Second World War
BRITISH RED CROSS
AND D-DAY
British Red Cross involvement with D-Day
Background
The Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 were part of the Allied invasion of Normandy in
Operation ‘Overlord’ during the Second World War. The start of the campaign also became
known as D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and began the invasion of
German-occupied Western Europe. It led to the liberation of France from Nazi control, and
contributed to an Allied victory in the war.
The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, but postponing would have meant a delay of at least
two weeks, as the invasion planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides,
and the time of day. This meant only a few days in each month were considered suitable.
The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment. Allied
infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France at 06.30am. The target
50mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha,
Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended
positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun
emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles
such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach clearing
teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs.
The Allies failed to achieve all of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux
remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July.
Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five bridgeheads
were not connected until 12 June. German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men.
Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. However, the operation
gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months.
Overseas
A British Red Cross advance party was sent to Normandy in June 1944, shortly after the D-Day
landings. Under the command of Major A V L Guise, it took a selection of stores consisting of
surgical accessories, hospital garments, comforts and toilet accessories for casualties. It took
its own transport.
The main body of the unit, whose official title was British Red Cross Commission, British
Liberation Army, followed on within a short time, with more and varied stores, transport vehicles
and personnel such as clerks, storekeepers, packers and drivers. A motor ambulance convoy
was included, and also a section of women Red Cross and St John welfare officers whose
valuable service for the casualties had already been proved in the North Africa campaign.
Items such as back rests, primus stoves, wireless sets, newspapers and playing cards were
provided, as well as more unusual items such as heat-insulated trolleys for hospitals where
kitchens were far from the wards, grease-proof paper to wrap sandwiches for wounded men
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British Red Cross involvement with D-Day
who were well enough to feel hungry on their journey back to England, and ‘golf’ umbrellas
to shelter the airborne wounded from plane to ambulance when travelling in wet weather.
At home
The Joint War Organisation (JWO) supplemented official arrangements and supplies for
the wounded and sick who were brought back to hospitals at home. Within a week of the
Normandy landings it had responded to the following:
>>A military hospital “in a rural district in Southern England” asked for immediate help to prepare
and pack dressings. Red Cross and St John personnel and CHSS (Central Hospital Supply
Service) workers quickly responded.
>>Part time assistants for duty at hospitals were called up and gave valuable service. A hospital
matron telephoned at 10.30pm for additional personnel for night duty and nine members
reported by 11.45pm.
>>Urgent appeals for hospital clothes and comforts were met within about an hour.
>>A supplementary store was set up at a southern port, allowing hospital ships to get supplies
at short notice.
>>Members of youth detachments helped at hospitals, in the linen rooms, pantries and kitchens.
>>In one district, JWO ambulances were used to transport special cases – men suffering from
head and chest injuries.
>>At one hospital, the parents of two patients on the ‘Dangerously Ill’ list were sent for, met on
arrival and given accommodation.
As the military operation continued into July 1944, the JWO assistance to casualties continued:
>>Wounded brought home by air were met by JWO ambulances and taken to hospital trains
or direct to hospitals. Mobile canteens supplied the patients with refreshments and cigarettes
while they awaited transfer. Three ambulance convoys were available for this work.
>>Another service at hospitals was the provision of interpreters at hospitals. Wounded of
various nationalities were brought from France and JWO interpreters used French, German,
Polish and Russian to benefit the patients and to save the valuable time of the medical and
nursing staff.
>>Requests for supplies were nearly always urgent and were speedily fulfilled.
>>Penicillin, a new treatment at the time, was sent to POW camps in Germany where wounded
from Normandy and other battle fronts were sent.
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British Red Cross involvement with D-Day
>>Personnel were provided to supplement the nursing staff on the casualty evacuation trains.
Statistics
Over 1200 Red Cross liaison officers worked throughout the country:
>>visiting patients in hospitals, writing letters and shopping for them
>>meeting relatives, finding accommodation for them, looking after them and keeping them
informed of the patient’s progress
>>supplying comforts such as recreation facilities and equipment.
In the first fourteen days after D-Day the Stores Department issued:
>>280,000 items of hospital supplies
>>5,000,000 cigarettes
>>24,445 toothbrushes
>>21,668 tubes and tins of toothpaste
>>7,658 razors
>>53,499 blades
>>16,399 bars of shaving soap
>>12,500 pairs of pyjamas as well as bed jackets, bed socks, slippers and day shirts.
By 26 July 1944, the total bed accommodation in JWO convalescent homes and auxiliary
hospitals at home was 13,478.
Sources
>>Red Cross and St John Summary of Work June-July 1944
>>The Red Cross and St John War Organisation 1939-1947, compiled by P.G.Cambray &
G.B.Briggs, London,19
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