Most people in Singapore are familiar with, and often take for granted, the presence of male and female uniformed members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and many are aware of, and have benefited from First Aid workers trained by the St John Ambulance Association and Brigade. Very few, however, are fully aware of the centuries of history, and the long tradition of "Service to Mankind" that lie behind it. 

This First Aid movement which commenced in England in the year 1877 with the formation of the St. John
Ambulance Association, was the direct outcome of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem -
An Order which dates back to the time of Williamm the Conqueror in 1066. 

After the Franco-German War it became very apparent that ambulance work could not be properly carried out and maintained for War, unless organized in time of peace, and it was as a result of this experience that the St. John
Ambulance Association was formed in England. 

Ten years later, in the year 1887, the St. John Ambulance Brigade came into being as a uniformed body, to band
together people who had qualified in First Aid and Home Nursing and its kindred subjects, ready to serve the public regardless of race or creed in any emergency. 

From this time onwards the movement has grown, until today one sees the valiant eight point white Cross of St.
John, flying bravely throughout the Commonwealth. 

In Singapore, in the year 1935, Dr. J.S. Webster, O.St.J., a radiologist with the Medical Services of the General
Hospital, Singapore, organized with a few public spirited friends, and brother doctors the beginning of First Aid
lectures in Singapore. The first headquarters being one desk in the Radiology Dept. of the General Hospital, Sepoy
Lines, Singapore. Dr Webster persuaded men and women to join these lectures, but without any real incentive, very little progress was made, except for the recruiting of a sufficient number of First Aiders to form the first division of the uniformed body of the Brigade in September 1938. 

Shortly after this, Dr Webster himself left Singapore on retirement. After Dr. Webster's departure, it was not easy,
without funds and very little enthusiasm to carry on the good work, and it was eventually realized that if all was not
to be lost, a senior Government official of the Medical Services should head the Organization. After a lapse of
several months, and much persuasion, the then Director of the Medical Services, Singapore, was prevailed upon to
take over the responsibility of Director of the St. John Ambulance Association, Singapore, and he, very generously
transferred headquarters to his Board Room, which was on the 4th Floor of Fullerton Building, Singapore. 

From these headquarters gradually more voluntary helpers were recruited, and slow but steady progress was made. At this time Singapore Headquarters controlled the Federation of Malaya as well as Singapore, and sub-centres, responsible to the Singapore Headquarters, were established in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Malacca, and all documents and correspondence were forwarded to Singapore for scrutiny and action before being finally forwarded to the St. John Headquarters in London. 

In due course other Corps of the Brigade formed and thus efficiency was maintained. 

It was the crisis of 1938, just before the Second World War, that it became increasingly apparent to our citizens how vital our work was, and at that time recruiting was brisk, with men and women coming forward to prepare
themselves for any emergency. Classes were held in many languages - English, French, Dutch, German, Malay,
Tamil and several dialects of the Chinese Language, doctors and nurses being hard pressed to cope with this
entirely voluntary work after ordinary day-time duties. 

The Headquarters of the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade continued to remain at Fullerton Building,
but at that time, before the actual outbreak of war in Malaya, the Government authorities decided to incorporate all
St. John personnel to form the nucleus of what was to become The Medical Auxiliary Service which was to be a part of the Passive Defence Services of Singapore and Malaya. 

A transport Section was formed, and 28 First Aid Posts were organized and manned in the city alone. Uniforms were changed for the new M.A.S. uniform and all our members conducted themselves magnificently throughout the
air-raids, and bombing shelling which came later - many acts of bravery and heroism were performed, many laying
down their lives on duty before the fall of Singapore. Others were imprisoned, but they still continued to help with
the training they had previously received, without the aid of medical equipment denied to them by the enemy. 

After three and a half years of occupation and suffering the day of liberation came in September 1945. and our later beloved Lady Superintendent-in-Chief, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, C.I.G.B.E., D.C.V.O., Lld., let it be known that she would like to meet all members of the Brigade in Singapore at Government House (Istana) when over 400 members of St John appeared. At this gathering St. John in Singapore was re-born. Later, about 1947 the remnants of the Brigade were again banded together to form a uniformed body, and from then on have continued to serve, in ever increasing numbers, the under-privileged of this Republic in an entirely voluntary capacity. Association lectures were again held. Many of the successful candidates joining the Brigade in due course to continue their instruction and be ready at all times when called upon. 

Temporary Headquarters were found and loaned to us by the Government. At the Old St. Peters Church, Stamford Road in 1949, where administrative work was carried out, and we were able to remain there until March 1957, when Government again very generously transferred us to new temporary headquarters at 25 Gilstead Road, until such time as we were able to build our own permanent Headquarters, then in the process of being erected at Beach Road, Singapore. These premises were finally ready for occupation, and were officially declared open, by the President of the Republic in May 1960. This magnificent building contains Offices, a Conference Room, Lecture Rooms, Home Nursing Rooms, and an Assembly Hall for recreational purposes, together with its own canteen and St. John Store. 

After the war, and some years previously, the M.A.S., had been completely disbanded as such, and we were once
again able to wear our St. John uniform, and with the help of doctors, trained sisters, and Lay-lecturers, our classes
forged ahead, instruction being given in may dialects of Chinese, Malay and Tamil, as well as in English. 

After the liberation in 1945, St. John Organisation was no longer responsible for the States in the Federation, and
therefore the Singapore Headquarters ceased to issue First Aid and Home Nursing certificates throughout the
country, and the St. John Association & Brigade decided to have their own Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 

St. John, in Singapore continued with its work for suffering humanity, and to-day it assists the Republic of
Singapore, whenever called upon in all emergencies, such as epidemics, clinics, fires, floods, sports meetings and
hospital duties. Our ambulances carry the sick and needy, free of all charges whenever requested, the uniform of
our ambulance members and nurses, being a well known and familiar sight in the Republic. 

In the year 1952, the first St. John Council was formed in Singapore. This Council comprised a body of senior and
professional Singapore citizens who were willing to give their services and specialized knowledge in an advisory
capacity to assist and co-ordinate the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade in its work. The Chairman and
committee members met frequently to guide the affairs of St. John Headquarters, and to be responsible for the
finances and well being of the Organisation; all property, furniture and ambulances were vested in the Council, and
to act as liaison between Singapore and the parent organisation in England, through our patron, The President of the Republic of Singapore. 

Apart from promoting and assisting St. John Ambulance Association & Brigade as well as to raise the necessary
funds to support their work, the main objects of the Council, are briefly as follows: 

To promote and encourage all works of humanity and charity for the relief of distress, suffering, sickness and danger without any distinction as to race, class or creed, and the extension of the great principles of the Order of St John embodied in its mottoes "for the Faith" and "For the Service of Mankind". 

To render aid to the sick, wounded, disabled or suffering and to promote such permanent organisation in
time of peace, as may be available immediately in time of emergency, such aid shall include the provision of
technical reserves for the Medical services of the Armed Forces or civil defence organisations in the Republic of Singapore. 

To do such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. 


Although St. John started off as a Christian organisation, its objects in various countries including Singapore have
been modified to accept both Christian and non-christian members. Of Course in Singapore this is in line with our
National policy of multi-religious society. The organisation therefore also accepts members who are non-christian
and serves any organisation regardless of their race or religion. 

An important change in the history of the St. John organisation in Singapore was the attainment of National
Headquarters status. In June 1978, the Brigade was reorganised and upgraded to National Headquarters level with
the following appointments 

1. Chief Commissioner 

2. Deputy Chief Commissioner 

3. Chief Superintendent (N) and 

4. Chief Surgeon 


This brought our organisation status at par with St. John Ambulance organisations in other independent nations. 

The reorganisation and upgrading of the Brigade in Singapore also result in the forming of 4 Districts and 10 Areas
in 1978. 

In 1996, the Brigade was again re-structured. The District level was removed. Area was renamed as Zone.
Divisions in each school were administered as a corps. 

Today, the St. John of Singapore continues with its work for suffering humanity and it assists the Republic of
Singapore whenever called upon in all emergencies such as epidemics, clinic and hospital duties, the St. John
Ambulances also carry the sick and needy whenever requested. Brigade officers and members provided first-aid
coverage at National, public and other events. 

The Association is currently conducting the following courses in English, Mandarin and Malay for the public: 

Basic First Aid 

Adult First Aid 

Refresher First Aid 

Higher First Aid 

Methods of Instruction 

Home Nursing (Basic) 

Home Nursing (Adult) 

Higher Home Nursing 


Today, ambulance and nursing members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade are familiar sights in Singapore. Many
people in our Republic have benefitted directly from these First Aid workers who carry out our motto. "For the
Service of Mankind" after being trained by the Association and Brigade. 

(Last Updated: 1801001)