ELIZABETH HARRIS'S REPLICA VICTORIA CROSS

The remarkable story of a woman who nursed soldiers in India during a 19th century cholera outbreak and the medal they gave her in gratitude is to go on display in London.

For her “indomitable pluck”, Elizabeth Webber Harris was awarded a replica Victoria Cross, as women were ineligible for the country’s top bravery award itself during her lifetime.

Her medal will go on display at the Imperial War Museum from next month, in the wake of International Women’s Day last Sunday.

It will be in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, which is dedicated to objects and artefacts belonging to those awarded the Victoria Cross or the George Cross.

Born Elizabeth Matthews in Bexleyheath, Kent, in 1834, Mrs Harris travelled to India with her husband, who had been made commanding officer of the 104th Regiment (Bengal Fusiliers).

Her medal was displayed for many years at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall and then the National Army Museum.

In 2013 it was acquired by the Lord Ashcroft Collection of British military decorations, which is permanently housed at the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth.

The medal stands as an “eloquent testimony” to all the women who lived with the British Army in Victorian India, said the museum.

To read the complete article, see:
Museum honours nurse who is only woman to have ‘won VC’ (www.nursingtimes.net/home/specialisms/leadership/museum-honours-nurse-who-is-only-woman-to-have-won-vc/5083151.article)

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