UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
By the terms of the Geneva Convention held at Geneva, Switzerland, in
1864, all hospitals, hospital ships, surgeons, members of the hospital
corps, nurses, chaplains and all persons engaged exclusively with the
removal, transportation and treatment of the sick and wounded in war
are rendered neutral. The emblem used to mark hospitals and ambulances
is the white flag with the red Greek cross in the center as described
on page 62.
Following this Convention Red Cross Societies were established in
several countries, taking their name from the red cross on the hospital
flag. The movement has been extended throughout the world and to-day
every civilized country has its Red Cross Society, an International Red
Cross Committee at Geneva being the means of intercommunication between
the different national bodies.
The National Red Cross was founded at Washington, D. C., on October
1, 1881, incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia and
reincorporated April 17, 1893. Under the name of the American Red Cross
it was finally incorporated in 1905. The original founder was Miss
Clara Barton.
As at present constituted the American Red Cross is officered by a
President, Vice President, Treasurer, Counselor, Secretary-General,
General Manager, and Comptroller; the President being the President
of the United States. There is a Central Committee, consisting of
a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and one representative from each of the
Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy and Justice, appointed by the
President; six members elected by the Board of Incorporators, and six
members elected by Delegates. There is an Executive Committee elected
by the Central Committee and a War Council of seven members appointed
by the President.
The War Council announces that the present work of the Red Cross should
contribute to the following aims:—
1. _To be ready to care for our soldiers and
sailors_ on duty wherever and whenever that care may
be needed.
2. _To shorten the War_—by strengthening the
morale of the allied peoples and their armies, by
alleviating their sufferings in the period which
must elapse until the American army can become fully
effective abroad.
3. _To lay foundation for an enduring peace_—by
extending a message of practical relief and sympathy
to the civilian population among our Allies, carrying
to them an expression of the finest side of the
American character.
The war work is divided into two main parts, the principal purposes of
which are summarized by the Council as follows:—
_The Work in the United States._—
1. To take such measures as are necessary, in
cooperation with the Army and Navy, for the
protection of the health and welfare of soldiers in
camps and cantonments, and of civilians whose welfare
is involved in war conditions.
2. To stimulate and guide the volunteer work of
women in the manufacture of supplies and comforts
needed by troops and civilians abroad and by men in
training in this country.
3. To co-operate with the Government and with all
relief agencies in caring for the dependent families
of men in the military and naval service, and to
relieve suffering caused by any disaster.
4. To maintain at the lowest cost consistent with
efficiency, machinery to assure the uninterrupted
performance of these duties and of the relief work in
Europe.
_The Work in Europe._—
1. To do everything possible to assist our Army and
Navy in insuring the health and comfort of American
soldiers and sailors abroad.
2. To relieve suffering among the armies and
destitution among the needy civilian populations of
our Allies.
The cooperation of the American Red Cross with the medical service of
the Army and Navy consists of recruiting, organizing and equipping
base hospital and other hospital and ambulance units to be called into
service when required by the Army or Navy Medical Corps; handling
special problems of health and sanitation in connection with the
cantonments, camps and naval stations; stimulating the manufacture of
surgical dressings and hospital supplies of all kinds; and promoting
the comfort and welfare of the men in training or en route from their
homes to camps and training stations.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
American Red Cross. Officers’ service uniform]
When base hospitals and other organizations recruited, equipped and
trained by the Red Cross are taken over by the Army or Navy for active
service they become a part of such service and wear the uniform
thereof; but officials of the Red Cross assigned to duty with the
military establishments to perform such duties as are assigned to them
under the orders of the Secretary of War are required to wear the
regulation uniform and insignia of the American Red Cross as approved
by the War Department. Such officials have the status of officers
in the Army while so serving at the camps and stations and they are
accredited to the Division Commander and are subject to his authority
and to military laws and regulations.
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FIELD SERVICE
The authorized uniform for the members of the American Red Cross Field
Service is made of cloth or serge of the same color as that used by the
U. S. Marine Corps for winter field uniforms, the shade being a grayish
olive green known as “forestry-green.”
For the officers, Division Directors of Military Relief and Assistants,
Field Directors of Camp Service, Assistant Field Directors of Camp
Service, Associate Field Directors, Hospital Service, Associate Field
Directors, Home Service, and other Assistants, the uniform consists
of an overcoat, Norfolk jacket, riding breeches, flannel shirt, black
necktie, field hat or cap, grey gloves, and tan leather shoes and
leggings or tan leather field boots.
_The coat_ is a single-breasted, four-buttoned plain Norfolk jacket, of
forestry-green cloth, having a notch collar and soft lapels, the skirts
extending half way from the point of the hip to the bend of the knee,
with a two-inch belt of the same material as the jacket stitched around
the waist and a vent in the center of the back extending from the belt
to the lower edge of the skirt. The jacket has four outside patch
pockets with a two-inch box pleat down the center and a three-pointed
flap fastened at the center by a small button. On each shoulder there
is a strap of the same material as the jacket, let in at the top of the
sleeve seam and reaching to the edge of the collar where it is buttoned
with a small button, the dimensions of the strap being two inches in
width at the shoulder seam and one inch in width at the collar end,
the collar end being rounded. On each shoulder strap is worn a Greek
cross of red cloth or silk embroidery, the cross being three-quarters
of an inch over all and placed with its center one and one-eighth
inches above the shoulder seam. All of the buttons are plain flat green
buttons matching the color of the jacket. The initials A. R. C. in
plain block letters of bronze are worn on each side of the collar one
inch above the notch in the lapel. The various grades of officers are
shown by stripes of black mohair braid sewn around the lower part of
each sleeve of the jacket.
_The breeches_ are of forestry-green cloth cut loose in the thigh
and tight from the knee down, laced or buttoned below the knee with
laces or buttons of the same color as the cloth of the breeches, with
strappings of the same material or of buckskin of a color to match on
the inside of the leg and knee.
The _cap_ is of forestry-green cloth and of the same style and
dimensions as the regulation cap for officers of the U. S. Army, the
band covered with green mohair braid to match the color of the cap, the
visor and chin strap being of dark tan leather and the buttons of plain
bronze. A Greek cross of red enamel is worn on the center of the front
of the cap.
The _field hat_ is the same as that worn by officers of the U. S. Army
and with it the officers of the American Red Cross wear a plain black
hat cord.
The _flannel shirt_ is of the same design as that worn by officers of
the U. S. Army but the color is forestry-green. When the shirt is worn
without the jacket the initials A. R. C. in bronze block letters and a
small enamel red cross are worn on each side of the shirt collar, the
letters being in front. A light weight shirt of madras or cotton of the
same color and style as the flannel shirt may be worn.
The _overcoat_ for officers is a double-breasted sack overcoat of knee
length made of forestry-green cloth. It has a turn-down notched collar
with soft lapels, two horizontal side pockets with straight flaps, and
shoulder straps similar to those on the jacket but slightly larger. On
each of these shoulder straps is worn a Greek cross of red cloth or
silk embroidery. The buttons of the overcoat are plain bone buttons of
a color to match the coat. On each side of the collar one inch above
the notch in the lapel the initials A. R. C. in plain bronze block
letters are worn. The various grades of officers are indicated by
stripes of black mohair braid around the sleeves as in the case of the
jacket.
The tan leather shoes, leggings and field boots are the same as those
prescribed for the officers of the U. S. Army.
_Insignia of Rank._—The grade or rank of the officers of the American
Red Cross is indicated by stripes of black mohair braid on the lower
part of the sleeves of the jacket, overcoat and field shirt. The
stripes on the sleeves of the overcoat and jacket are each one-quarter
of an inch wide, set one-half of an inch apart, extend entirely around
the sleeve and the lower stripe is two inches from the lower edge of
the cuff. The stripes on the sleeves of the field shirt are of the same
width and are set at the same distance apart but instead of encircling
the sleeve they are two inches long and sewn on the outer side of the
sleeve.
The number of stripes for the different grades is as follows:—
Division Director of Military Relief 4 stripes.
1st Assistant Division Director of Military Relief 3 stripes.
2nd Assistant Division Director of Military Relief 2 stripes.
3rd Assistant Division Director of Military Relief 1 stripe.
Field Director of Camp Service 3 stripes.
Assistant Field Director of Camp Service 2 stripes.
Associate Field Director, Hospital Service 2 stripes.
Associate Field Director, Home Service 2 stripes.
Other Assistants 1 stripe.
The uniform for personnel of the American Red Cross other than Field
Directors and Assistants consists of an overcoat, Norfolk jacket,
breeches, flannel shirt, black necktie, field hat, sweater, tan leather
shoes, canvas leggings and grey leather or knit gloves. The overcoat,
jacket, breeches and flannel shirt are made of forestry-green after the
same style and design as those already described for the officers, the
sweaters are knit from forestry-green wool, the canvas leggings are
green in color to match the breeches and the field hat is the same as
that prescribed for officers except that no hat cord is worn.
[Illustration: American Red Cross. Workroom uniform with colored veil]
[Illustration: American Red Cross. Motor service uniform]
A Greek cross of red cloth is worn on both sleeves of the jacket,
overcoat and shirt four and one-half inches above the lower edge of
the cuff, the cross on the jacket and overcoat being one and one-half
inches over all and that on the shirt one inch over all.
The initials A. R. C. in bronze block letters are worn on both sides
of the collars of the jacket and overcoat and the same initials and
a small enamel red cross are worn on both sides of the collar of the
field shirt when it is worn without the jacket, the initials being
placed in front of the red cross.
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA FOR RED CROSS WOMEN WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES
The American Red Cross has authorized the wearing of distinctive
uniforms by the women workers engaged in the various Red Cross Chapter
activities, other than nursing and hospital service, in order that
these workers may be readily recognized as such throughout the United
States and also for protective and hygienic reasons. The wearing of
these uniforms is optional on the part of any member entitled to wear
them, but as the right to wear them carries with it the assumption of
responsibility for the organization both efficiency and _esprit de
corps_ should be greatly aided by the use of the uniforms.
Permission to wear these uniforms is granted by the executive committee
of each Red Cross Chapter. No person under eighteen years of age is
granted permission to wear the Workroom uniform, in the Motor and
Clerical service the minimum age is twenty-one years and in the Canteen
service it is twenty-three years. Everyone before being granted a
permit to wear any of the official Red Cross uniforms is required to
take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
DESCRIPTION OF UNIFORMS
Elaborate uniforms have been avoided and as far as possible variety has
been eliminated. To distinguish the different corps of workers an apron
and a “coif” or headdress of different colors have been prescribed. For
workrooms the apron is white, for the canteen service it is blue, and
for the clerical service grey, all being of the same pattern.
WORKROOM UNIFORM.—For all workers on surgical dressings, garments and
knitted articles. If it is found desirable to distinguish the workers
in different workrooms, a white arm band or a sash marked in blue
letters “Garments,” “Surgical Dressings,” “Knitting” or “Comforts” may
be worn.
_Apron._—A large white apron fastening in the back, with sleeves to the
wrist and a V or square neck. The belt is three inches wide and there
are two pockets in the skirt. A red cross, two inches square, may be
worn in front at the center of the base of the neck.
_Coif._—A veil of batiste or similar material, cut one yard long and
one yard wide, with a lower hem one inch broad and a hem at the top two
inches broad and turned back on the outside. The color of the veil is
red, white or dark blue. A band of some stiffer material extends around
the head one-half inch from the front hem and a red cross is worn in
the center of the forehead band.
[Illustration: American Red Cross. Bureau of Information and clerical
service uniform]
[Illustration: American Red Cross. Canteen service, outdoor uniform]
_Instructors on active duty_ in workrooms wear either a red veil or a
white veil with red band; _heads of workrooms_ wear either a blue veil
or a white veil with dark blue band, and all other workers wear a white
veil with white band. They all wear the customary white apron and red
crosses.
MOTOR SERVICE UNIFORM.—For workers in the Motor Service the uniform
consists of a long gray double-breasted coat of whipcord or Oxford
cloth, with falling collar and notched lapels, an inverted box pleat
in the back, a belt of the same material and flat buttons to match; a
close fitting hat of the same material as the coat with a small red
cross in the front; a short skirt of the same material as the coat; tan
leather leggings and tan leather shoes. The insignia of the service
is worn on the sleeve of the coat between the elbow and the cuff. It
consists of a white square bearing a motor wheel with a red cross at
the center.
CANTEEN SERVICE UNIFORM.—The indoor uniform consists of an apron of
the same style as the workroom apron, of horizon blue color, with a
two-inch red cross at the base of the neck; white collar, white cuffs
bearing a special insignia for these workers, and a veil of horizon
blue bearing the same insignia on the front of the head band. This
special insignia for the Canteen Workers is a woven white shield with a
red cross at the center surrounded by the lettering “A. R. C. CANTEEN
WORKER.” The shield on the head band is two and one-quarter inches in
size and that for the cuff one and one-half inches.
For outdoor work in winter the Canteen Service is provided with a gray
whipcord overcoat and a close fitting gray cloth cap of the Royal
Flying Corps type, the prescribed insignia being worn on the cuffs of
the coat and on the front of the cap, as shown in the illustration. In
summer a plain dark blue or black sailor hat with the insignia on the
front of the band is worn either with or without the veil.
The special insignia for the Canteen Workers is necessary at all times
in order that the wearers may be quickly recognized by commanders of
troop trains and camp organizations.
BUREAU OF INFORMATION AND CLERICAL SERVICE UNIFORM.—This uniform
consists of an apron of the same pattern as that for the workroom
uniform of gray material and a gray veil. White collar and cuffs and
the red cross on the apron and veil are worn with this uniform as shown
by the illustration.
UNIFORMS FOR USHERS AND OTHERS.—Ushers and other active personnel of
the Red Cross, such as those engaged in membership campaigns, are
allowed to wear a white badge on which is a red cross or they may wear
a white sash with a red cross on the front.
NURSES’ UNIFORMS.—The uniforms for female nurses in the Red Cross
hospitals are similar to those worn by such nurses in the Army and
Navy, but the nurses in the base hospitals and other military hospitals
in France are required to wear uniforms of gray material.
[Illustration: American Red Cross. Canteen service, indoor uniform]