Ethel Becher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Becher
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| Matron-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps | |
| In position 1910 – March 1919 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ethel Hope Becher
1867 |
| Died | 10 May 1948 (aged 80–81) |
Dame Ethel Hope Becher (1867 – 10 May 1948) was a very important British nurse. She was the top nurse, called the matron-in-chief, for the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. This was the nursing part of the British Army. She held this big job from 1910 to 1919, which included all of World War I.
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Ethel Becher's Early Life and Training
Ethel Becher was born in 1867. Her father, Arthur W. Becher, was a colonel in the army. Ethel went to a private school. She then trained to be a nurse at the famous London Hospital from 1893 to 1899. Her teacher was Eva Luckes, a well-known nursing leader.
In 1899, Ethel became a nursing sister. This is a senior nurse role. She also worked as an acting matron during the Second Boer War in South Africa. For her excellent work there, she received the Royal Red Cross medal. Ethel was one of six nurses chosen by Princess Alexandra herself to help soldiers who were sick or hurt in South Africa.
Becoming a Top Nurse Leader
In 1903, Ethel Becher became a main matron for the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. This group later became the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. It was the nursing part of the British Army.
By 1910, Ethel was promoted to matron-in-chief. This meant she was the head nurse for the entire service! She worked at the War Office, which was the main office for the army. In this big role, she was in charge of finding and managing all the nurses. She oversaw nurses working in many places, like Macedonia, Malta, Gibraltar, and France.
Leading During World War I
Ethel Becher almost retired in 1914, just as World War I began. But she decided to stay and lead. This was a huge decision! From 1914 to 1918, she managed over 10,000 nurses. She also supervised 9,500 members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, who were volunteers helping out.
For her amazing work, she received many honors. In 1917, she was named a Lady of Grace in the Order of Saint John. In January 1918, she got a special bar for her Royal Red Cross medal. This meant she was the first person ever to receive this award twice! In June 1918, she was given the very high honor of Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.
After the War
After World War I ended, Ethel Becher left her role as matron-in-chief in March 1919. Newspapers at the time called her a "modern Florence Nightingale". They said it would be hard to find anyone else who played such an important part in the war.
In 1931, Ethel started the United Services Nursing Club. This club helped nurses who had served in World War I get money from the government. Ethel Becher passed away on May 10, 1948.
