| In order to provide trained personnel for this task, county branches of the British Red Cross Society organised units called Voluntary Aid Detachments. All Voluntary Aid Detachment members (who themselves came to be known simply as 'VAD's') were trained in First Aid and Nursing and within twelve months they numbered well over 6000.
Membership of the Detachments grew still further on the outbreak of war in 1914. The British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a body which was also empowered to raise detachments under the War Office Voluntary Aid Scheme, combined to form the Joint War Committee (JWC) in order to administer their wartime relief work with the greatest possible efficiency and economy, under the protection of the Red Cross emblem and name. This was such a successful working partnership that when World War II broke out in 1939, the British Red Cross and Order of St. John joined together again to form the Joint War Organisation (JWO).
What kind of work did VADs do?
The VADs working under both the JWC and the JWO performed a variety of duties. Both the Committee and the Organisation administered auxiliary hospitals and convalescent homes in Britain throughout the World Wars and much of the VAD service was performed in these homes and hospitals and consisted of general nursing duties and administering first aid. Qualified nurses were also employed to work in these establishments, whilst many VADs gave their service in Military Hospitals. In addition, clerical and kitchen duties were performed by VADs. With many men engaged in military service, women VADs took on roles such as ambulance drivers, civil defence workers and welfare officers. VADs were also sent abroad during both World Wars as the Committee and the Organisation operated Commissions overseas in countries such as France, Italy and Russia.
What records do the British Red Cross Museum and Archives hold?
The British Red Cross Museum and Archives hold a series of indexes recording the service details of personnel working during both World War I and World War II. These indexes are very extensive but they are known to be incomplete - there is no guarantee that the person you are looking for will be in the indexes.
Details to be found on the record cards may include the dates of service, the nature of the duties performed, the detachment the individual belonged to, the institutions and places where the individual served and any honours that may have been awarded. In addition, there are indexes for personnel who served in Military Hospitals and Trained Nurses and volumes listing VADs who received the War Medal. The archives also house index cards for recipients of the Voluntary Medical Service awards for the period between the 1930's and the 1960's. Records of VADs are not held for the inter war years or the period preceding World War I. A very limited record of VADs from the post World War II period is held. Regretfully, an individual's service record cannot be traced by a medal recipient number, as these records have not survived.
How can I search for someone?
For conservation and security reasons, these records are not directly accessible to the public, but staff are willing to search these records on request. An application should be made in writing, to the Museum and Archives department, containing as much relevant information about the individual concerned as possible. In particular it is useful to include: any known addresses, middle names, maiden or married names and date of marriage, (if applicable), any already known service details and a date of birth.
Is there a charge for this service?
There is no formal charge for this service. However, this does cost the British Red Cross a considerable amount of money. The time taken to carry out a simple search of the records costs at least £10. In view of this, you may wish to make a donation towards the expenses incurred. |
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