Yesterday I read about the fun-loving, passionate Linda Read from Chandler’s Ford through Janet’s post.
Linda teachers First Aid for the Red Cross. Actually, I know Linda from my Eastleigh St John Ambulance days – Linda has been a group leader for British Red Cross in Eastleigh for over 20 years.
Is there a difference between St John and British Red Cross?
No. There is not really much difference between St John and Red Cross. We both follow the same first aid manual (the first aid manual is written by the Three Voluntary first aid organisations*). There might be minor differences in the syllabuses, but what is taught for each topic would be the same.
Obviously as far as first aid is concerned, both organisations are competing for the same business, so there’s a bit of rivalry but – as far as I’ve seen at a local level – it’s pretty friendly rivalry. If someone is bleeding, does it really matter whether the bandage comes out of a Red Cross or a St John Ambulance bag?
As I see it, the Red Cross was founded as a humanitarian organisation and, at least in this country, first aid is one way of fulfilling that aim. St John Ambulance was founded as a first aid organisation, but also does other humanitarian work.
Red Cross Parcels
Red Cross/Red Crescent is possibly more internationally recognised and does a lot of work in war zones. St John Ambulance generally operates only in Commonwealth countries and tends to do more “general health service” type things. But the two organisations do work together – for example, Red Cross parcels sent out during the war were actually jointly organised by Red Cross and St John Ambulance.
* St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, and St Andrew’s Association (operates in Scotland where SJA doesn’t).
Related posts:
First Aider and First Responder
Christmas Then and Now
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Witnessing My First Powerboat Race (Part 11)
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: the Joy of Powerboat Race and Cycling (Part 12)
Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Rotrax Memories; Joy of Powerboat – Part 14
I found the content of Red Cross Parcel in this post about POW “Wartime Log” on Wally’s War. Interestingly the content is different for American, Canadian, English and Argentine Bulk.
The English received: English: 4 Oz. Chocolate. 8 Oz. Jam. 1 tin Egg Powder (2 Oz. Approx.). 8 Oz. Service Biscuits. 8 Oz, Prunes or Apricots. 12 Oz. Meat Roll. 16 Oz. Meat & Veg. 4 Oz. Oatmeal. 1 Soap. 3 Oz. Cheese. 1 Tin Condensed Milk. 4 Oz. Sugar. 8 Oz. Margarine. 4 Oz. Cocoa. 2 Oz. Tea. 8 Oz. Salmon or 8 Oz. Bacon. 1 Pancake Powder or 1 Creamed Rice or 1 Apple Pudding.
However, according to this post, “Red Cross Issue” (1945) | The Changi POW Artwork of Des Bettany, “At the Changi camp run by the Japanese in Singapore, on average, a POW received a fraction of one food parcel sent by the Red Cross in the three-and-a half years that the camp was open.”
My father in law was a prisoner of war and kept copies of the labels of the contents of his food parcel. He pasted them in a small album which we still have. A sad and poignant reminder of difficult times.
Thank you Ray. It is fascinating! Last year I wrote a series of posts about prisoners of war in the Far East – Changi Tales from Singapore on Janet’s Notebook.
I would love to find out more of your collection.
Thank you for sharing this.
If you are interested we have details of several POW camps he was at in Silesia run by the Germans and the billy can on which he etched details of some of the camps. The guards used to open the parcels and amalgamate the contents instead of leaving them intact for each prisoner.
He was also held in camps in Germany too.
Ray, I would love to hear more of these stories. You’re welcome to write about them and inspire us. Really fascinating! Thank you.