St. John Ambulance Brigade

6

Ube 1Representatt"e ®mcers:

CAPTAIN G. PRITCHARD BROWN. \VILLIA.M N. 'WEST \VATSON, Esq., M.D. LEWIS G. VVHYTE, Esq.

of Uounct{ on Ubapter:::(5eneral:

(in addition to tllose showll under otller Headings)

THE VISCOUNT BLEDISLOE, G.C.M.G., K.B.E., P.C. THE HaN. JpHN H. BRUCE. THE HaN. VINCENT MASSEY, P.C. CAPTAIN vV. GOODLEY, O.B.E., M.C. SIR PERCIVAL H.-S. HARTLEY, C.V.O., M.D. WILLIAM G. PAPE, Esq., O.B.E. CAPTAIN RUSSELL STEELE, M.B.

antl

Ube JExecntf"e

(in addition to the Chief Executive Officer, shown above as Chancellor)

Secretary-General: BRIGADIER \VILLIAM B. G. BARNE, C.B.E., D.S.O. Receiver-General: THE EARL OF CROMER, G.C.B., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O. Director of Ambulance: GENERAL SIR CLIVE LIDDELL, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. Hospitaller: COLONEL WOOLRYCH PEROWNE, V.D., T.D. Almoner: BRIGADIER-GENERAL THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.P., G.C.V.o., C.B.E., P.C. Librarian: COLONEL SIR EDWIN KING, K.C.B., C.M.G., T.D., A.D.C. Registrar: EDWIN H. FRESHFIELD, Esq., LL.D. Genealogist: SIR GERALD WOLLASTON, K.C.B., K.C.V.O. Director of Ceremonies: CHARLES H. C. PIRIE GORDON, Esq., D.S.C., F.S A. Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade at Home: GENERAL SIR CLIVE LIDDELL, K.C.B., C.M.Goo C.B.E.. D.S.O. (from 1st April, 1943) Vice l\1AJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN DUNCAN, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O., resigned. Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas: COLONEL JAMES L. SLEEMAN, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., M.V.O.

:assistant lDirector of :ambulance:

MAJOR-GENERAL FREDERICK V. B. WITTS, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.

Secretar}2 of tbe ®rtler: who attends, but is not a member of, Chapter-General)

MAJOR DOUGLAS M. GORDON, M.C.

:assistant Secretar}2:

DUNCAN G. MONTEITH, Esq.

REPORT OF THE CHAPTER-GENERAL FOR THE YEAR 1943.

THE CHAPTER-GENERAL has the honour to submit to Members and Associates its Report for the year 1943. The necessity for economy in the use of paper is still urgent, and this Report is still greatly condensed.

As in HH2, the majority of meetings of Chapter-General, Council, and the Ambulance Committee have bcen held at 12 Grosvenor Crescent, London, .W.1.

The year 1913 has been one of great changes in the higher direction of the Ordcr of St. ] ohn.

On 1st March, 1943, the Earl of Scarbrough, who had been Sub-Prior since 1923, resigned from that office, but fortunately Chapter-General still enjoys the advantage of his experience and wisdom in the office of Bailiff of Eglc, to which he was appointed in May, 1943. :ir Percival \Vilkinson resigned on the same date and was appointed a Representative Knight on Chapter-General, in order that his wide knowledge of every aspect of the Order and its Foundations should be at the disposal of Chapter-Gencral.

In October the Order suffered a most grievous loss. The Earl of Plymouth, who succeeded the Earl of Scarborough as Sub-Prior, died suddcnly on the 1st October, leaving the office of Sub-Prior vacant. Chapter-General had with reason looked forward to many years harmony and progress under his "rise and firm guidance, and it would be hard to exaggerate the seriousne s of the loss. 1\. Memorial ervice in t. Iargaret's, Westminster, was arranged by the Ord r of t. John, and the attendance showed how universal was the sorrow felt in all sections of the Order and its Foundations.

The office of Sub-Prior devolved on the Earl of Clarendon, Chancellor of the Order, as the next enior Executive Officer; he has now been appointed b r the Grand Prior acting Sub-Prior for the duration of the war.

Chapt r-General is glad to report that the Twelfth Century Crypt of the Priory hurch and t. John's Gate have so far escaped further damage, with the exception of slight damage on the 22nd October, 1943, at the south-we t corner of the Church due to a rocket shell case.

The Committee of representatives of the Order of St. John and the British Red Cross ociety (referred to on page 7 of the report of ChapterGeneral for 1942) has met. As a first step towards the co-operation the production of a joint textbook on First Aid was considered. It was agreed that many of the advantages of a joint textbook could be obtained by aligning the teaching, without the innumerable complications of having an identical text, which would logically lead on to identical examinations. Two medical representatives from each Body are now meeting to see if an agreed alignment can be reached.

THE ORDER OF ST. ]OHN CLINIC FOR RHEUMATISM AND OTHER DISEASES

The number of treatments carried out at the Clinic during 1943 show an increase over 1942 of over 5,000-the figures being 51,251 for 1943, against 46,125 for 1942. The attendances during the year show an increase of 2,000, i.e. 25,122 for 1943, as against 23,109 for 1942. The Committee of Management includes the Bailiff of Egle (as Chairman), Dr. Ebblewhite, a senior Knight (as Treasurer), and the Secretary of the Order.