Prisoner of War management during world wars A less talked about consequence of wars are prisoners of war. These are soldiers of one warring side, that is captured by the other. During the first world war, there were a total of five million such PoWs on the Axis (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman) and the Allied (Britain,… Continue reading Red cross develops a system to communicate with prisoners of war (PoWs)
Category: Health care organizations
This category has blogs about organizations that are involved in health care across nations
Spread of British empire in 1963 Red Cross omnibus
Index Home A postal stamp Omnibus is a set of postage stamps, issued by various countries or territories, on a common theme and often with a common design. Philately has had quite a few omnibus issues, and some of these show spread of British Empire at different times. First British omnibus issue was in 1935, and… Continue reading Spread of British empire in 1963 Red Cross omnibus
Red Cross till the aftermath of the second world war
Index Home The second world war officially started on 1st September 1939, and lasted for next six years. By this time Red cross had turned 75, but it was little prepared for either the scale, nor the modalities of destruction that was to follow. The war not only erased boundaries, and drew new maps, but it… Continue reading Red Cross till the aftermath of the second world war
Red Cross is caught amidst crossfires (1919 -1939)
Index Home Established in 1863, Red Cross had turned 50, when the first world war affected Europe, and its colonies. The first world war (1914-1918) was an overwhelming period for the Red Cross and its National Societies. War was a national priority, and Red cross had to provide support to the wounded soldiers on both sides.… Continue reading Red Cross is caught amidst crossfires (1919 -1939)
Red cross overprints: beginning of a lasting relation
Index Home Christmas seals Born to care for the war wounded, Red cross came into being in 1863. However, it was not until 1907 that it entered into a lasting relationship with postal services. Emily Bissell, an American Red cross activist saw a postmaster in Denmark, who had developed an idea about charity stamps. These stamps,… Continue reading Red cross overprints: beginning of a lasting relation
“Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps
Index Home We have all heard the story of James Watt, who probably inspired by a fluttering lid of a kettle, invented steam engine in 1769. About 35 years later, Richard Trevithick, a British engineer developed first steam-engine powered locomotive. Thereafter, trains ruled surface transport, as automobiles were more than a century away. By 1850s, passenger… Continue reading “Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps
Refugee health: distraught and displaced
Index Home Refuge is to seek protection. Thus, a refugees is an individual who looses protection in their country, and is forced to flee. This loss of protection is usually a consequence of war, ethnic strife, or persecution. It may also be due to disasters such as famines or floods. However, current definition requires well founded… Continue reading Refugee health: distraught and displaced
Red Cross in a peace time role
Index Home While Red Cross was borne out of war, its National societies are engaged in various peace time health actions. These actions include first-aid, disaster relief, blood banking and a range of community health services. Today, in many countries Red Cross operates emergency response teams, contributes to relief efforts after natural and man-made disasters, runs… Continue reading Red Cross in a peace time role
Growth of National Societies and Red Cross movement
Index Home Red Cross Movement started in 1863, and the very next year invited delegates from 12 nations had their first conference in Geneva. The founding members agreed that different countries, who agree with the underlying principles of humanity, could form their own National Societies. While the initial purpose of International Red Cross was to take… Continue reading Growth of National Societies and Red Cross movement
Red Cross philately and the two world wars
Index Home Postage stamps and Red Cross share a close relationship. As early as 1870s, postal administrations in France, Germany and Switzerland exempted postage on letters posted by Red Cross organisations or by prisoners of war. Since, it was important to identify such letters, some national red-cross societies printed stamps. These were identification stamps, rather than… Continue reading Red Cross philately and the two world wars