The rare Queens South Africa, Kings South Africa pair issued to Maud Campbell Eagle, who left New Zealand to serve as a nurse in the 2nd Anglo Boer.

 

Maud Eagle was born at Bury St. Edmunds in November 1867, daughter of Francis Blake Eagle (d. 1879) and Emma Ellen Bond (d. 1883). In her book "New Zealand Military Nursing 1915-2015", Sherayl McNabb indicates Maud was trained at Guys Hospital, London in 1890. It is known Maud's sister, Rose Eagle, came to New Zealand in the early 1890s, marrying a local man in 1894. It is presumed that this was the familial connection that brought Maud to New Zealand. There is a Maud Eagle recorded as working at Sunnyside Asylum in Christchurch, and given the photo of Maud included in this lot was taken at Clifford Studios in Christchurch, it is likely this is her. In early 1900 Maud paid for her own passage to South Africa, where she was engaged as a civilian Nursing Sister. The QSA medal roll indicates she served at No. 12 Stationary Hospital, Ladysmith and Sheryl MacNabb also refers to service at No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Modder Spruit plus attachment to the Cape Mounted Rifles.

 

Maud returned to New Zealand in April 1902. The lack of records in New Zealand after this date suggest she left for the UK soon after. It is known that Maud became a registered midwife in London in November 1908. By 1910 Maud was residing at Benoni near Johannesburg. She appears to have largely remained in South Africa until her death on 29th June 1934. She is buried in Johannesburg's Westpark Cemetery.

 

QSA/KSAs to nurses associated with New Zealand are extemely rare. The QSA is correctly impressed NURSING SISTER MAUD C. EAGLE. and the KSA is correctly impressed NURSING SISTER M.C. EAGLE. and were issued without clasps, typical for civilian recipients. Lot comes with a framed photo of Maud Eagle, taken in Christchurch circa 1904, and assorted papers and articles.