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In 1942 a St John's Ambulance Cadet Corps was formed in Island Bay. There was already an adult's group to which my mother belonged and one of the members of this group, Miss Jean Cheatham, was the leader of the cadet group.
In structure, it was quite similar to the Girl Guides, but the emphasis was on learning First Aid. We met on Tuesday evenings, at first in Crothers' Hall (behind 94 Derwent St) and when this became unavailable, at O'Shea's Hall (behind 92 Clyde St.)
We had to sit and pass a junior First Aid exam and later a Home Nursing exam and we also went for certificates in various subjects e.g. cooking, speaking a foreign language, fire fighting, handwork and we earned a badge for each one that we passed. Once we had twelve of these certificates we were awarded the Grand Prior Badge, which was the only badge that could be worn on the senior uniform when you moved up to this level.
Our uniform was a straight grey dress with a belt and a white veil rather like a nurse's veil which we wore for competitions etc.
In the beginning, we learned how to use triangular bandages for slings, how to stop bleeding, how to splint broken limbs etc. Then we moved on to Home Nursing and felt very important because Miss Cheatham arranged for us to practise bed making on the beds on which the nurses learnt at Wellington Hospital. We also learnt improvisation where we had to "make do" with odd articles to bandage, splint or carry a patient. There were competitions organised in all these areas where a squad from our corps would compete with squads from other corps for various cups.
On Anzac Day we donned our uniforms and marched in the parade behind the Pipe Band to Island Bay School for the Anzac Day service with the Returned Servicemen, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and other groups.
Once we were proficient in First Aid we were allowed to go "on duty" with a senior person on Saturday afternoons at sports places around the district. We usually were sent to Wakefield Park for the rugby games, or Newtown School where the basketball (now called netball) was played. Mostly we patched up cuts and grazes or put cold compresses on twisted ankles.
The St John's Ambulance Brigade had very lofty aims. We had to learn about the history of the Order and make a solemn promise. It went like this:
I promise
to do my best to do my duty to God, the King and to all mankind.
to obey the mottoes of the order which are pro fide (for the faith) and pro utilitate hominum (for the service of mankind.)
to salute and obey my officers.
to be honest at work and play.
to be cheerful and prompt in all I do.
I do not remember how long the group kept going. It was certainly three or four years. I have always been glad that I learned so many useful things with St Johns as I was growing up. You certainly never know when you will need some knowledge of First Aid!
Evening Post" Photo. Applying, first aid to an accident case, one of the competitions held at the annual Dominion and interdistrict competitions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, held at the Drill Hall, Buckle Street, Wellington, on Saturday afternoon. (Evening Post, 05 September 1938). Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/18973982
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