‘The War of the Worlds’ - Badge/Emblem Description

[Jelly Terror]

Anyone who has ever read H. G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ will be familiar with the numerous references to various military units such as: battery No.12 of the Horse Artillery, the 8th Hussars, grenadiers in white, an entire battalion of the Cardigan Regiment, Artillery Volunteers, etc.

A passage describing the evacuation of Byfleet, during the Martian advance states the following:

‘Black government wagons with crosses in white circles, and an omnibus among other vehicles, were being loaded in the village street.’

The story is set in summer time circa 1895-1897, and assuming Wells was drawing on real life for much of the day-to-day detail, what might these ‘black government wagons with crosses in white circles’ have been?

With thanks.

[fairlie63]

Hi JT, he doesn't mention the colour of the crosses. These might be just the red cross and the black of the wagons might differentiate the government aspect from the normal colour used by ambulance wagons, if such even existed in those days.

We assume white for ambulances now but that mightn't have held good in those days. Army ambulances might have been 'service grey' but it's hard to envisage white civvy ambulances in that period of time.

Keith

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Hi JT, he doesn't mention the colour of the crosses. These might be just the red cross and the black of the wagons might differentiate the government aspect from the normal colour used by ambulance wagons, if such even existed in those days.

We assume white for ambulances now but that mightn't have held good in those days. Army ambulances might have been 'service grey' but it's hard to envisage white civvy ambulances in that period of time.

Keith

Keith,

Thank you for this. I must confess that the Red Cross had not occurred to me. Seems obvious now that you have posted.

However, since Byfleet, at this point in the story, had not yet sustained any casualties, might we still expect the Red Cross to have ben in attendance?

Thanks again.

[Phil2M]

'The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, in particular by Henry Dunant and Gustave Moynier.'

They have been heavily involved in major refugee and evacuation crisis around the world ever since.

They are not as medically orientated as the St John/St Andrews Ambulance etc. At least not in the same capacity.

The reference to Government Wagons, could be suggesting RAMC vehicles. Perhaps a similar situation to the WW1 London Ambulance Column.

[Jelly Terror]

Thank you.

Thread closed.