Hat badge of the Royal Air Force Nursing Service, 1918

The Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service was established in June 1918. Princess Mary became the Service’s patron in 1923 and it has been known ever since as Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS).

RAFNS nurses were stationed in the sick quarters of RAF stations. Initially UK based, the first nurses were posted overseas to Iraq in 1922. Joanna Cruickshank was the first Matron-in-Chief of the PMRAFNS, a role she retained from her appointment in 1918 until her retirement in 1930. In 1931 she was awarded the OBE for her service, becoming Dame Joanna Cruickshank.