Athenry Women in the British Red Cross by Ronan Killeen

Volunteers of the British Red Cross (image got from Brisith Red Cross website)

The red cross originated in 1863 by a Swiss businessman Henry Duant. Who was devasted by the several casualites of the Battle of Sioferino 1859 because many people due to lack of care.

 He proposed creating national relief societies, made up of volunteers, trained in peacetime to provide neutral and impartial help to relieve suffering in times of war.

In response to these ideas, a committee (which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross) was established in Geneva. The founding charter of the Red Cross was drawn up in 1863.

When war broke out between France and Prussia in July 1870, Colonel Loyd-Lindsay (later Lord Wantage of Lockinge) wrote a letter to The Times. He called for a National Society to be formed in Britain just like in other European nations.

The British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War was formed. It gave aid and relief to both warring armies during the Franco-Prussian War and in other wars and campaigns during the 19th century. This was done under the protection of the red cross emblem.

Recently, records of Athenry women in the British Red Cross were released on line see link https://vad.redcross.org.uk/Search?hosp=athenry+&fbclid=IwAR3Bh7G-w1Vl7UR5EGHjxwOJ5ffM3gh9dUx-ce7SuVWY077h8pA2kO5rNJ8. 

The Athenry women involved in the British Red Cross were Norah T. Burkitt, Linda Laura Jurd, Dorethy Noelle Lopdell, Leilla S. Lopdell, Zeile Marguerite Lopdell, Theta W. F. Moon; Alice De Mowbray, Amy Roe and Anna Helen Kathleen Roe.