Description
General Service Medal, EIIR, bar Malaya, Lieutenant Carmela Anne Curley, later Hannah, Q.A.R.A.N.C. Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.
Officially impressed: “Lt C.A. Curley. Q.A.R.A.N.C.”
In card box of issue, unworn condition, with wax packet, box with her name on it and stamped “G.S.M. with Clasp Malaya”.
Lieutenant Carmela Anne Hannah aka “Carmel Ann” was born Carmela Anne Curley in Newcastle, County Down, Ireland, on 17th July 1932.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 29th March 1955 recalls her promotion to Lieutenant dated 23rd Feb 1955, with seniority, 2nd June 1954.
She spent about 5 years on a Short Service Commission in the QARANC including her deployment to Malaya during the Malayan Emergency.
During October 1959 in Aldershot, Hampshire she married David Hannah and thus changed her name, looks like they met in the Military.
Once she got married it looks like it was time to hang up her hat with the Army, the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 29th December 1959 noting:
“Under-mentioned Lieutenants to resign their commission on the date shown C.A. Hannah nee Curley (439747) 1st Dec 1959,” to resign their commissions.”
She went on to live a long life and later died in Wymondham, Norfolk, where she died on 17th May 2007 aged about 75 years old.
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps was first formed in 1950 following the reorganisation of the Army Medical Services, during that year it admitted the first non commissioned ranks into the Corps, in 1954, the same year that Lt Curley gained her commission, the first nurses to undertake State Registered Nurse Training within the corps successfully passed their examinations.