British Red Cross & St. J.J.

[arkay]

A relative of mine, Harry V. Morton (b. 1875), served during WWI with the British Red Cross and St. John of Jerusalem.  I have found a medal card for him, but that doesn't indicate whether he served at home or abroad.  He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  No Regiment number is given.  Can anyone enlighten me?

[jds1949]

If he was entitled to the BWM and Victory Medal then my understanding is that he must have served in a theatre of war, either France or elsewhere. There is some information here:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War

jds1949

[arkay]

Thank you jds.

[John915]

Good evening,


This site will give you all you need to know about the criteria for medals; http://www.petergh.f2s.com/medals.htm . Scroll down to the victory medal and click on the red "click here". It doesn't say there but civilian medical services were also included in the medal rolls for the war medal and victory medal.

John915

[arkay]

Hi John - I've bookmarked this very useful website. 

Thank you.

[Scarletwoman]

Harry Valentine Morton appears in the 'British Red Cross Register of Overseas Volunteers, 1914-1918' as serving with the British Red Cross Society as an orderly at No.6 British Red Cross Hospital (Liverpool Merchants).  The hospital opened in Le Touquet in March 1915 and moved to a hutted hospital at Etaples on 5th July 1915.  The BRCS Register notes that Harry Morton's posting was to Etaples, so presumably he went to France after 5th July 1915.  There's a unit war diary at The National Archives, reference WO95/4112.

Sue

[jds1949]

Hi Sue,

May I ask where you had access to the British Red Cross Register of Overseas Volunteers 1914 - 1918, as one of the men I am researching served with one of their units?

jds1949

[Scarletwoman]

Hello

I've got my own copy - there's certainly one in the library at The National Archives, and of course at the BRCS Archives.  Let me know the name if you'd like me to have a look for you - the entries are just one-liners, but sometimes useful (as in this case!).

Sue

[jds1949]

Hi Sue,

My man was Richard E Swarbrick [Victory Medal, BWM & 1915 Star] Date of entry to France: 22nd March 1915.

Any additional information would be most welcome - I currently have at least two possible candidates for this man, so anything which aids positive identification would be welcome.

Thanks,

jds1949