This particular selection of “FIRST AID” magazines is a series of publications written throughout the period of the First World War. Printed monthly for the current members of St. John Ambulance, Red Cross and St. Andrew’s Association, these documents highlight the impact of `The Great War` upon first aiders at the time. Readers were asked to share their personal experiences to the journal, making this assortment of artefacts a primary source of knowledge pertaining to ‘The Great War’. Accounts related to anything from how to treat certain injuries such as fractures to remarks on the ongoing friction between St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross. Regular links are made to St. John’s Gate showing the involvement of the local area during this period.

Beginning with the editions of July and August 1914, the pair truly underlines the importance and sudden impact of the First World War which affected the ambulance services in this period. The July edition, which was published one month before Britain declared war upon Germany, shows few preparations made by the three ambulance services formerly mentioned. Taking more of an analytical view of the situation, referencing terms of the committee discussing Voluntary Aid Detachment’s (VAD`s) for example, this contrasts highly with the next edition. Unlike other journals published at the time, the August 1914 edition of the “FIRST AID” magazines uses much emotional language in its recount, stipulating the start of the war as a “national crisis” which came upon them with “such suddenness”. Other newspaper and editorial journals instead used patriotic and encouraging language to persuade many thousands of men to enrol to be soldiers upon the front. It is suggested that the author used this terminology to describe the impact that this event would have upon the readers, the first aiders who would be required to deal with such large casualty number for the next four years. Later on in both magazines a more significant contrast is displayed, with July 1914 showing less interest in preparations, instead focusing upon the daily life of a first aider before the war.

Concerning the December 1914 and January 1915 issues there is significant importance in what is not written into the journal. There is no mention of Christmas Day 1914, a highly poignant moment in the timeline of the ‘Great War’. On this day, no fighting was to be had; instead the only challenging was to a game of football across no man’s land to uphold the Christmas spirit. This event would have impacted the ambulance services, particularly the hospital in Etaples (founded by St. John Ambulance) as there would have been a significant fluctuation in casualty figures, so one wonders why this event was overlooked. Instead, the January 1915 edition comments in the editorial upon the situation between rival ambulance services, showing relief that at least St. John Ambulance are working nicely alongside St. Andrew’s Association. Red Cross and St. John Ambulance had always been at loggerheads, so this excerpt was no special situation;

“ It is to be lamented that in the past there has been

friction in various parts of the country between the St.

John Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross

Society in local administration. It is felt by the Committees

of both these bodies that in the present circumstances

all these past differences should be forgotten, in

order that they may work in complete harmony for the

fullest possible use to be made of both organisations in the

interests of the sick and wounded.”

Later on in the year the journal steers further away from the ongoing feud, instead updating its readers on the current events at headquarters, which at the time was St. John’s Gate itself. A passage from the December 1915 edition shows that due to the impact of the war, a greater donation of clothes and food was donated to those living in poverty in the local community at Christmas time. Due to the fact that St. John’s Gate itself was being used to package first aid resources to be sent to Etaples, a local hall was used instead for this annual event of charity. It seems that this edition mainly focuses on local activities, which differs from the January 1915 edition which tends to comment more generically about the organisations involved in the war.

Strangely, the January 1916 edition of the “FIRST AID” magazine published information which is quoted to be “One of the most interesting publications which the war has produced“. After the January 1915 edition implying that issues and grudges were still held between St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross, this later edition reveals that since 20th October 1914 the two rival ambulance services had both actively participated in the Joint War Committee, sharing ideas and resources. A page long report focuses upon the combined budget. One could make the inference that due to previous issues a lengthy economical report was needed in case further arguments could be triggered by the amount spent. Grudges were still held in lower ranks, evidence of this can be seen in personal diaries, scrapbooks and cartoons. Veronica Nesbit, who our First World War Centenary Project focuses on here at the Museum of the Order of St. John, constantly depicted the Red Cross staff in a negative light. She created a scrapbook, filled with entertaining cartoons of the Red Cross nurses clashing with the other VAD’s who also worked in the Etaples hospital. Throughout the war period clashes between the two organisations were ever more frequent- this was due to the fact the ambulance services were forced to work closely together over 4 years, making the ‘Joint War Committee’ concept even more interesting.

Considering that the hospital in Etaples was bombed on May 19th 1918, one can understand why such an important event was not published in the May 1918 edition. Each edition was published on the 20th of each month, and with slower communications than the present this would have been impossible to print on time. However, the aftermath is fully displayed in latter magazines, both the June and July editions of 1918. A plea that “a stop shall be put to the sinking of hospital ships, the ill-treatment of prisoners and of the wounded, and other breaches of the Geneva Convention.”,  directed at the German Order of St. John features in the editorial, as bombing the hospital was a major violation of human rights. Many of the following accounts are dedicated to the local response to the bombing of Etaples, stating that sermons and church parades will take place in England to commemorate those who were lost. Whilst the June edition evaluates the sorrow of the losses, and looks at local commemorations, the July 1918 edition of the “FIRST AID” magazine focuses more upon the hospital itself. Unfortunately, the paper was not allowed to publish the amount of damage at this moment, but it is understood the hospital itself was actually composed of a wooden structure, which meant it was not exactly suited to withstand any sort of bomb.

The last of the editions written during the wartime period, November 1918 concludes in its editorial;

“Since our last issue appeared a great

transition has taken place in the war,

and it is with joyful hearts that we look

forward to the conclusion of a fruitful

peace.”

Using positive expressive language such as “with joyful hearts”, this edition was designed alike other newspapers and journals at time to celebrate the end to the war period. On the other hand this edition is quite bespoke, as it is much different to the other editions of the “FIRST AID” magazine written in the time of the ‘Great War’. Each district has listed their losses in this edition, adding up to over 100 fatalities. However there are more positive aspects in this edition, as signs of normality and daily life begin to reappear, the latter part of the edition almost imitating the structure of July 1914. The December 1918 edition confirms a return to normality, wishing everyone a seasons greetings and announcing the closure of the ‘Joint War Committee’. However, whilst the November edition mainly focuses on those lost in the war, the December 1918 edition focuses upon domestic aspects such as the removal of air raid shelters and warnings concerning unexploded bombs. Similarly in the last two editions of 1918, memories of the war such as losses and promotions for bravery during this harsh and heavy period of time are both noted, leaving a bittersweet taste of the past in the reader’s mind.

Proving to be an excellent read for those interested in the happenings of the ‘Great War’, this selection of “FIRST AID” magazines takes its audience through past ventures. Generically, the structure of the wartime magazines proves to be a circular narrative, with all almost returning to normality just as the July 1914 issue had displayed. Using personal experiences in the magazine show one how the daily life in this period proved to be quite dangerous, but sometimes somewhat entertaining (concerning squabbles between organisations). This source of information is also in a magazine format, which tends to favour a particular outlook to appeal to the target audience. Nevertheless, much factual information such as dates, terms and statistics are included making this quite reliable for future reference.