Derbyshire Red Cross Flying Column

The Flying Column of the Derbyshire Red Cross takes its vital blood collection service onto the road with a visit to Ashbourne.

This film records a unit of the Derbyshire Red Cross Flying Column in Ashbourne taking donations of blood from local donors. And there is a steady supply: from members of the public through to servicemen and women and even GIs. On arrival they are registered and given sterile glass bottles. They're then helped into three tier bunk beds installed in trucks where they are bled. Afterwards they make the most of the tea and sandwiches that are on offer - nothings changed there then.

The Derbyshire Red Cross Flying Column operated from 1942 until 1945. The unit was set up to provide blood transfusions at the scene of bombings and thereby support local hospitals. To achieve this units travelled the county collecting blood donations.