A simple message
The inspiration for the international tracing and message service originated in 1859. After seeing the suffering on the battlefield of Solferino, Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, made one promise to a dying soldier. He would take a last message to his parents so they would know what had become of him. The role of message bearer in times of conflict was born. In the UK, the first known transfer of these messages was as early as the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
The 'searchers'
During World War I, the British Red Cross was mainly concerned with military tracing. The task of Red Cross 'searchers' was to trace wounded and missing servicemen. A centre for recording these servicemen was set up in France immediately after war was declared. As the work expanded, more centres were set up. The 'searchers' worked in hospitals, ambulance trains, hospital ships and, later, in villages throughout France, collecting information on the fate of missing soldiers.
Recording and reporting
While the main UK enquiry centre was in France, a smaller one was opened in London. As the workload increased during 1915, the London office was reorganised as the 'Wounded and Missing Department'. This acted as the clearing house for all enquiries received from the public in the UK, and reports of searches both in the UK and abroad. A monthly report was published, and postcards informing relatives of patients' hospital transfers were relayed.
Civilians need help
During World War II, the 'Foreign Relations Department' of the Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem was set up in London. This handled enquiries about the safety and welfare of British civilians, as well as military personnel, who were believed to be on occupied territory. A 'Wounded, Missing and Relatives Department' was created to act on behalf of the Admiralty, Air Ministry and the War Office. Different sections were set up for different countries.
As civilians increasingly became the victims of war, the British Red Cross message scheme, specifically for civilians, was started in London in 1939. By 1941, it had been extended to the Channel Islands and the following year to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China. The International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) records list 24 million messages transferred during World War II. A massive 2,676,220 of these were transferred from the UK. After World War II, the Red Cross tracing and message service expanded and became mandatory for all British Red Cross Branches.
An international mandate
Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Red Cross, led by the ICRC, has a special mandate to re-establish contact between family members who have been separated by armed conflict and political upheaval. Thanks to its Fundamental Principles of neutrality and impartiality, it is able to cross battle fields, enter prisons and contact both combatants and civilians alike. The seven Fundamental Principles are shared by all members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Modern times, modern technology
Today, the demand for the international tracing and message service is constantly increasing. Wars and disasters are becoming harsher and the effect they have on people are more devastating. Here in the UK, there are many people who have family in war and disaster-struck regions. The British Red Cross is therefore called on daily, from within the UK and throughout the world, to send messages, trace relatives and reunite families. On average, two families a day are brought together and thousands of messages delivered each year.
New technology, such as satellite phones, websites and emails now enable rapid transfers of messages and contact to be maintained more easily. Increased accessibility of information allows families separated for long periods of time, even since World War II, to be brought back together.
Throughout this long history of restoring family links, the basic principle has remained the same. Whatever the situation, the British Red Cross is there to bring the simplest of messages - "I'm alive". |
