Watch List notes:

*The Rare Kangra Earthquake Royal Red Cross awarded to Miss Alice Mabel Purkis, for instrumental work in aiding the wounded at the barracks of the Gurkha Rifles in Dharmsala, which had collapsed during the Kangra Earthquake on 4 April 1905 – this medal one of just 3 awarded. This deadly earthquake hit the Kangra Region in Northern India before dawn with a 7.8 surface wave magnitude tremor, destroying most of the buildings in the cities of Dharmsala and Kangra, and in the process killing more than 20,000 people , comprising: Royal Red Cross, E.VII.R., in gold and enamels, reverse engraved 'A. M. Purkis / Dharmsala / April 1905', on ladies' bow with reverse brooch pin; with original blue velvet interior taken from original case of issue; toned, extremely fine and rare. Royal Red Cross, London Gazette 01.12.1905 – 'in recognition of services rendered by them at Dharmsala after the earthquake which occurred on 4th April, 1905.' Mrs Alice Mabel Lussman (née Purkis) was present in Dharmsala during the Kangra earthquake of 4 April 1905. This lot is offered with several pieces of original correspondence, one from H. D. Shaw, written on headed 2nd Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles headed paper, dated 26 April 1905: 'Dear Miss Purkis, my Commanding Officer has instructed me to forward to you, as one of the ladies who were so instrumental in aiding and nursing the wounded during the recent earthquake, the enclosed copy of Divisional Orders dated 19th April 1905. Yours sincerely, H. D. Shaw.' Contemporary photographs and histories record that the barracks of the 7th Gurkha Rifles was all but destroyed by the earthquake, and that 112 members of the Regiment were killed during the event, as well as some 1,625 civilian casualties in Dharmsala itself. As recorded in the London Gazette, Alice Mabel Purkis was present with two other ladies in assisting the wounded, and these were Mrs Isabel May Clay (wife of Major Charles H. Clay), and Mrs Violet Harriet Clay (wife of Captain Stanley Clay, who was killed) – which suggest that the above recipient was either a visiting friend, or perhaps even part of the household staff at 'Woodside' – a well-built single-storey private house of stone construction close by which was shielded from the worst of the earthquake's effects owing to its position in the 'earthquake shadows ' in a small depression surrounded by other ridges. It would appear conclusive therefore, given the aforementioned letter and the research presented here, that these three ladies played a role in the immediate aftermath at the site of the Gurkha barrack building, having emerged from 'Woodside'. A report from the Geological Survey of India at that time states that whilst rescuing his son, Major Clay was struck by a block of stone and partially buried under debris. It is most likely that his family members and Alice Mabel Purkis were also present during the chaos, and possibly assisted in freeing him. In this same collapse Charles Clay's brother Stanley was killed instantly, and the ladies present set to work despite the terrible events, as recorded in The Times: 'The ladies displayed throughout most marked heroism and bravery. Mrs Stanley Clay, though her husband had just been killed, instantly started nursing and looking after Captain and Mrs Wall, who were both seriously injured, and she has been unremitting in her labours ever since. Mrs C.H. Clay having had her husband injured and having been extricated with her small son from the ruins of her house, was the mainstay and prop of all dressing wounds, shaving cut heads, and nursing. Miss Purkiss [sic] also rendered invaluable aid to the wounded. All the other ladies who were not injured also showed the same heroic spirit.' This lot is also offered with an official O.H.M.S. letter to the recipient (now Mrs Lussman, based at Sylhet) from the Office of the Inspector General of Police, Assam, confirming the above award. (£1000-1500)