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.
A flag with the inscription "Belgian Red Cross London 1941-...." was given to H.E. Baron DE WAHA-BAILLONVILLE
by all the nurses of the Belgian Red Cross in the United Kingdom.

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
on the shoulderstraps

MALE PERSONNEL WITH OFFICER RANK
RANK  

ARMY
EQUIVALENT

 

INSIGNIA

Administrator
3rd Class
  2nd Lieutenant     A golden star
on the collars

a golden bar
on the shoulderstraps

Administrator
2nd Class
  Lieutenant    

A golden star
on the collars

two golden bars
on the shoulderstraps

Administrator
1st Class
  Captain    

A golden star
on the collars

three golden bars
on the shoulderstraps

Principal
Administrator
  Major     A golden star
with one golden line
on the collars

A golden crown
and three golden bars
on the shoulderstrāps

Provincial
Administrator
  Colonel     A golden star
with one golden line
on the collars

Two golden crowns
on the shoulderstraps

General
Administrator
  Major General     A golden star
with two golden lines
on the collars

Two golden crowns
and one golden bar
on the shoulderstraps

General
Administrator
member of the board
of directors
  Lieutenant General     A golden star
with two golden lines
on the collars

Three golden crowns
on the shoulderstraps

FEMALE PERSONNEL WITH OFFICER RANK

RANK

 

ARMY
EQUIVALENT

 

INSIGNIA

Administrator   2nd Lieutenant     A golden star
on the collars

one golden bar
on the shoulderstraps

Administrator   1st Lieutenant     A golden star
on the collars

two golden bars
on the shoulderstraps

Administrator   Senior Captain     A golden star
on the collars

three golden bars
on the shoulderstraps

General
Administrator
  Colonel    

A golden star
with one golden bar
beneath

Two golden crowns
on the shoulderstraps

.

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.

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