Red Cross Blogs

This day in history: Red Cross gets peaceful

By Katrina Crew
December 12, 2009 at 11:30 am

When the “war to end all wars” ended in 1918, what was an organisation for conflict victims supposed to do?

This was the question that faced the British Red Cross when the First World War finished. We’d been set up to help wounded and ill soldiers, and others who were caught up in war.

Unfortunately, the Spanish flu swept across Europe in 1918 and 1919, making the need for our services as great as ever.

On 12 December 1919, King George V granted us a Supplemental Charter allowing our volunteers to work during peacetime to improve people’s health, prevent disease and alleviate suffering around the world.

For the first time, British Red Cross volunteers trained the public in first aid, set up first aid posts for civilians, and provided local ambulance services.

For example, in Norfolk our volunteers set up dressing stations in Yarmouth to treat the many infected cuts that “fisherfolk” got from their work (pictured).

As more people bought cars in the 20s, there was a huge increase in the number of accidents. The Red Cross and St John set up first aid posts along all major roadways in 1927.

So 90 years ago was a turning point for us, setting the stage for all those health and social care services we run today.

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Tags: First aid, first aid training, history

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