Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service

Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) is the nursing branch of the British Royal Air Force.

It was established as the Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service (RAFNS) in 1918, and became part of the permanent establishment as the Royal Air Force Nursing Service on 27 January 1921. It received the Royal prefix after Princess Mary agreed to become its Patron in June 1923.

It was a women-only branch until 1980, when men were also permitted to join. Until the Second World War, it was only open to unmarried women, or childless widows. There was also a Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (Reserve) (PMRAFNS(R)) to supplement the regular service during times of war or emergencies.

A history of the service was commissioned from the writer Mary Mackie and appeared in 2001.Mary Mackie: Sky Wards - A History of the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (London: Robert Hale, 2001). An updated and extended edition covering subsequent decades (including service in Afghanistan) was published in September 2014.Mary Mackie: Wards in the Sky – the RAF's Remarkable Nursing Service (The History Press, UK, 2014, ).

Ranks The initial ranking system used by the PMRAFNS was as follows.

PMRAFNS rankEquivalent RAF rank (from 1943) Staff NursePhased out during the Second World War. Sister Flying Officer Senior SisterInitially called Superintending Sister, but renamed after a few years. Flight Lieutenant Matron Squadron Leader Principal MatronIntroduced later than other ranks. Wing Commander Chief Principal MatronIntroduced later than other ranks, possibly not until the Second World War. Group Captain Matron-in-Chief Air Commodore

From 1 June 1943, PMRAFNS personnel were granted emergency Commissions, and wore rank insignia corresponding to their equivalent Royal Air Force officer rank. On 1 February 1949, the women's forces were integrated into the Armed Forces, and a new ranking system was introduced, although professional titles were still used on the wards.

PMRAFNS rankEquivalent RAF rank Flying Officer Flying Officer Flight Officer Flight Lieutenant Squadron Officer Squadron Leader Wing Officer Wing Commander Group Officer Group Captain Air Commandant Air Commodore Air Chief CommandantAn honorary rank held only by Princess Mary (7 October 1950) and Princess Alexandra (1 November 1966). Air Vice-Marshal

Other Ranks were introduced in 1956, although unqualified Nursing Orderlies had previously served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and Women's Royal Air Force. They held standard RAF ranks. Officers used the separate ranking system until 1980, when they too adopted RAF ranks.

Hospitals The RAF had several hospitals which were staffed by nurses from the PMRAFNS. These were located at Akrotiri, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, Ely, Halton Nocton Hall, Lincolnshire, Aden, Uxbridge, Wegberg and Wroughton.

Matrons-in-Chief

Dame Joanna Cruickshank, 1918–1930 Dame Katherine Watt, 1930–1938 Dame Emily Blair, 1938–1943 Dame Gladys Taylor, 1943–1948 Air Commandant Dame Helen Cargill, 1948–1952 Air Commandant Dame Roberta Whyte, 1952–1956 Air Commandant Dame Alice Williamson, 1956–1959 Air Commandant Dame Alice Lowrey, 1959–1963 Air Commandant Dame Veronica Ashworth, 1963–1966 Air Commandant Dame Pauline Giles, 1966–1970 Air Commandant Ann McDonald, 1970–1972 Air Commandant Barbara Ducat-Amos, 1972–1978 Air Commodore Joan Metcalfe, 1978–1981 Air Commodore Joy Harris, 1981–1984 Air Commodore April Reed, 1984–1985 Group Captain Mary Shaw, 1985–1988 Group Captain Elizabeth Sandison, 1988–1991 Group Captain Ethnea Hancock, 1991–1994 Air Commodore Valerie Hand, 1994–1997 Air Commodore Bob Williams, 1997–2001 Group Captain Annie Reid, 2001–2004 Group Captain Wendy Williams, 2004–2006 Group Captain Jackie Gross, 2006–2010 Group Captain Phil Cushen, 2010–2013 Group Captain Phil Spragg, 2013–2015 Group Captain Michael Priestley, 2015–2018 Group Captain Fionnuala Bradley, 2018–2021 Group Captain Emma Redman, 2021–

Early matrons of the new Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service

Laura Margaret Holroyde, RRC and bar, was Matron of a new Royal Flying Corps Hospital, later renamed as the Royal Air Force Hospital, in Eton Square, London from 1917 to 1919.Laura Margaret Holroyde, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/3, 133; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London Laura Margaret Holroyde, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/15, 138 Matrons Report to House Committee, 8 January 1917; House Committee Minutes, 1916–1918; RLHLH/A/5/55, 160; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London She had trained at The London Hospital under Matron Eva Luckes. From June 1921 Holroyde became matron of the London Fever Hospital until 1946.Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)

Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service

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