Deeble had served in Zululand and she had noted that the work of the nurses was not recognised officially.

Deeble had served in Zululand and she had noted that the work of the nurses was not recognised officially.

The award was created after this comment was passed to the Queen's senior official, Sir Henry Ponsonby, after he was told that "a word of recognition from the Queen … would make her and them [i.e. Jane Cecilia Deeble and the nurses] happy and proud for the rest of their lives".

[5] The decoration was conferred exclusively on women until 1976, when men became eligible, with posthumous awards permitted from 1979.

[6] Recipients of the Royal Red Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "RRC" for Members and "ARRC" for Associates.