Included in the numerous articles posted from various sources, we have seen mention of the Joint War Committee having amended the areas of high risk to merchant shipping vessels and operations. The Joint War Committee (JWC) is a non-governmental committee comprised of underwriting representatives from Lloyd's and IUA (International Underwriting Association of London) company markets, representing the interests of writers of marine hull war business in the London market.

Joint World Organisation (JWO)

The Joint World Organisation (JWO) was initially a combined operation between the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England. A brief history of this organization begins in 1909, when members of the British Red Cross and the Order of St John were organized into Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) ostensibly to provide supplementary aid for the Territorial Medical Services. In May, 1908 the War Office gave instructions for establishing and mobilizing general hospitals in Circular Memorandum No. 31, which in explanation contains the following paragraph:

The medical corps of the Territorial Force will train in peace and nucleus of men, consisting mainly of those to whom duties of a highly specialized nature would be entrusted. Local branches of the Red Cross Society could render very valuable assistance if they would undertake the task of providing the balance of establishment of the hospital, mainly consisting of men to whom those duties which do not demand a very special training could be allotted. The local knowledge possessed by the representatives of the Society would be of the greatest value as enabling them to draw up lists of individuals who would be prepared in case of national emergency to aid their country's cause in the hospitals, though precluded by unavoidable circumstances from undertaking serious responsibilities in times of peace.

In four years' time, the Voluntary Aid Detachments rapidly grew in size and numbers, and by 1914 there were 4,000 VADs and 125,000 volunteers. That same year, just after the outbreak of the war in Europe, the JWO was formed to reduce duplication of effort and to provide St John personnel with the protection of the Red Cross. VAD nurses were introduced into Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) hospitals in England and France, as well as working overseas in transport and hospitals, treating sick and wounded military personnel. The VADs also replaced males in hospitals so they could be sent to the field. The organized volunteers worked alongside technical and professional staff and supplied the machinery and mechanisms to provide services in Britain and in the conflict areas of Europe, the Middle East, Russia and East Africa.The JWO ceased operations when WWI ended in 1919.