Our history

A painting showing a long road with a huge cloud of black smoke at the end of it - the Burning of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.

Doris Zinkeisen: WWII frontline artist

Once a society painter, Doris Zinkeisen was the first artist to enter the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp after it was liberated

content type Article estimated reading time 3 minutes
The Queen stands in front of a Red Cross emergency vehicle

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the British Red Cross

Remembering 70 years with Her Majesty The Queen as our Patron. Here, we take a look back at some moments in that relationship, from her earliest address at our National Conference to comforting service users during their time of need.

content type Story estimated reading time 3 minutes
A black and white photograph showing two dogs wearing British Red Cross coats and carrying first aid kits

First aiders on four legs

Did you know that during WWI, the Red Cross used trained dogs to help stricken soldiers on the battlefield? True story.

content type Story estimated reading time 4 minutes
Claire Bertschinger sitting outside a feeding centre surrounded by children.

Five women who shaped the Red Cross

Here are five inspiring ladies who represent the hundreds of thousands of women who have given their time, skills and passion to our humanitarian work.

content type Story estimated reading time 4 minutes
British Red Cross volunteers and injured servicemen at Trent Bridge auxiliary hospital, First World War

From World Cup to WWI hospital: the surprising history of English cricket grounds

We are a nation of cricket lovers. But did you know that 100 years ago, our cricket grounds were hosting hospitals instead of matches?

content type Article estimated reading time 4 minutes
A black and white photograph showing the Red Cross distributing milk during the partition in Multan, Pakistan

India partition: the Red Cross response to the refugee crisis

The partition of British India in 1947 triggered one of the largest population movements in history. This is how we responded.

content type Article estimated reading time 4 minutes
A black and white photograph showing small children sitting down at a table waiting for jelly and cake.

Jelly and cake: let's revive a 1940s tradition

Blacmange, cream cakes, peaches and tea? We gave evacuated children from home and abroad, the warmest of welcomes in 1944.

content type Story estimated reading time 3 minutes
A black and white image of Joe Carstairs, who is wearing a dark beret, checked scarf and dark coat with a fluffy trim.

Joe Carstairs: From ambulance driver to the fastest woman on water

Learn about the colourful life of Joe Carstairs this LGBTQ+ History Month.

content type Article estimated reading time 3 minutes
A British Red Cross nurse from the first world war holds a letter and looks thoughtful in a garden.

Letters from a First World War nurse

These letters from our archive show the challenges of nursing during difficult times, as well as some of the lighter moments.

content type Story estimated reading time 5 minutes
A still from the film Radioactive, showing Marie Curie, played by Rosamund Pike, in her lab.

Marie Curie: invisible light, the Red Cross and WWI

Curie achieved so much in her lifetime, from transforming the face of medicine to service on a WWI battlefield as a Red Cross nurse.

content type Article estimated reading time 5 minutes
Two police officers and two other men lift cardboard boxes into the back of a van at the time of the mining disaster in Aberfan.

Memories of a Red Cross volunteer at Aberfan

John Cole was one of hundreds of British Red Cross volunteers who helped the local community in Aberfan. Now, his daughter Anna shares his story.

content type Article estimated reading time 3 minutes
Objects made by civilian internees and concentration camp survivors during the Second World War. Some were made using packaging materials from Red Cross food parcels.

Our 'Museum of kindness' opens to the public

Our curator Mehzebin Adam talks through the new exhibition at our head office in London

content type Story estimated reading time 3 minutes