Red Cross arm bands

7 white linen arm band with red felt cross, button fastening, stamped 'ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE' and 'HANTS VOLUNTARY AID' with date 15.1.15 and numbers 1385, 626, 637, 641, 639, 642 and 1 stamped with British Red Cross, 40 New Street, Birmingham

Each of these armbands are stamped with the words "Hants Voluntary Aid", an identifying number and the date 15 January 1915. The words Army Medical Service are also printed with the symbol of the Order of St John - an eight pointed star and have a red cross stitched on the arm band.

Hants is shortened version of Hampshire, a county on the southern England coast. The Voluntary Aid Detachment or VAD worked in hospitals, trained in first aid and basic nursing duties or as transport. Additional training for using massage or x-ray technologies were also available. Professional nurses worked alongside VADs. The British Red Cross and the Order of St John formed the Joint War Committee to combine resources, funding, fundraising, and the organization of VADs.

VADs were set up in 1909 to provide support to the Territorial Medical Services. During the First World War, 90,000 volunteers signed up. The worked in Britain and overseas, wherever they were needed.

During both World Wars, VADs wore the red cross, a symbol of protection. The red cross symbol was first adopted under the Geneva Convention of 1864. It reverses the colour of the Swiss national flag of a white cross on a red background. Those wearing the red cross, crescent or crystal are protected under international law and symbolises they are there to give help. The Geneva Convention forms the basis of how soldiers and civilians should be treated during wartime.