Badges and Medals – Wartime

The Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) scheme,  set up in 1909 as a reserve of the Territorial Army (Forces Medical Service),  was fully mobilised on outbreak of WW1.     V.A.D. members, classed as ‘Mobile’ or ‘Immobile’ were, as individuals, also referred to as VADs

Exhibits  –  Voluntary Aid Detachment armband  and  uniform flashes  (relative to the various roles held)  together with  a WW1 War Service badge

The Military Home Hospitals Reserve formed in 1907 was a reserve for the R.A.M.C. and exclusively for male members of St John Ambulance.     In 1926 “Home” was dropped but there was the commitment of working overseas with Expeditionary Forces

Exhibits  –  WW1 Uniform flash and armband,   WW2 uniform flash  and  ‘St John’ Service Medal brooch bar

WW1 era lapel and uniform hat badges

The ‘St John’ Hospital at Southport which comprised of 2 buildings  –  ‘The Woodlands’  &  ‘The Grange’  –  opened in 1915 with accommodation for 500 beds and was the largest.    After the change to Primary status the Hospital received Ambulance trains direct from Southampton

Exhibits  –  Tribute medals showing obverse and reverse,  Hospital badge  and  VAD Transport badge

Badges for ‘St John’ VAD and Auxiliary Hospitals  –  Cockermouth Castle, Cumbria;   ‘Oatlands’, Portsmouth, Hampshire;  New Hall Hey, East Lancashire

In countries where St John Ambulance had previously been established the service of members during WW1 was acknowledged.     Examples shown are   India,  Australia  and  Malta.

A numbered Joint War Committee medallion issued for services during WW1

Uniform flashes for ‘St John’ & Red Cross Welfare workers many of whom were posted with Army regiments

Air Raid Precautions  flash worn on St John Ambulance uniform  and  Badge.      In September, 1941 the A.R.P. became known as the Civil Defence.

St John Ambulance uniform flash and WW2 War Service Crosses  –  1 cross for each year of War Service worn on left sleeve of uniform dress or tunic

Indian Red Cross & St John Ambulance badge  together with  WW2 St John Ambulance war service badges for  South Africa  and  Canada

WW2 fundraising flags

The WW2 Red Cross & St John Penny-A-Week and Agriculture Funds were very successful fundraising schemes which raised millions of pounds for humanitarian aid.