The formal Agreement setting up a war organisation providing for joint war services by the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem was signed on 2 Sept 1939 and an appeal on behalf of the War Organisation was issued on 9 September 1939. This was signed by The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior of the Order of St.John and Chairman of the Council of the British Red Cross Society; Sir Arthur Stanley, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the BRCS; and The Earl of Scarborough, Sub-Prior of the Order. The Lord Mayor of London placed the Mansion House organisation at the disposal of The Duke of Gloucester and the War Organisation for the administration of the appeal.





An inaugural meeting of the Joint War Organisation was held at the Mansion House on 20 September when a general council was elected and an executive committee appointed, with the Lord Mayor as Chairman and Lord Illiffe Deputy Chairman. It was agreed with the three Service Departments that the relief provided under the symbol of the Red Cross would be for the sick and wounded of the fighting forces, prisoners of war interned in enemy and neutral countries, and civilians injured or sick as a result of enemy action. It did not cover relief of any kind to healthy members of the fighting forces or the civil population, to normal patients in civil hospitals or evacuated men, women and children.





In 1941 men and women began to be invalided out of the Forces in increasing numbers, many requiring emergency help. As a temporary measure the Joint War Organisation made grants to the Joint Council to enable it to deal with these cases. Subsequently in October 1944 by amendment to existing agreements between the Order and the Society, a joint body, designated the Joint Committee of the Order of St.John and the British Red Cross Society, was set up to accept the obligations arising from the 1939-1945 war.





The final meeting of the War Organisation was held on 28 May 1947.