Royal Red Cross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royal Red Cross
Badge of the Royal Red Cross Badge of an Associate of the Royal Red Cross
Presented by	United Kingdom

The Royal Red Cross (RRC) is a special award given in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. It honors nurses in the military who show amazing courage and dedication. This award was created in 1883. The very first people to receive it were Florence Nightingale and Jane Cecilia Deeble. Jane Deeble had worked as a nurse in Zululand. She felt that the hard work of nurses was not officially recognized.

How the Royal Red Cross Started

The Royal Red Cross award was created on April 27, 1883. Queen Victoria herself established it. At first, there was only one level of the award, called "Member."

The first person to receive this honor was Florence Nightingale. She is famous for starting modern nursing. The second person to get the award was Jane Cecilia Deeble. Jane had served as a nurse in Zululand. She believed that nurses' important work needed official recognition. She shared this idea with the Queen's helper, Sir Henry Ponsonby. He told the Queen that a special award would make the nurses "happy and proud."

Two Levels of the Award

Later, during World War I in November 1915, a second, lower level was added. This new level was called "Associate."

Who Can Receive the Award?

The Royal Red Cross is given to trained nurses. They can be from military or civilian nursing services. To get the award, a nurse must show great dedication and skill. This can be over a long time or through one brave act while on duty. Nurses of any rank can receive it.

If someone who has the "Associate" award does something amazing again, they can be promoted to the "Member" level. If a "Member" does something outstanding again, they receive a special bar to wear with their medal.

Changes Over Time

For a long time, only women could receive the Royal Red Cross. But in 1976, men became eligible for the award too. Since 1979, the award can also be given to people after they have passed away.

People who receive the Royal Red Cross can use special letters after their name. Members use "RRC," and Associates use "ARRC."

What the Royal Red Cross Looks Like

The Royal Red Cross is a beautiful medal with special features.

• The Member's badge is a gold cross. It is about 1.375 inches (3.5 cm) wide. The front is covered in red enamel. In the middle, there is a round picture of the Queen or King who is ruling at the time. The words "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity" are written on the top parts of the cross. The year "1883" is on the bottom part. The back of the cross is plain, but it has a round picture of the ruler's special symbol.

• The Associate's badge is a silver cross. It is also about 1.375 inches (3.5 cm) wide. The front is red enamel with wide silver edges. In the center, there is a round picture of the Queen or King. On the back, there is a round picture of the ruler's symbol. The words "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity" are on the top parts of the cross. The year "1883" is on the bottom part.

• The ribbon for both awards is dark blue with red stripes on the edges. Women usually wear the medal from the ribbon tied in a bow. Both men and women in military uniform wear it on a straight ribbon with their other medals.

• If a person who already has the RRC does something else amazing, they can get a bar. This bar is linked to the cross and is made of red enamel. A small rosette (a flower-like shape) is worn on the ribbon when not in full uniform to show that a bar has been awarded.

See also

• Category:Members of the Royal Red Cross
• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations