Benjamin Shield medal : Miss Doris Grey, Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments

Place Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Marrickville
Accession Number REL33959
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Gold, Silver
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Date made c 1916-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Ornately engraved and cut silver medal with an attached central medallion in rose gold showing the showing the Maltese cross of St John Ambulance Brigade. A suspension ring is attached to the top of the medal. The reverse of the medal is engraved 'BENJAMIN SHIELD 2ND MARRICKVILLE No 1 SQUAD DORIS GREY'.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of Miss Doris H Grey, a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) of the Australian Red Cross between 1915 and 1919. The squad to which she was attached was based at Marrickville in Sydney. In 1919, in the course of her work as a VAD, Doris met and fell in love with Private Colin James Irwin, a recently returned serviceman who had lost his leg as a result of wounds received during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. They were married at Petersham in 1920.