St. John Ambulance is a modern, vigorous health care organisation with members in over 40 countries worldwide,
but its origins date back over 900 years to Jerusalem.

Here is a limited version of its illustrious history.

The History Of The Order.

1099
After capturing the Holy city of Jerusalem, the crusaders found a hospital run by a group of Benedictine monks
this was the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Where Christians were nursed back to health

1113
Pope Paschal II decreed that the monastic brothers were to be recognised as a religious order in Jerusalem creating
a religious order of Hospitallers.

The Knights Hospitallers was created when the order joined crusaders to re enter the Holy land they possessed a
dual role of caring for the sick and protecting them by military means when they found themselves allied to the knights
Templers. The order had adopted a simple white cross on a red background as its military coat of arms and the
white eight pointed cross on a black background as its religious symbol.

1291
Saw the Knights move to Cyprus when Acre was lost in a savage engagement, weary and lacking support they were
driven out of the Holy Land.

1309
The Knights relocated to Rhodes a well-defended base and the Knights developed a naval power to continue to fight
for Christianity.

1522
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ousted the Order from Rhodes after being driven back several times by the Knights
Hospitallers, however Grand Master Philippe de L'Isle Adam surrendered in order to prevent more death and
destruction and the Hospitallers were allowed to leave Rhodes with dignity. Charles the V of Spain allowed the order
to rent Malta for a double purpose one was to allow the order to continue with their care of the sick and injured,
the other was to provide an armed force to prevent Muslim aggression.

1565
The Order held Malta, despite four months of savage battle and dwindling supplies the Knights Hospitallers had
defeated the might of the Ottoman Empire at its doors. This was to be a turning point in European history.

Top

1798
The military role of the Knights Hospitallers decreased as the Turkish Empire declined and Malta was handed over to
Napoleon.

The Order in Britain

Top

C12th century
The English Order received land on which were built churches and hospices. The Order also established places in
Ireland Scotland and Wales and the great priory of Clarkenwell became the headquarters for the prior of the English
and Welsh Knights.

During this time the priors gathered various goods and armour to be sent to the Orders Hospital and headquarters
in the Holy land.

1540
When Henry VIII ceased the lands and property of the Order but Mary Tudor re-established the Priory of
Clarkenwell, however only a year later Queen Elisabeth I granted its freehold to private owners.
The priory went through several changes eventually becoming an Inn, and in 1874 the Order eventually regained
what was then called the gatehouse.

1860
During the bloody skirmishes that took place in the 1860's a British Order of the St. John was established.

1872
Sees the establishment of an ambulance service in mining and pottery districts.

1873
Saw the first attempts to establish First Aid and Nurse training.

1877
St. John Ambulance Association was established with the objective to train members of the public in Aid to the
injured.
They also provided an ambulance service.

1887
The Ambulance Corps' met with eminent physicians in London to establish a transport system for the sick and injured.

July 19th 1888
St. John Ambulance Brigade was established. This was to provide trained volunteers to serve the public in First Aid.

1899-1902
St. John Medical Orderlies volunteered during the Boar war.

1922
St. John Ambulance Cadets formed

1926
St. John Ambulance formed a division in Clacton-on-Sea.

1939-1945
Second World War Joint war organisation of the Order of St. John and the British Red Cross Society trained
medical and nursing reserves and the general public.

1950
St. John Ambulance Cadets formed in Clacton-on-Sea

1974
Air ambulance service started.

1987
St. John Badgers established

1999
Celebrated 900 years of caring.

Top

1926

23 Jan 1926
A fundraising event was held at the Royal Hotel it was a mass Dance for St. John Ambulance Association. During the event two ceremonies were held one was to award the certificates for the qualified members and the other was to present Dr F K Houchin a gold mounted tobacco pouch and pipe for his invaluable service, and a silver cigarette case to appreciate Mr. Fredk Lock for all the work done.

02 February 1926
Clacton-on-Sea St. John Ambulance was officially formed with 21 qualified members

The ambulance was on loan to the division from the Clacton Pier Company. The use of the ambulance was free to take casualties to the local hospital but a charge of 30s would be required if the casualty was required to go to Colchester Hospital.
The ambulance could be sent for at Wells Garage, Jackson Road.

06 Feb 1926
The first General Meeting held at the Westcliff Hotel by the kindness of Mr. & Mrs. W Adams when Miss Fletcher commandant of the local Red Cross Society presided in the absence of Mr. E Kingsman.

1950

12 April 1950
St. John Ambulance Cadet division was formed and the nursing cadet division was formed one week later on 19 April 1950

2000
The ambulance cadet and nursing cadet divisions combined to become the combined cadet division on Saturday 01 January 2000

2003
The division was required to take its ageing frontline emergency ambulance off the road, being ever resourceful the division decided to turn the ex ambulance into a mobile First Aid post. Because the St. John Ambulance is a charitable organization and not government funded, this has left the division without an operational ambulance.

Top