Explore 150 Voices: 150 years of British Red Cross history

Explore 150 years of history through our fascinating online exhibition highlighting 150 unique Red Cross items.

Since 1870, the British Red Cross has supported those who need it most, no matter who or where they are. 

Our 150 Voices online exhibition marks and shares this incredible history of kindness by telling the fascinating stories behind 150 objects from our museum and archives collection.

Scroll down to see a selection of unique items or visit the full 150 Voices online exhibition to see the 150 items featured. You can also listen to the stories behind them told by a range of people from around the UK.

Prince Charles, president of the British Red Cross, welcomes you to the exhibition in this video.

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Our beginnings

Founded to help those injured in war no matter which side they fought on, the British Red Cross was quickly called upon to help in the Franco-Prussian War.

A painting of British Red Cross founder Robert Loyd-Lindsay bringing aid to wounded soldiers on both sides of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

Robert Loyd-Lindsey 

Painting of Robert Loyd-Lindsey bringing aid during the Franco Prussian War, 1870. Story told by Mike Adamson, British Red Cross CEO.

See the painting and hear its story
A red cloth bag with a label inside saying 'This bag belonged to Queen Alexandra and held her Red Cross papers during the Great War of 1914'.

Queen Alexandra's wartime bag

In 1908, Queen Alexandra signed the petition granting the British Red Cross' Royal Charter. Story told by Mehzebin Adam, British Red Cross curator. 

See Queen Alexandra's bag and hear its story

The First World War

During the First World War, we gave relief to members of the armed forces, prisoners of war and civilians.

A small square of embroidery made by a convalescing WWI soldier. It shows a red cross with the words

British Red Cross embroidery

Embroidery was a common form of therapy for convalescing soldiers. This square was made in 1916. Told by Abigail Stokes, a volunteer from Birmingham. 

See the embroidery and hear its story
A flag from a concert held by famous singer Clara Butt-Rumford to raise money for the British Red Cross during the First World War.

Souvenir flag of the Clara Butt-Rumford concert

Dame Clara Butt, a world-famous singer, arranged fundraising concerts during the war years. Story told by opera singer Nadine Benjamin.

See the flag and hear its story

The Second World War

From sending life-saving food parcels to driving ambulances, the British Red Cross played a key role in caring for people at home and overseas.

A British Red Cross food parcel for prisoners of war including tins and jars of food.

Prisoner of war food parcel

The Red Cross sent up to 163,000 food parcels for prisoners of war each week to help prevent starvation. Story told by Jake Gill, volunteer from Manchester.

See the parcel and hear its story
A camera used by a British soldier in a prisoner of war camp in Germany in the Second World War.

Camera used by a prisoner of war

The camera was used by W R Clarke to take photographs while he was a prisoner of war in Germany. Story told by historian Dan Snow.

See the camera and hear its story

Health and social care

In 1919, we began our peacetime role to improve health and help people in emergencies throughout the world.

A photograph of the first Supplemental Charter given to the British Red Cross in 1919.

Supplemental Charter of the British Red Cross Society, 1919

This Supplemental Charter gave us our peacetime role: humanitarian work in the UK and overseas. Told by Lauren MacGregor, a volunteer from Edinburgh.

See the charter and hear its story
A diorama showing models of three women and a man taking blood donations at a British Red Cross centre.

Diorama showing a blood transfusion ward, 1950-1960

The Red Cross was involved in blood donations from 1921, helping the National Blood Transfusion Service until 1986. Told by Bethan Crowden, a Cardiff volunteer.

See the diorama and hear its story

Refugees and displacement

We have been supporting refugees for over a century and remain committed to this cause today. 

A shoulder bag made of a white sack with a red cross emblem on it. The sacks were originally used to hold seeds for distribution by the Red Cross in Angola in 1995.

Shoulder bag made from Red Cross sacks

This shoulder bag was made from sacks used in Red Cross seed distributions in Angola in 1995. Told by British Red Cross curator Mehzebin Adam.

See the bag and hear its story
A drawing of refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea in an overcrowded small boat.

Artwork: 'A Journey by Boat'

This artwork, 'A Journey by Boat,' was made by a young refugee supported by the Red Cross in 2016. Told by Mahdi Ali, a volunteer in Manchester.

See the artwork and hear its story

Emergencies: UK and overseas

We continue to support people affected by emergencies at home and abroad, including the coronavirus pandemic. 

After Hurricane Hattie in Belize in 1961, a Red Cross volunteer gives a relief package to two boys standing on a tree branch surrounded by water outside of their house.

Hurricane Hattie, 1961

A Junior Red Cross volunteer in British Honduras, now called Belize, gives a disaster relief kit to young survivors, 1961. Told by Monika Rego, London volunteer. 

See the photograph and hear its story
A blanket from 2009 with the British Red Cross name and red cross emblem printed on it.

Emergency response blanket

The British Red Cross uses fleece blankets like this one when they are providing relief to people in crisis in the UK. Read by Gill Moffat, British Red Cross trustee.

See the blanket and hear its story

Find out more about our 150th anniversary celebrations and digital exhibition

Baby shoes made in a prisoner of war camp during WWII.

Discover the full 150 Voices exhibition

Since 1870, the British Red Cross has supported those who need it most, no matter who or where they are

Visit 150 Voices

Thank you and credits

This exhibition was created by Mehzebin Adam (lead curator), volunteers from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Birmingham, Charlie Burns (cataloguer), Digital Drama (audio production) and Karolina Heller (object photography).

Supported by: The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Digital Drama.

The Heritage Fund logo, a supporter of 150 Voices.
Digital Drama logo