The library: researching St John Ambulance history.

Key records and journals.

  • Annual reports of Chapter General and Council (1868 - )
  • Brigade Orders (1895 - )
  • Ambulance department committee minutes
  • First aid magazine (1894 - 1957 but not 1901 - 1904, 1907 - 8 and 1939)
  • St John Gazette (1929 - 1949)
  • St John Review (1950 - 1988)
  • St John World (1988 - 1998)
  • St John Life (2000 - )

Family history and medal enquiries.

  • Order rolls and membership forms (access only for museum staff)
  • London District St John Ambulance Brigade personnel index (1920s - 1960s) and BF1s (divisional membership lists 1890s - 1980s)
  • register of re-examination medallion recipients up to 1885
  • Order of St John Lifesaving medal roll
  • Listings of recipients of the service medal in the annual reports up to 1939
  • Obituaries in First Aid magazine, St John Ambulance Gazette, St John Review, St. John World and St John Life.

The Boer War

  • South African war medal roll.
  • Histories, autobiographies and diaries.
  • Ephemera & pamphlets.

The First World War

Uniformed Nurse
  • Personnel lists of Joint War Committee employees sent overseas during WW1.
  • The Sir Richard Temple papers.
  • Rolls of auxiliary hospitals and hospital registration forms.
  • Weekly reports of the St John Ambulance Brigade Hospital Etaples.
  • Final report of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John 1919.
  • Histories, autobiographies and diaries.

Please note that the WW1 VAD personnel index for both St John and the Red Cross is held by the British Red Cross Archives, 9 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EJ.

The Second World War

  • Personnel files on St John welfare workers sent overseas during WW2.
  • Personnel files on WW2 St John VADs.
  • Personnel files on St John welfare officers sent overseas in WW2.
  • Overseas and domestic tour reports by Lady Mountbatten.
  • Prisoner of War magazine and Far East magazine.
  • Official History of the Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross Committee and the Order of St John.
  • Histories, autobiographies, diaries and oral histories.
  • If you have an enquiry about an individual PoW, you should contact the International Red Cross Committee in Geneva.

Divisional histories

Annual reports (divisional reports were submitted until 1911, then from 1912 to 1938, divisions are listed with the names of the surgeon and officers-in-charge. After 1938 no more divisional information is given)

  • BF1s (divisional membership lists 1890s to 1980s).
  • Some divisional minutes books, scrapbooks and oral histories
  • St John Ambulance equipment and uniform.
  • Catalogues and dress patterns.
  • Dress regulations.
  • Brigade orders.
  • The Brigade Committee minutes and the Brigade Women’s Committee minutes.
  • Oral histories.