During the later part of 1898 the Bacup Corps was formed first aid classes having bee held since about 1886. Classes were held in various venues including the Railway Station and the Co-operative hall however on the 10th February 1891 students were invited to attend a meeting the following week at the Mechanics Institute. Following this meeting  a room was rented at  Newgate Mission for the purpose of holding drills. The Surgeon in charge was  a Dr Harris and  the drill instructor was a Sgt W Cork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N Woodhouse One of the originators of the Ambulance Brigade in Bacup he began learning  ambulance  in 1888 during a class held by  Dr Harris in the Co-operative hall acquiring his certificate qualifying him to render first aid in November 1888.

With a increase in members the rooms at Newgate became too small and so a alternative room was found at Barkers Foundry which was where the Royal Court Theatre is today. After various other  the Bacup Nursing Division was formed in April 1898  and more suitable premises were found over the offices of the School Board offices in Rochdale Road with Dr Barclay as Surgeon in

Charge.

On the 27th July 1901 a Trades and Societies Demonstration was held to raise money to purchase a Horse Ambulance. In November  a presentation took place on the Market Ground at Bacup where Mr John Harland  Chief Constable formally presented the Ambulance to the Borough. The total cost of the Ambulance and Harness was £ 150.8s as well as containing two stretchers and appliances the Ambulance had been constructed to be as lively and bright as it possibly could be. Unlike the one pictured above of which a similar one had been in use in Liverpool the sombre looking Ambulance had made people afraid to use it in case it took the to the Cemetery rather the the Infirmary. During 1904 the horse ambulance was called out 13 times whilst the hand litter was called out to 22 cases.

 

 

    

Honorary Surgeons of St Johns

Dr's Rigby and Brown

 

1st Nursing Officer  Mrs Stubbs and Nursing Sister Miss Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

Members of St John's Ambulance Brigade 1908

30 of which were attached to the Royal Navy Sick Berth Reservists.

 

Privates: J W Smith , E Heyworth , R H Etherington , A Rushton , A Lee, W Lee

H Thomas , J T Ryder , E Elsworth , G H Riley , Jas Hardman , J Starkie , D Hargreaves G T Haworth  H Holden , J Holden no1, J Holden no2 , W W Coupe , G Collinge

 F Stansfeild , F Smith J R Proctor , W Hardman no1 , W Hardman no2 , J H Seville

H Worthy , J Booth, E H Collinge, S Ingham , J A Hopwood.

 

 

St John's Ambulance Nursing Division 1908.

Miss: Barker , I Hargreaves , E A Shepherd , M A Lord , S J Simpson , M Shepherd

M Lord , Rushton , Mitchell , Johnson, Heyworth , A A Taylor , Lee , Crossley , Howorth, A Taylor , Thompson , E Jones , M Jones , Graham , Blythe , R Lord , Curzon  Thornhill , Townsend , Crane , H Hargreaves.

 

 

 

 

St Johns Division of 1915

 

South African War 1900

Tom Peat

Who died in Middleburgh Hospital, South Africa

November, 17th 1901

 

Great War 1914-1918

Sgt A. W. Townsend

Pte. Robert Ashton

Pte. Henry Chesteney

 

Pte. John Greenwood

Pte. David Hargreaves

Pte. John G. Heyworth

Pte. James E. Mitchell

Pte. Edgar Pickles

 

Miss Law Lady Superintendant 1915

 

 

A new Vulcan Motor Ambulance was  presented to the Borough and placed under the control of the police in 1917. Regulations were drawn up for the use of the ambulance. People wishing to use the ambulance for cases that didn't follow a accident had to obtain a form  from the Chief Constable to fill in along with a doctors certificate a reasonable time before the ambulance was required. In the case of a accident application to use the ambulance had to be made through the Police station either in person or by calling the station by telephone at no32.