Elizabeth (Lily) White Gray      Born: 1868 -1938

Broughton Salford (Manchester), EnglandOccupation: Nurse

Youngest daughter of Lt. Henry Gray and Sarah McLinton.  Birth not registered.  We believe Henry was over in Northern Ireland at the time taking care of affairs following the death of his last sibling Margaret in1867.

Nurse during the Boer War.  'White' was in honour of a family friend.

As she was a reserve nurse (Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve or PCANSR) she can be on the nominal roll for the 30th September 1900.

GRAY Elizabeth White Royal Hospital Salford 555 May 7 1897 Field Force South Africa

The Queen's South Africa Medal

 

The Queen's South Africa Medal.

All members of British or colonial forces who served in South Africa during the actual period of hostilities, 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902, qualified for the Queen's South Africa Medal. Twenty-six bars were issued to denote participation in particular battles or campaigns. Approximately 178,000 Queen's South Africa Medals were issued.

The QSA Medal Roll Database

A0365 Sister Elizabeth White GRAY ANSR p45 No.5 General Hospital Wynberg Jul-01

A1598 Sister Elizabeth White GRAY ANSR p163 Springfontein Sep-01

A0657 Sister Elizabeth White GRAY ANS p79 No.13 General Hospital Johannesburg June11 1902

The KSA Medal Roll Database – WO100/353

‘King’s South Africa Medal, granting medal issued on 1st October 1902’

68/nurses/1041      Nursing Sister GRAY  E.W.     (ANSR)         slide/p 40      Place stamp – A.M.D.5        Date stamp – 10/11/03

The King's South Africa Medal or KSA was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 01 January1902, and completed 18 months service before 01 June1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.  The medal was to recognise service in the difficult latter stages of the war.

The KSA was awarded only to those troops who fought in 1902, and who had served for 18 months. Service did not have to be continuous, but even with continuous service the recipient would have had to serve from December 1900 to have 18 months service before the war ended in May 1902 (and commencing before the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January 1901). Hence the majority of participants qualified for the QSA only.