A SET of First World War medals awarded to a military nurse is going on sale in Dorchester tomorrow.

The medals were discovered at a local house by a relative who was clearing it after the owner died.

She thought they may be of interest after seeing the recent BBC television series Crimson Fields, which is centred around the lives of serving nurses in France.

Amy Brenan, a valuer at Duke’s Auctioneers in Dorchester, said: “Though these are the standard medals that were awarded to all soldiers who served, very few come to the market that are engraved to the edges with a woman’s name.

“When you think about the number of men who served in the military between 1914 and 1918, there were proportionately only a handful of women who worked as serving nurses in frontline positions.”

The lot included a Victory medal and 1914/15 star, which were granted to all military personnel serving in Europe, and are engraved with the name ‘Sister ECP Orchard’.

Military records show Sister Emily Caroline Orchard served in the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, known as the QA’s.

She enrolled on September 9, 1915 and served in Gallipoli.

Amy said that with the centenary of the First World War this year, items relating to the conflict were extremely popular at the moment.

The medals will be on sale at Duke’s Grove salerooms and are expected to fetch between £50 and £100.

For more information contact 01305 257544 or email grove@dukes-auctions.com