During the early years of WWI a great number of cars were donated by individuals for the war effort to be fitted with ambulance bodies. Many wealthy families sometimes included their chauffeurs as well, the men then having to join the army. Some donors had ambulance bodies fitted with no consultation with the authorities, which resulted in horrendous problems, because repairs and servicing were very difficult with no standard models. Eventually the British Red Cross laid down a specification for bodies and some form of standardisation was achieved which made it possible for ambulance bodies to be ordered direct from the manufacturers. Financial donations for ambulances were received from various organisations and businesses like Breweries, Trade Unions, Charitable Groups, Hunts, Worshipful Companies, and the Silver Thimble Fund.
Manufacturers of ambulances included Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Albion, Morris, Vulcan, Austin, Sunbeam-Rover, Wolseley, Siddeley-Deasy, Renault, Buick, Crossley, Vauxhall, Argyll, Sunbeam, Lanchester, Ford Model T, Fiat and Star.
With the outbreak of War in August at its meeting in October, the Grand Lodge of England accepted that a Roll of Honour be printed in the Report giving the names of its members who had joined the Colours. The idea of purchasing motor ambulances also arose, being mooted by the Grand Primo, Grand Secretary and the South West Surrey Province. To assist in the purchase of such vehicles the voluntary ½d donation was introduced. Various Flower Days were held around the country ( entitled "Scarlet Pimpernel Days." ) The Scarlet "Pimpernel" brought into prominence by Baroness Orczy as the Emblem of Succour was adopted by Bro. John W Gaze ROH. He purchased the Badges and with his assistance raised large sums for the ambulance fund.
Picture to the right shows Brother John William Bower Gaze, R.O.H. England Primo (Eng.), 1919. President Harrogate Convention, Grand Treasurer 1922 - 1936 of the Nottingham Province.
At the 1915 Swansea Convention held on the 2nd August the Grand Primo announced that 50,000 members of the Order had joined the colours. which included such notable figures as the Grand Primo (Eng.) 1913 Bro. Jack T. Davies, R.O.H., Abertillery Province.
The first motor ambulance (the last word in such vehicles) had been purchased through the War Office at a cost of £418 7s. 6d. The War office followed the example of the R.A.O.B. in acquiring fifty up-to-date cars of the same pattern from the Sunbeam Company.
The picture above shows ambulance car No.1 with its driver Bro. George Pearce, R.O.H., who accompanied the car at its civic reptions at Cheltenham and Bath. Car No.1 with Brother Pearce, R.O.H. was sent to France and was one of the first better cars sent to the front line, and one of the very few that had not been into the workshops. It received its baptism under fire at Ypres and had been called upon to missons of mercy at Estaires and Neuve Chapelle. A picture post card was produced by G.L. office of car No.1 and its driver and over 100,000 were sold which greatly assisted the fund raising efforts.
During 1915 the R.A.O.B bought its second car. The Grand Primo (Eng.) Brother Francis Early, R.O.H., President Swansea Convention, Manchester Province, together with its driver Brother Charles C. W. Nicholls C.P., Maesteg Distict Primo Lodge, toured the country for propoganda purposes. Such to show members of the Order what was being done and to promote purchase of further ambulances.
The Grand Secretary Brother William Henry Rose, R.O.H. also wrote a small booklet entitled, "Eleven hundred miles on Our Ambulance." Which covered the various places that the ambulance car, the Grand Primo and its driver had visited on its tour. The publication had very good sales and contributed to obtaining car No.3.
At the 1915 Convention held in the Albert Hall, Swansea, Brother Rose R.O.H., the Grand Secretary was pleased to announce to the delegates assembled. That our Minor Lodges in South Africa had started collecting for our Ambulance Fund.
One evening at this Convention, Sir Robert Mond was initiated a member of the Order, and made a donation of £50 towards the Ambulance Fund. During two days a further £160 was collected from the delegates who attended.
In 1916 Grand Lodge were able to report that three ambulance cars had been purchased and sent to France at a cost of £1,460. Sales of the ambulance booklet were in excess of 5,000 copies.
Cars No.2 and 3. were sent to Ypres, again the drivers were members of the Order. There was so much enthusiasm to help King and Country and to be a driver, the Grand Council had to recommend appointments from the many nominations received as to the drivers required.
The picture on the right shows car No.3 taken in France. Bro. Willie Rose was the driver. Standing (left) Brother Wally Jones C.P., Northumberland & N.E. Durham Province. The Army Sergeant on the right is unknown.
It was in car No.3 in 1916, that members of the Order stationed in France, opened a Lodge called the "Sir Francis Earley." Brother Wally Jones, C.P., from Newcastle was the first Worthy Primo. Brother Willie Rose, Junr., being the first initiate into a Minor Lodge held under such conditions.
Lodge meetings were held in the ambulance, if you can imagine twenty men crammed into the back of such a vehicle, you have to understand what these members went through in their love of the Order.
During a visit to the French Battle Fields in 1916 by the King of the Belgians, he came across on of our ambulance cars. He enquired as to the meaning of the R.A.O.B.
After being informed, he expressed the wish that Lodges of the Order be opened in his country. Also that he be afforded an invitation to become a member of such a wonderful organisation.
I am fully aware that Minor Lodge were opened within Belgium. However, if the King was ever initiated is something I have been unable to confirm.
At the April meeting 1916 of Grand Lodge at the Queens Hotel, Cardiff. The first item of business, was to pass a vote of condolence to the Grand Primo (Eng.) Brother Storry, R.O.H., and his family, on the great loss sustained by the death of their eldest son, who had been killed in action.
It was also announced that Brother Jack T. Davies R.O.H., Grand Primo (Eng.) 1913, was lying very ill at Malta. He had Asiatic fever and pneumonia. ( I can confirm that Brother Davies recovered and was laid to rest in 1928.)
The left hand Picture above looking left to right, are Ambulance Cars No.4., No.5. and No.6., taken outside "York House", Bath in 1916. The Brother standing by car No.6 is Archibald W. West K.O.M., Grand Alderman of Juniper (Eng.) 1910.
Pictured on the right is Car No.5. with its driver who is unknow. This vehicle was provided by the Cardiff Province.
The left hand picture below, is of an ambulance car presented by the Bristol & District R.A.O.B. to the British Red Cross Society, City & County of Bristol Branch.
The right hand picture, was taken outside the Boot Hotel, Victoria Square, Aberdare. In 1916 the Aberdare Province had not been formed and came under the control of Merthyr. The ambulance (No. unknown) and nurses were intended to deal with the reception of wounded soldiers, who were to be accomodated atThe Trap Surgery, before the opening of the Aberdare General Hospital.
Pictured on the right is an ambulance car outside the Headquarters of the Worcester District Primo Lodge and also home to the Victoria Lodge No.489.
The car No. unknown, could have been the one possibly purchased by the neighbouring Province of Gloucestershire.
It's parked outside the Saracens Head Hotel, Tything, Worcester.
The Landlord of the establishment, Brother Roberts was an ardent Buff, having been the District Primo President of Worcester in 1901.
The left hand picture below shows an ambulance car again No. unknown, parked outside the Imperial Hotel, which was situated in Stoke-on-Trent, or one of the six Towns that now make up that city.
The Imperial Hotel being the headquarters of The Staffordshire Regiments Association and a number of R.A.O.B. Lodges under the control of The North Staffordshire Province.
The vehicle may have been purchased by that Province, or was on a propaganda tour from the Lancashire, Cheshire and Isle of Man or Nottingham Province.
The right hand picture above shows ambulance cars No's 5, 6 and 7 being presented at Hull on the 14th June. Such were accepted by Major General Ferrier on behalf of the War Office.
Brother George Cecil Storry R.O.H., Grand Primo (Eng.) 1916, Hull Province, supported by many leading members of the Order.
Also present were the Lord Mayor of Hull, the Bishop of Hull and many thousands of the local citizens. When the ambulances were handed over, such was done, amidst great applause and cheering by those assembled.
At the Grand Lodge meeting held October 1918 in Cardiff, Brother John Gardner R.O.H., Grand Primo (Eng.) Cardiff Province, confirmed that Motor Ambulance Car No.18 had been presented to the War Office at Salisbury in the summer of that year. Presentation having been made by members of the Salisbury Plain Province.
During the Great War years 1914 - 1918, membership of the R.A.O.B., G.L.E. had shown great resolve in their efforts to raise the funds to acquire so many vehicles, when you consider, the depression in business, and the large number of members who had joined the Colours.
A number of the ambulance cars had been purchased by Provinces, much of the funds required had been raised by holding "Scarlet Pimpernel Days" and a great deal of hard work.
I am unable to confirm which Provinces donated the individual ambulances, as it appears no official list is available. However, those that I am aware of were, Lancashire, Cheshire and the Isle of Man, Wiltshire, Nottingham ( Car No.11 ), Hull, Cardiff ( Car No.5 ) and Gloucestershire. Perhaps someone in the future who reads this article may provide the answer.
Other Motor Ambulance Cars were presented by Provinces, other than the eighteen received by the War Office.
Lancashire, Cheshire and the Isle of Man donated two for use by The Red Cross Society, also another for Home Service.
Bristol provided one for The Red Cross Society and Merthy provided one for Home Service. There were others no doubt and again the answers may be forthcoming.
The efforts of the R.A.O.B, G.L.E. in the First World War years in respect of providing ambulances is not the end of the story - However, that may be another article, another time.