St. John Ambulance Association Bradford Centre shield 1895-1954

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c. 1895 - 1954

Overview

Timber backed, silver competition shield associated with the St. John Ambulance Association, Bradford Centre, in West Yorkshire.
It has a central silver shield with a raised rope like border of interwoven leaves, an inner border representing draped fabric, and a central area with decorative leaves and berries on a stippled background. There are seven smaller silver shields which are engraved with the name of the winning teams between the sprays of leaves. In the middle is a circular silver disc featuring the words 'St. John Ambulance Association Bradford Centre' in blue enamel writing surrounding the symbol of the association - a Maltese Cross - in red enamel.
There are a further 14 silver shields attached to the timber on each side. Those on the left are all engraved with the name and date, while 12 of the 14 on the right are used.
The first 8 shields on the left bear hallmarks and maker's marks at the top, while all 14 on the right have the maker's mark and the word 'Sterling' impressed at the base.
The reverse of the shield is plain aside from the number '36' carved into the centre and 6 sets of metal screws or bolts with square nuts which attach the silver shield to the timber.

Historical information

The St. John Ambulance Association Bradford Centre was a training centre for first aid and nursing in West Yorkshire. This shield seems to have been awarded to the best group each year, starting in 1895. There are gaps where no award has been made, for example from 1915-1919 when the Great War intervened. There also seems to have been different competitions over the decades for which this shield acted as a trophy. Various community groups and companies participated (Ambulance Class, Tramways, The Boys Brigade) in the early years. From 1920 onwards, it became a nursing shield, after which it became an individual nursing competition trophy for several years, ending in 1933. After this time, there is an extended gap including the Second World War until 1950, after which the final 5 shields were awarded to St. Mary's Laisterdyke Ambulance Cadet Division until 1954.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00491

Item type

Collectibles

Decorative Objects

Trophies and Awards

Themes

Medicine & Health
Social History

Material

Width

300 mm

Height or length

400 mm

Depth

18 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On disc in centre of silver shield:

"ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION BRADFORD CENTRE"

On 7 central small shields:

"BRADFORD CORPS 1895
BRADFORD BOROUGH POLICE 1896
BOYS BRIGADE BRADFORD COMPANY 1897
LORNE STREET BOARD EVENING SCHOOL 1898
BRADFORD MOOR BOARD EVENING SCHOOL 1899
BRADFORD MOOR BOARD EVENING SCHOOL 1900
MARSHFIELD BOARD EVENING SCHOOL 1901"

On left hand side of shield attached to the timber:

"PRINCEVILLE AMBULANCE CLASS 1902
PRINCEVILLE AMBULANCE CLASS 1903
BROWNROYD DIVISION 1904
BROWNROYD DIVISION 1905
THE BOYS BRIGADE 7TH BRADFORD COY 1906
THE BOYS BRIGADE 7TH BRADFORD COY 1907
BROWNROYD DIVISION 1908
BROWNROYD DIVISION 1909
BRADFORD CITY TRAMWAYS PARCEL DEPT 1910
BRADFORD CITY TRAMWAYS PARCEL DEPT 1912
BRADFORD CITY TRAMWAYS PARCEL DEPT 1913
THE BOYS BRIGADE 2ND LEEDS PUDSEY CO 1914
BRADFORD CITY NURSING DIVISION 1920
BRADFORD TRAMWAYS NURSING DIVISION 1925"

On right hand side of shield attached to the timber:

"BRADFORD TRAMWAYS NURSING DIVISION 1926
BRADFORD TRAMWAYS NURSING DIVISION 1927
BRADFORD TRAMWAYS NURSING DIVISION 1928
INDIVIDUAL NURSING COMPETITION MRS. CLARA ANGLESS 1930
INDIVIDUAL NURSING COMPETITION MARY STRAKER V.N.D. LEEDS 1931
INDIVIDUAL NURSING COMPETITION NORA HOOD B & KND LEEDS 1932
INDIVIDUAL NURSING COMPETITION MARY STRAKER V.N.D. LEEDS 1933
ST. MARY'S LAISTERDYKE AMBULANCE CADET DIVISION 1950
ST. MARY'S LAISTERDYKE AMBULANCE CADET DIVISION 1951
ST. MARY'S LAISTERDYKE AMBULANCE CADET DIVISION 1952
ST. MARY'S LAISTERDYKE AMBULANCE CADET DIVISION 1953
ST. MARY'S LAISTERDYKE AMBULANCE CADET DIVISION 1954"

Keywords

St John Ambulance Association

Place made

United Kingdom

Year

c. 1895 - 1954

Primary significance criteria