An exceptionally rare Great War MM to Miss M E Davidson BRCS VAD / Awarded for bravery during the bombing of St Omer 14 April 1918

GV Military Medal correctly impressed Miss M. Davidson. B.R.C.S. (V.A.D)

Pair correctly impressed M.E. Davidson. V.A.D.

 

Swing mounted as worn.

Condition GVF

 

Sold with a Serbian Order of St Sava 4th Class. Miniature MM & pair and two miniature Serbian Order of St Sava 4th Class. One is damaged, and the other is in its original Spink case. 

 

Margaret Elizabeth Davidson was born in Aberdeenshire in 1886, the daughter of Thomas Davidson. Sometimes in her adult life, she went by  Marjorie; this was the case at the time of the 1911 census when she was living with her brother and his family in Spinning Walk, Shere Nr Guildford, Surrey.

 

In the early years of the Great War, Margaret was involved in charitable activities and fundraising. The Aberdeen Press and Journal, on Monday, the 1st of May 1916, ran a story showing her involvement in raising £12 for the Aboyne Hospital Fund. It is believed the Serbian Order of St Sava was presented to her for fundraising efforts for the Serbian Relief Fund.

 

On the 12th of January 1918, she joined the VAD as a 'Chauffer without pay', giving her address as 'Birchwood cults, Aberdeenshire.

 

Miss Davidson was based at St. Omer at the base hospitals and casualty clearing stations. On the 14th of April 1918, during the Battle of Lys, the railway yards and lines close to the hospitals were heavily bombed. A junction that contained wounded servicemen and civilians was hit. She was awarded the Military Medal for her efforts in saving some of the victims, along with those of three other women of the VAD. The award was gazetted on 22nd July 1918; the citation is as follows; 

 

 

'For conspicuous devotion to duty during an hostile air raid. All these lady drivers were out with their cars during the raid, picking up and in every way assisting the wounded and injured, and showed great bravery and coolness, and were an example to all ranks. They also carried to safety and helped in every way many French civilians'

 

General Plumer presented Miss Davidson with the ribbon, and King George VI personally presented the Military Medal at an official investiture at Buckingham Palace. 

 

On the 12th of April 1919, she left the VAD and passed away in Stirling in 1969.