Australian Red Cross Society Transport Service cloth insignia

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c. 1940

Overview

Australian Red Cross Society Transport Service cloth insignia from uniform.
It is made from khaki fabric onto which the words 'Red Cross Transport Service' have been embroidered with red cotton inside a rectangular border of the same red cotton. Remnants of the light brown stitching which formerly held the insignia to the uniform remain.
The reverse of the badge has folded khaki material from the upper surface around each side and shows the white cotton mesh backing material to the embroidery.

Historical information

The Australian Red cross Society set up a transport service in 1915, driving soldiers who had returned on the hospital ships to their homes or convalescent facilities. By the end of 1916 the Service included 2,500 cars, with more than half overseas, working on the battlefields of France, Italy and East Africa. Transport duties included daily ambulance rounds to hospitals, weekly outings with patients, and delivering and collecting materials. The Australian Red Cross also developed the Cycle and Motor Cycle Corps, with volunteers delivering special Red Cross messages or small parcels.
The busiest time for the Transport service came at the end of World War Two when volunteer drivers met thousands of wounded servicemen and returning prisoners of war.

This cloth insignia is believed to date to the World War Two period.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00598

Item type

Themes

Social History
Transport
War and Conflict > World War 2