The Military Medal awarded to Violetta Thurstan in 1917 recognized her efforts evacuating wounded soldiers from a dressing station in Koksijde while under direct fire. Born in 1879 at Ore, this multifaceted British nurse, author, and weaver established a career spanning global conflict zones, specialized textile arts, and high-level medical administration across the twentieth century.
Professional Medical Foundation
Thurstan began her nursing practice in 1897 and completed formal training at The Royal London Hospital between 1900 and 1903. She held roles at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and served as Superintendent of the West Riding Nursing Association and Midwifery Training School until 1913. During these years, she earned an external degree in modern languages and fine art from the University of St Andrews, which augmented her capacity to work in diverse international settings.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Wartime Service and Mobilization
Joining the British Red Cross in 1913, Thurstan served as a matron in Italy and Belgium before relocating to Russia as a nurse-driver with the mobile unit led by Prince and Princess Peter Volkonsky. She provided care in Łódź and Warsaw before her injuries and illness forced a period of writing and lecturing. She returned to frontline medical duties in 1916 at De Panne and later at an Ostrovo field hospital in Macedonia, eventually transitioning to an administrative role in the Women's Royal Air Force until September 1919.
Textile Artistry and Research
Transitioning from clinical nursing, Thurstan pursued textile studies in Sweden, Italy, France, and Germany. In 1923, she became Director of Bedouin Industries in Libya, where she managed wool supply chains and supported local weaving traditions. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, she published several manuals including 'Use of Vegetable Dyes for Beginners' in 1930 and 'Weaving Without Tears' in 1956. The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a silk cot cover she designed and created in 1935.
Later Humanitarian Engagements
Thurstan returned to active service during the Spanish Civil War and again during the Second World War. She served in the Women's Royal Naval Service, utilizing her linguistic abilities for Naval Intelligence, and later participated in the 1945 Catholic Relief Programme. Her post-war activities included working with displaced persons and prisoners of war in Austria, Italy, and Egypt. She remained active in humanitarian coordination until her late seventies, eventually settling in Cornwall.
Fast facts
- Born: 1879, Ore
- Died: 1978, The Old Mill House
- Education: The Royal London Hospital, University of St Andrews, Nääs Castle
- Military Decorations: Military Medal, Cross of St. George 4th class, Queen Elisabeth Medal, 1914–15 Star
- Professional Membership: Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, British Red Cross
- Key Publication: Use of Vegetable Dyes for Beginners (1930)
- Burial Site: Falmouth Cemetery
- Languages: English, Arabic
Questions readers ask
What were the major military honors received by Violetta Thurstan?
She was awarded the Military Medal, the Russian Cross of St. George (4th class), the Belgian Queen Elisabeth Medal, the 1914–15 Star, and the Serbian Order of St. Sava.
Did Thurstan contribute to the field of textile arts?
Yes, she was a skilled weaver and dyer who published several influential books, including 'Use of Vegetable Dyes for Beginners' and 'Weaving Without Tears', and managed Bedouin industrial projects in Libya.
Achievements
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
- Military Medal
- Order of St. Sava
- Queen Elisabeth Medal
