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Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

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Royal Naval Nursing Service
Active1884 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeNursing
RoleMedicine
Websitewww.qarnns.co.uk
Commanders
Head of the Naval Nursing ServiceCaptain Lisa M Taylor
PatronHRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, LG, GCVO
Insignia
White Ensign (1801 – present)
Naval jack
Red Cross emblem
United Kingdom
His Majesty's
Naval Service
of the British Armed Forces
Components
  • Special Forces
History and future
Ships
Personnel
Auxiliary services

Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) is the nursing branch of the British Royal Navy. The Service unit works alongside the Royal Navy Medical Branch.

As of 1 January 2006, according to former Ministry of Defence junior minister Don Touhig, the QARNNS had a total strength of 90 Nursing Officers and 200 Naval Nurses (ratings) out of a requirement of 330.[1]

The Navy List (2006) listed 92 QARNNS Officers, of whom two were captains (including one DNNS/Matron-in-Chief), seven commanders, 19 lieutenant-commanders, 60 lieutenants and four sub-lieutenants. The Navy List (1981) listed 146 QARNNS Officers, of whom one held the rank of Matron-in-Chief, two were Principal Matrons, four Matrons, 32 Superintending Sisters, 89 Senior Nursing Sisters and 13 Nursing Sisters; five of the 145 QARNNS Officers were non-nursing officers: two Senior Clerical and Quarters Officers and three Clerical and Quarters Officers.

History

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QARNNS nurse takes the pulse of a patient at Cholmondeley Castle during the Second World War
Three QARNNS nurses who received the OBE for rescuing patients from a bombed hospital, 1942

Early developments of a Naval Nursing Service

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The nursing staff who worked at both Haslar, which accepted its first patients in 1753, and Plymouth, which accepted its first patients in 1762, were usually widows of seamen or marines.[2] Their conduct was not regarded as satisfactory. In 1854 the decision was taken to create an all-male nursing service ashore, similar to what there was afloat. The Crimean War (1854–1856) changed the field of nursing. Eliza Mackenzie, a Superintendent of nurses, and six female nurses, travelled to the Naval Hospital, Therapia in Turkey. They left for Therapia on Christmas day,1854.[3] They were subsequently recognised by the Admiralty for their work.[4] In 1883, a committee determined that improvements were needed in medical and nursing care in the Royal Navy. As such, in 1884, a uniformed Naval Nursing Service was introduced, staffed by trained nurses.[5] These nurses served on shore, initially at Haslar and Plymouth.[6]

Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

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In 1902, Queen Alexandra became President of the Nursing Staff; in her honour, the Naval Nursing service was renamed Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.[6] She invited Eva Luckes, Matron of The London Hospital to help her establish the new service, and supplied staff for it.[7] [8] In 1914 Alexandra, wrote to Lückes announcing that she was being awarded the Badge of the Red Cross Society ‘in grateful recognition of the invaluable services you have rendered in the organisation of the Royal Naval Nursing Service...'.[9][8]

Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve was established on 13 October 1910.[10]

In 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War, QARNNS was significantly expanded, with many volunteers from the British Red Cross and civilian hospitals.

Second World War and until current time.

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During the Second World War, many volunteer QARNNS nurses were deployed overseas. In 1949 a nursing branch of the Women's Royal Naval Service was formed; however, in 1960 these nurses were integrated into QARNNS, creating a single nursing service. In 1982 an integrated service was formed, allowing men to serve as nurses in QARNNS.[6] The first man to join was Senior Nursing Officer Rajendrasen Purusrum, who was commissioned on 1 March 1983.

Although fully affiliated to the Royal Navy from 1977, QARNNS was technically a separate service until 31 March 2000, when it officially became part of the Royal Navy.

Queen Alexandra was President until her death in 1925. The following year she was succeeded by Queen Mary. Princess Alexandra became Patron in 1955.

Ranks

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Initially there were only two ranks: Nursing Sister and Head Sister. In 1911 the intermediate rank of Superintending Sister was introduced.[11] There was no overall head of the service until the introduction of the rank of Head Sister-in-Chief on 1 August 1927. By 1937 Head Sister and Head Sister-in-Chief had been renamed Matron and Matron-in-Chief.

The ranking system changed during the Second World War.

QARNNS rank Equivalent RN rank
Nursing Sister Lieutenant
Senior Nursing Sister Lieutenant
Superintending Sister Lieutenant-Commander
Matron Lieutenant-Commander/Commander[note 1]
Principal Matron Commander/Captain[note 2]
Matron-in-Chief Commodore

Ratings, known as Naval Nurses, were introduced in 1960, with the integration of the WRNS nurses. Their ranking system was similar to that of Royal Navy ratings.

In 1982, in preparation for the introduction of male officers, the Nursing Officers' ranking system was changed.

QARNNS rank Equivalent RN rank
Nursing Officer Sub-Lieutenant
Senior Nursing Officer Lieutenant
Superintending Nursing Officer Lieutenant-Commander
Chief Nursing Officer Commander
Principal Nursing Officer Captain
Matron-in-Chief Commodore

In 1995 the QARNNS adopted Royal Navy ranks, although the head of the Nursing Service was no longer a one-star equivalent, the senior Captain of the QARNNS was appointed Director Naval Nursing Service (DNNS) and styled with the historic post of Matron-in-Chief.

Early Sisters and Superintending Sisters of the QARNNS

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Several early members of the QARNNS were trained at The London Hospital under Eva Luckes.[8] These included:

  • Margaret Emma Goodall Copestake, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister by 1918.[12] [13] She died in Malta whilst on service, July 1933.[14]
  • Nita Courtice, RRC,[15] appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister by 1918.[16][17] Retired in June 1933.[18]
  • Emily Jane Gillies Dann, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister 1911.[19] [20]Resigned in 1914.[19]
  • Gwendoline Dayrell-Reed, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister 1911.[21] Resigned in 1913 to marry.[22]
  • Florence Henrietta Porter, RRC, [23] appointed Sister in 1894,[24] Acting Head Sister in 1906,[25] Head Sister in 1909[26] and Superintending Sister -date unknown. Died in 1914.[23]

List of senior figures of the QARNNS

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Head Sister-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service

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Matron-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service

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Director Naval Nursing Service

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Former Matron-in-chief Commodore Inga Kennedy was appointed Head of the Royal Navy Medical Service in 2017; she wears the QARNNS badge above her rank insignia.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lieutenant-Commander until 1976, Commander thereafter.
  2. ^ Commander until 1976, Captain thereafter.

References

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  1. ^ Don Touhig (16 March 2006). "Nurses". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. col. 2436W.
  2. ^ Harland, KM (1984). "A short history of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service". J R Nav Med Serv. 70: 59–65.
  3. ^ "Did You Know That …? Nursing with the Navy. Nursing Times". Nursing Times: 1317. 1962.
  4. ^ Harland, KM (1984). "A short history of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service". J Roy nav med serv. 70: 59–65.
  5. ^ "Pioneering women who flouted the rules. Women in the Navy. 100 years of the WRNS". Navy News. July. 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007.
  7. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter, No.19, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.19, April 1912, 16; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  8. ^ a b c 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)
  9. ^ Letter from Queen Alexandra to Eva Lückes, no location, 16 June 1914; Matron’s Correspondence and Papers; RLHLH/N/7/19; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  10. ^ "Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve". The Times. 4 January 1911.
  11. ^ "The Medical Service of the Navy". The Times. 28 June 1911.
  12. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.21, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.21, April 1914, 47; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
  13. ^ Anonymous, ‘Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service’, The London Hospital Gazette, 1918, Supplement to Issue 198 Part 2, 29; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  14. ^ Goodall-Copestake, Margaret Emma, Nursing Service Register, ADM104/161/1, 66; Naval Nursing Service, 1894–1929; The National Archives, Kew
  15. ^ Nita Courtice, 28 March 1929, Register of The Royal Red Cross, 1883–1994; WO145/2, 391; The National Archives, Kew
  16. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.21, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.21, April 1914, 47; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
  17. ^ Anonymous, ‘Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service’, The London Hospital Gazette, 1918, Supplement to Issue 198 Part 2, 29; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  18. ^ Courtice, Nita, Nursing Service Register, ADM104/161/1, 71; Naval Nursing Service, 1894–1929; The National Archives, Kew
  19. ^ a b Dann, Emily Jane Gillies, Nursing Service Register, ADM104/161/1, 57; Naval Nursing Service, 1894 1929; The National Archives, Kew
  20. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.19, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.19, April 1912, 36; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  21. ^ Dayrell-Reed, Gwendoline, Nursing Service Register, ADM104/161/1, 56; Naval Nursing Service, 1894 1929; The National Archives, Kew
  22. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.19, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.19, April 1912, 36; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London.
  23. ^ a b "The Late Miss Porter, R.R.C.". The Nursing Times. 10 (: 429. 4 April 1914.
  24. ^ Florence H. Porter, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, 1894 Naval List, 362; UK, Navy Lists, 1888–1970
  25. ^ Florence H. Porter, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, 1907 Naval List, 556; UK, Navy Lists, 1888–1970
  26. ^ Florence H. Porter, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, 1909 Naval List, 555; UK, Navy Lists, 1888–1970
  27. ^ "Former Matrons in Chief". QARNNS. 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  28. ^ "Head of Naval Nursing Service". QARNNS. 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  29. ^ "The Navy List 2014" (PDF). Royal Navy. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  30. ^ "New Head Of The Royal Navy Nursing Service". Forces Net. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  31. ^ "No. 63413". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 July 2021. p. 12368.
  32. ^ "No. 63986". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Head of the Naval Nursing Service". Twitter. 27 May 2022.

Further reading

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  • Bentley, Hannah. "Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service: A study of female active service during the First World War" (PhD dissertation, University of East Anglia, 2021) online
  • Fell, Alison S. Fell and Christine E. Hallett, eds. First World War Nursing: New Perspectives (Abingdon, 2013)
  • Hall, Coryne. Princesses on the Wards: Royal Women in Nursing through Wars and Revolutions (The History Press, 2014).
  • Hallett, Christine E. Containing Trauma: Nursing Work in the First World War (Manchester UP, 2009)
  • Hallett, Christine E. Veiled Warriors: Allied Nurses of the First World War (Oxford UP, 2014)
  • Summers, Anne. Angels and Citizens: British Women as Military Nurses 1854-1914 (2000)
  • Taylor, Eric. Wartime Nurse: One Hundred Years from the Crimea to Korea 1854-1954 (2001)
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