British Red Cross Society Balkan War Medal 1 Clasp (Greece)

Description

Sterling silver Red Cross medal, with sterling silver 'Greece' clasp integral to hanger, and 'Balkan War 1912-13' as a separate clasp. Ribbon silk has split extensively. The reverse is engraved 'JOHN T. WOODS' and stamped with hallmarks and maker's initials (JRG&S); the Greece clasp is impressed 'STERLING SILVER' while Balkan clasp is impressed 'JRG&S' and 'STERLING'.

History / Summary

Awarded to John Thomas Woods, St John Ambulance and Red Cross. Woods was born 23 December 1872 in Suffolk, England and joined the St John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) in 1895, quickly gaining certificates in First Aid and Nursing and Hygiene. He gained his First Aid Voucher in April 1896 and First Aid Medallion in May 1897. In that same year he was awarded the St John Ambulance Medallion for Service in London, having been appointed First Officer, Stores. In 1902 Woods volunteered for six months service in the Boer War, in his capacity as Stores Officer and was attached to the Ipswich Corps. Some sixty members of the approximately 1,800 SJAB members who volunteered died on service in South Africa between 1899 and 1902, most of disease, usually typhoid. In 1902, Woods was awarded the King Edward Medal for Ambulance Service in London and served as the Ambulance and First Aid Officer for King Edward’s funeral in May 1910. At the outbreak of the Second Balkan War in 1913, Woods volunteered for service with the Red Cross, assisting the Greek Medical Corps at Salonika. For this service, Woods was awarded this (unofficial) Red Cross Medal, one of 196 awarded to member of the British Red Cross. In 1916, Woods and his wife emigrated to Queensland, Australia where Woods gained employment with the permanent staff of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB), serving as Deputy Superintendent with various ambulance stations (Kidstone, St Lawrence, Landsborough) until his wife’s ill-health forced a move to Brisbane in 1924. He remained with the QATB’s main office in Brisbane until he retired in February 1941, aged 68.