1904

Red Cross is the name and symbol of a worldwide voluntary organization. Its purpose is to help the wounded, sick, and prisoners-of-war in time of war, and to do first aid, nursing, and welfare work in time of peace.
    In 1859 the sight of the French and Italian wounded due to a battle in northern Italy made a Swiss feel uneasy. His name was Jean Henri Dunant. He set out to rally the local townsfolk to care for them. He published a book urging that voluntary societies should be formed to do these jobs. As a result, the governments of several countries took part in an international conference at Geneva in 1864 and drew up a treaty called The Geneva Convention.
    The principle of this Convention was that in war the sick and wounded, whatever their nationality, should be protected and cared for; and that the people looking after them, the transport conveying them, military hospitals and medical equipment should be safe from attack. Then a clearly marked red cross and white ground became the symbol of this. Certain countries used other forms. For example, in Persia a Red Lion and Sun is used instead of the Red Cross. By now nearly every nation has its own Red Cross Society with similar aims and objects. Since 1864 the original Convention has been revised several times, and the last revision was in 1949. Its principles now apply to shipwrecked persons and prisoners-of-war, and include certain measures for the protection of civilians in wartime.
    The International Red Cross Committee of twenty-five members, with permanent offices in Geneva, is the neutral which is particularly active in time of war. The Committee was the chief means of the Red Cross. Through this means regular supplies of parcels containing food and other necessities were sent to prisoners-of-war; and through this means postal messages came bringing news of civilians as well as prisoners-of-war to their family members and relatives.
    In 1919 the League of Red Cross Societies was founded to develop and encourage the work of the national societies in peace-time, and to co-ordinate their work for refugees and their relief activities for the victims of hurricanes or typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. In many countries, Red Cross are now also responsible for work such as the blood-supply program.
    The British Red Cross Society was first active in 1870. Its Voluntary Detachments of men trained in first aid and women in first aid and nursing became well known in both the First and the Second World Wars. They staffed and administered hospitals and ambulances, transported the wounded in every theatre of war. They also helped to trace wounded and missing men. During the Second World War they undertook these and many additional duties. The Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments shared the work of civil defence in caring for civilian casualties of enemy action. In peace, much of the Society’s welfare work is done by Red Cross members who are not trained as Voluntary Aid Attachments.
    The British Red Cross has overseas branches in the Crown colonies and dependencies where health teaching and maternity and child welfare are important aspects of the work.
    The first Junior Red Cross sections were formed in 1917, and by now many millions of boys and girls throughout the world are members of the organization. In Britain, after suitable training, they undertake service which is similar to adult members in caring for the sick and suffering.
    The U. S. Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. Miss Barton was called the Angel of the Battlefield. She set up a supply service during the U. S. Civil War and was anurse in army camps and on battlefields. She also led searches for the missing. After the founding of Red Cross in the U. S. , she was its head until 1904.