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You are here: Home / Community / Red Cross, St John Ambulance And Red Cross Parcel

Red Cross, St John Ambulance And Red Cross Parcel

February 24, 2014 By chippy minton 8 Comments

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.

St. John volunteers - ready for switching on of Eastleigh’s Christmas lights event last November.
St. John volunteers – ready for switching on of Eastleigh’s Christmas lights event last November.

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.

It is a Red Cross parcel box intended for Allied prisoners of war during the Second World War. Each prisoner was supposed to receive one parcel every week.  © IWM (EPH 88)
It is a Red Cross parcel box intended for Allied prisoners of war during the Second World War. Each prisoner was supposed to receive one parcel every week. © IWM (EPH 88)

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).

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, Eastleigh, education, health, history, memory, St John Ambulance, war memorial

About chippy minton

I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my working life, with interspersed with a few years in north-west Hampshire (though remaining a regular visitor to the area).

I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking and cycling. I am also a self-confessed “born-again runner” having discovered parkrun in 2015.

I enjoy live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.

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Comments

  1. Janet says

    February 25, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    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.”

    Reply
    • Ray Fishman says

      March 24, 2014 at 8:18 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Janet says

        March 24, 2014 at 5:00 pm

        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.

        Reply
        • Ray Fishman says

          March 24, 2014 at 7:26 pm

          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.

          Reply
  2. Ray Fishman says

    March 24, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    He was also held in camps in Germany too.

    Reply
    • Janet says

      March 24, 2014 at 9:54 pm

      Ray, I would love to hear more of these stories. You’re welcome to write about them and inspire us. Really fascinating! Thank you.

      Reply

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  1. First Aider And First Responder - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    May 7, 2014 at 9:22 am

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    July 2, 2014 at 9:45 am

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