THE
BELGIAN RED CROSS
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
1941-1945
SHORT HISTORY
The Belgian
Red Cross in the United Kingdom started its activities very soon
after the end of the campaign in the West May-June 1940.
Thousands of Belgian refugees fled to the United Kingdom, among them Red Cross personnel.
They began helping the 20.000 Belgian refugees with the approval of the British autorities.
At first it
was a commitee, and it was only on January 30 1941 that the
"Belgian Red Cross London Committee"
was officially created by law-decree of the Belgian Government in
exile.
The presidency was given to His Excellency Baron DE WAHA-BAILLONVILLE.
Honorary presidence was given to Lady OLIPHANT and His Excellency Baron DE CARTIER DE MARCHIENNE.
Baron
DE WAHA-BAILLONVILLE Chairman of the Belgian Red Cross in the United Kingdom |
The Belgian
Red Cross in the United Kingdom installed 3 homes
for convalescents, elderly, mothers with children, mental
deficients
at Dane Court, Rake Manor and Robin Wood House.
9 Dispensaries were created
:
London, Brixham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, Milfordhaven, Newlyn, Preston and
Swansea.
They performed 100.000 consultations during the war.
"Golden
Parsonage", Hertfordshire. Convalescent Home for Belgian Refugees. |
They provided free medical help to the Belgian refugees all over the United
Kingdom,
and were responsible for sending food and cloth parcels to the
Belgian POW's in Germany.
From June 1942 until January 1943 8.040 parcels were send to Germany.
They provided Belgian wounded soldiers with books, chocolate and cigarettes.
London, February 12 1942. |
The Belgian
Red Cross in the UK was also for the refugees the only way
of
communication with Occupied Belgium.
People were allowed to send open letters, containing maximum 25 words, to their relatives in Belgium.
Thus 350.000 of those Red Cross letters were send to Belgium during the War.
BADGES AND INSIGNIA
Belgian Red
Cross personnel wore a semi-military uniform, battle-dress
as well as a service-dress,
and they had their own rank hierarchy.
BATTLE-DRESS RANK INSIGNIA |
|||||||
MALE AND FEMALE SUBALTERN PERSONNEL |
|||||||
RANK | ARMY
EQUIVALENT |
INSIGNIA | |||||
Helper | Private | Red Cross badge on the left sleeve |
|||||
Team Leader | Corporal | Red Cross badge with brown chevron on the left sleeve |
|||||
Helper 1st Class | Sergeant | Red Cross badge with silver chevron on the left sleeve |
|||||
Sub-administrator | Warrant Officer n°2 | A silver star on the collars a
silver bar |
|||||
MALE PERSONNEL WITH OFFICER RANK | |||||||
RANK | ARMY |
INSIGNIA |
|||||
Administrator 3rd Class |
2nd Lieutenant | A golden star on the collars a
golden bar |
|||||
Administrator 2nd Class |
Lieutenant | A golden star two golden bars |
|||||
Administrator 1st Class |
Captain | A golden star three golden bars |
|||||
Principal Administrator |
Major | A golden star with one golden line on the collars A
golden crown |
|||||
Provincial Administrator |
Colonel | A golden star with one golden line on the collars Two
golden crowns |
|||||
General Administrator |
Major General | A golden star with two golden lines on the collars Two
golden crowns |
|||||
General Administrator member of the board of directors |
Lieutenant General | A golden star with two golden lines on the collars Three
golden crowns |
|||||
FEMALE PERSONNEL WITH OFFICER RANK | |||||||
RANK |
ARMY |
INSIGNIA |
|||||
Administrator | 2nd Lieutenant | A golden star on the collars one
golden bar |
|||||
Administrator | 1st Lieutenant | A golden star on the collars two
golden bars |
|||||
Administrator | Senior Captain | A golden star on the collars three
golden bars |
|||||
General Administrator |
Colonel | A golden star Two golden crowns |
.
BADGES
On the left sleeve 2 different badges were worn.
A red "BELGIUM" title or a "BELGIAN RED CROSS" title.
|
|
|
"BELGIAN RED CROSS" title |
"BELGIUM" title |
On the right sleeve the Belgian National Colours were worn.
A breast pocket badge was also worn.
A red cross on a silver dial, the whole on a silver circle.
I have no information about the origins of the badge.
Liverpool,1943, clinic for Belgian Seamen. |