| Product
Code |
: |
PUD NO_917-11_AE |
| Subject | : | Our Day - Indian Red Cross |
| Size | : | 32 mm |
| Metal | : | Copper |
| Year | : | 1917 |
| Description | : | obv. Female Red Cross worker ministering to a sick Indian man wearing turban. Signed : B, rev. On top half of medal : OUR DAY / 12TH DEC: 1917. Bottom half same legend in Urdu using Hegiri dates.
The Indian Red Cross was not officially set up until 1920. What was generally called Red Cross work was undertaken during the first world war by the St. John Ambulance Association and various provincial organizations. From mid-1916 Red Cross work was taken over by the Indian branch of the Joint War Committee of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the British Red Cross Society. In 1917 the ‘Indian Red Cross’ was sadly in need of funds and Lord and Lady Chelmsford supported the organizing of an ‘Our Day’ for India, Queen Victoria sent out some charming gifts for the ‘Lucky Bags’ and tickets were sold to win these bags at one rupee each. The whole country was involved and the really big day was 12th December when fifteen million little Union Jack flags, donated by Rai Bahadur Seth Sukhlal Karnani of Calcutta, were sold. Festivities and functions continued for several weeks and, in all, 830,000 British pounds were raised. |
