoubtedly saved very considerable suffering and hastened the evacuation of the wounded to the Casualty Clearing Station. Sister Greaves was an inspiration to all and undoubtedly risked her life to bring immediate relief to the wounded rather than wait until they were brought to the Casualty Clearing Station.[11]
The recommendation was approved and the award of the George Medal was published in the London Gazette on 23 March 1945.[12]
After the war Greaves continued to serve in the QAIRNS until she resigned in 1948, shortly after her marriage to Major Humphrey Fox of the Royal Artillery.[3][13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Births". The Times. No. 39474. 5 January 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "Sheila Margaret Fox", Civil Deaths & Burials, Scotland's People, 30 March 2005
- ^ a b "Daughter of Bishop married". Lincolnshire Echo. No. 16164. 3 June 1948. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ The Register of Nurses. Vol. 1. General Nursing Council for England and Wales. 1938. p. 1048.
- ^ "No. 34474". The London Gazette. 18 January 1938. p. 366.
- ^ "No. 36026". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 May 1943. p. 2316.
- ^ "G.M. for Daughter of Bishop of Grimsby". Yorkshire Post. No. 30453. 24 March 1945. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Escott, Beryl E. (1999). Twentieth Century Women of Courage. Sutton. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-0750918923.
- ^ Moloney, Brigadier C.J.C., ed. (1973). The Mediterranean and Middle East Volume V. History of the Second World War. p. 758.
- ^ "George Cross for dead corporal". The Times. No. 50100. 24 March 1945. p. 2.
- ^ Non-combatant gallantry awards: 1 Feb-13 Dec 1945. War Office and Ministry of Defence: Military Secretary's Department: Recommendations for Honours and Awards for Gallant and Distinguished Service (Army). War Office. 1945. p. 141.
- ^ "No. 36995". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1945. p. 1573.
- ^ "No. 38459". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1948. p. 6067.