Brassards worn by the Army Nursing Service and the Voluntary Aid Services in 1914

[williywonker]

Does anyone have a definitive account of when Brassards were first issued for wear to British Army nurses employed by the Army Medical Services, and to auxiliary nurses from the BRCS and Order of St John, whilst on overseas duty in military hospitals in France and Belgium?

Mal

Edited 10 December , 2023 by williywonker

[KizmeRD]

Non-combatant medical personnel (including Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service) engaged under the auspices of the Army Medical Service would have received their brassards (red cross armlets) and certificates of identity immediately prior to their deployment overseas (in accordance with existing Army Field Service Regulations) so as to avail themselves of the protection afforded to them under the Geneva Convention.

The first Brassards worn by a Voluntary Aid Detachment occurred at Harwich as early as August 10th, 1914. (VAD’s having been integrated in to the County Territorial Force organisation since 1909).

The Harwich members were called out in order to assist naval wounded - each member receiving a brassard* and identity certificate signed bv the Essex County Director as the “competent issuing authority.”
* N.B. These were only valid in the UK, whereas for volunteers proceeding overseas, a special brassard with a red border, authenticated by an Army stamp (and a C.337 certificate of identity with photograph) got issued by a Medical Officer on the Headquarters Staff of the British Red Cross Society, specially appointed by the War Office for this duty.

As I understand it, the first VADs sent overseas happened in October 1914 when 16 volunteer members and 2 BRCS Trained Nurses (with Katherine Furse in charge) proceeded to France under War Office sanction. On arrival at Boulogne they established a Rest Station, and within twenty-four hours, one thousand wounded had been fed, and countless dressings readjusted.

MB

Edit - Even before the VADs going overseas for the first time, on 16th August 1914 the BRCS sent a consignment of medical and surgical stores to Belgium, and six days later a party (First Belgian Unit) consisting of 10 Surgeons, 10 Dressers, and 20 Trained Nurses proceeded to Brussels.

 

 

Edited 11 December , 2023 by KizmeRD

[williywonker]

Many thanks, KizmeRN,

This is really appreciated

Do you have a source, by any chance re your first paragraph?

Mal

Edited 12 December , 2023 by williywonker
Grammar

[KizmeRD]

Mal - The first paragraph is written in my own words, based on having read a number of books on the subject, and I’ve also read the relevant parts of the Geneva Convention, and also the Army Field Service Regulations (available by searching online).

And the bits about the Harwich VAD came from ‘The Red Cross - the idea and its development’ written by Col. Sir James Magill MD (army surgeon).

Have a look at the link below (page 83)…

https://archive.org/details/b29826780/page/n6/mode/1up

MB