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Ethel Becher

1867 – 1948

British nurse

Nurse Nursing sister introduced to military routine
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About Ethel Becher

Lived 1867 – 1948 (aged 80). Ethel Becher was a British nurse and nursing sister introduced to military routine.

Dame Ethel Hope Becher, (1867 – 10 May 1948) was a British nurse who served in the War Office as matron-in-chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from 1910 to 1919.

Early life Ethel Hope Becher was born in 1867. Her father was Arthur W. Becher, a colonel in the Bengal Staff Corps. She attended private school and trained as a nurse at the London Hospital from 1893 to 1899 under Eva Luckes.

Career In 1899, she became a nursing sister and acting matron during the Second Boer War, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross for her work. Becher was one of a group of six nurses from The London Hospital who were specially selected by Eva Luckes and Sydney Holland at Princess Alexandra's request to go out and nurse diseased and injured troops in South Africa. She was promoted to matron-in-chief in 1910, succeeding Caroline Keer in the role, and was stationed at the War Office.

As matron-in-chief, she was responsible for the recruiting and administration of the entire nursing service, and oversaw nurses stationed in many regions, including Macedonia, Malta, Gibraltar, and France.

Ethel Becher died on 10 May 1948.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Matron
Awards
Florence Nightingale Medal; Officer of the Order of the British Empire; Decoration of the Royal Red Cross; Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire; Associate of the Royal Red Cross; Order of Saint John
Also known as
Ethel Hope Becher, Dame Ethel Hope Becher

People in Ethel Becher's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ethel Becher's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ethel Becher?

British nurse (1867–1948)

When was Ethel Becher born?

Ethel Becher was born on 15 December 1867 in Ambala.

When did Ethel Becher die?

Ethel Becher died on 10 May 1948.

What was Ethel Becher's occupation?

Ethel Becher was a nurse and nursing sister introduced to military routine.

What nationality was Ethel Becher?

Ethel Becher was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ethel Becher

· Wikidata: Q106430012

· DBpedia: Ethel Becher

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ethel Becher. https://biography.guide/ethel-becher/

MLA: "Ethel Becher." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ethel-becher/.

Chicago: "Ethel Becher." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ethel-becher/.

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