Age of empire

St John Ambulance began in the days of empire and quickly spread to Britain’s overseas colonies.

The British Order of St John has always had strong royal connections. Queen Victoria, in 1888, made it a Royal Order of Chivalry and became its Sovereign Head.

Victoria ruled the largest empire the world has ever known and the Order saw it as part of its role to spread Western medical practice to the colonies.

First aid in the colonies

A branch of St John was also seen as a way of encouraging local people to learn British 'values and virtues'.

The first aid message lasted longer than the empire. As in Britain, St John Ambulance classes often started in workplaces; the railways; the police; the docks.

St John also took root in diverse cultures because manuals were printed in local languages and were aimed at helping particular communities. Today it is active in over 40 countries across the world.