Non Military military records

[lesley.mazey]

No, I have not gone mad. I am trying to trace an ancestor who, during the war, was part of the ORC&SJ (Order of Red Cross and St John) - he was an ambulance driver.

He was awarded a medal for apparently going in uder fire to bring out some wounded men and was mentioned in despatches a few times but i can't find any records of the medical military.

Any ideas?

Lesley

[craftycsh]

Have you tried findmypast as they have alsorts of different records about that time might help.christine

[paulberyl]

The Order of St. John and the British Red Cross Society first came together in the 1914-1918 War, to provide help to the Armed Forces Medical Services. Their work ranged from setting up temporary hospitals to answering enquiries about prisoners of war. Members also joined Voluntary Aid Detachments as nurses.

Medals were awarded, such as the Lifesaving Medal, but the records held are limited and are now split between the St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross. Please see http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/pdf/SJAmedalEnquiry.pdf for some general information.

Paul

[callbrian]

Hi Lesley,
try looking in the London Gazette, there maybe a reference in there.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/
Brian

[lesley.mazey]

Thanks to you all, I am off hunting!