The Top Ender Magazine August September 2023 Edition

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
FOUNDED IN AUG 1914
The International Committee of the Red
Cross was formed in 1862. Initially its
purpose was to try and find ways of
overcoming the inadequacy of army medical
services so as to alleviate the suffering of
those wounded in armed conflict. Over
time it has extended its work to include
many forms of humanitarian aid in times of
peace and war.
The Australian Red Cross Society (ARCS) was
formed just after the outbreak of the First World
War in August 1914, originally as a branch of the the
British Red Cross. Enormous sums of money were
raised, and thousands of women volunteers
contributed their time by making vast quantities of
clothing: socks, vests, mittens, mufflers, pyjamas and a
variety of linen. Items were sent to headquarters
located in the state capitals, often using government
houses as depots, where, after being sorted and
packed by yet more volunteers, they were sent to
Britain or the front. The effect of this work for the
recipients was to bring comfort in its truest sense, for
a seemingly trivial gift of a bar of chocolate of a pair of
dry socks could bring the most profound relief for a
soldier on the Western Front. From the date of its
inception until the armistice, the ARCS dispatched
395,695 food parcels and 36,339 clothing parcels.
Between 1914 and 1918 more than £3,500,00 was
collected and spent on Red Cross services to the
Australian Forces and Empire Forces. Dame Nellie
Melba raised more than £90,000 for the sick,
wounded and prisoners of war by her Red Cross
charity concerts and grand opera in Melbourne.
Less well known is the work the Australian Red Cross
undertook at an international level by establishing
agencies overseas dedicated to supplying families in
Australia with information about wounded and
missing soldiers, and for providing information about
and comfort to soldiers declared prisoners of war.
RED CROSS EMBLEM
The Red Cross emblem carries profound
significance. By its proper use it saves
lives. In times of conflict, it is the visible
sign of the protection conferred by the
Geneva Conventions. In peace time it
indicates that a person or object is linked
to the Red Cross movement and its
fundamental principles of humanity,
impartiality, independence, and voluntary
service.
The emblem's origins lie with the founder of the
International Red Cross Committee, Henry
Dunant. Dunant was travelling in northern Italy in
1859 during the country's war of unification. By
chance he witnessed the results of the Battle of
Solferino in 1859, and was vividly impressed by the
sight of thousands of wounded soldiers left to die
without medical care. One of the reasons for this
neglect was that army medical services were not
distinguished by an emblem easily identified by all
parties to the conflict.
In 1863 an international conference met in
Geneva to try and remedy the ineffectiveness of
army medical services. The following year the first
of the Geneva conventions were passed, in which a
red cross made of five equal squares on a white
background was officially recognised as the
distinctive sign of medical services of armed forces.
This distinctive symbol provides protection for
the wounded and for all those who attend and
care for them.
Extracted from AWM
awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/redcross/redcross_
bothwars
awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/redcrossemblem
DEFENCE BLOOD CHALLENGE 2023
The annual Defence Blood Challenge is launching between 1 Sep
and 8 Dec and the Red Cross are calling on the defence
community to book a donation and raise the tally from 10,778
donations in 2022.
The event encourages Defence members and their families, across
Australia, to give blood or plasma and register their donation against their
service tally.
Sally Gavin, from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, said the Blood
Challenge was not only a fun way to encourage blood and plasma
donations, but was extremely beneficial for the Australian community - “we
are very grateful to the Department of Defence for their annual support.”
TIPS FOR BLOOD DONORS
Hydrate and eat - one of the most important things you can do to look
after your own health is to drink lots of fluids and have plenty to eat.
The day before
• Drink plenty of fluids – 10 glasses for men or 8 glasses for
women.
• Try to get a good night's sleep.
• Try to avoid foods that are high in fat or fried. Fatty intake
can interfere with plasma collection and laboratory testing.
3hrs before
• Drink 750mL (that’s 3 good-sized glasses) of fluids.
• Have something savoury to eat.
• Avoid strenuous exercise.
BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM
Following the capture of Pozières and the German lines at the
windmill east of the village in late July and early August 1916,
the three Australian divisions of I ANZAC Corps attacked
northwards along the Pozières Heights towards the site
known as Mouquet Farm.
Mouquet Farm stood in a dominating position on a ridge that
extended north-west from the ruined, and much fought over, village
of Pozieres. Although the farm buildings themselves were reduced to
rubble, strong stone cellars remained below ground which were
incorporated into the German defences.
Between 8 August and 3 September 1916, the Australians launched
nine separate attacks to capture the heavily defended German
position which lay halfway between Pozières and Thiepval, with the
aim of driving a wedge behind the salient held by the Germans.
CAN I DONATE BLOOD?
Are you 18–75 years old, healthy and weigh over 50 kg? You can
complete an online survey to find out if you are eligible to donate
blood.
Appointments can be registered at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood:
https://www.donateblood.com.au/donate.
Darwin Donor Centre
17 Scaturchio St, Casuarina NT 0811
Extracted from Red Cross Lifeblood
lifeblood.com.au/blood/donate-as-a-group/blood-challenges/
defence-blood-challenge
Image: Courtesy of the Anzac Portal
anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/
ww1/where-australians-served/westernfront/mouquet-farm
via AWM/E00006
Although the Australians managed to occupy the farm several times,
they were forced back each time due to fierce German counterattacks.
The site was still in enemy hands by the time I ANZAC Corps was
withdrawn from the Somme on 5 September.
The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions suffered around 11,000
casualties in the fighting. After moving past the stronghold in a broader
offensive, the British managed to capture the now isolated outpost
three weeks later.
Sources:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/
PL885
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/
E84306
https://memorials.dva.gov.au/
MemorialList/mouquet-farm-battleexploit-plaque
34 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 35