Gertrude Richards

Richards was born in Nottingham on 16 September 1864,^[5] and was one of at least six children born to her parents William, a solicitor and mother Harriette.^[6]

Richards lived at home until she undertook nurse training at The London Hospital between 1891 and 1893, under Eva Luckes.^[7][8][3] Richards remained there as a sister until she became matron of Moorfields Hospital in 1899.^{[8][7][9][3][10]} In 1904 she was appointed as matron in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, and her first posting was to the Royal Herbert Military Hospital in Woolwich.^{[5][11][12][13]} In 1917 Richards became principal matron in the War Office, until her retirement in 1919.^[5] She was one of twenty-seven military matrons who served in the First World War and who trained under Eva Luckes, including Sarah Oram, Maud McCarthy and Ethel Becher.^[3] In 1917 she joined the Royal College of Nursing.^[14]

Richards was awarded the Royal Red Cross in July 1915 and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by 1941.^[15][16]

After her retirement in 1919, Richards moved back to Nottinghamshire and in 1939 was living with her younger sister, Lily, in West Bridgford.^[17]

Richards died on 18 September 1944, and left her estate to her sister Lily.^[18]